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Isabella Stein In the winter of 1926, one of the worst series of storms to hit the local region in a century raged with no end in sight. Roads and bridges washed out, rural areas were isolated by flood waters. Death was everywhere. But there was also life. Babies were born amidst nature’s violent rage. Most died, but a few survived, such as the daughter born to Jacob and Emma Stein. They named her Isabella. Perhaps it was the circumstances under which she was born, perhaps it was just rural superstitions that caused Jacob and Emma to come to believe there was something ominous and foreboding about their child. They tried to bring her up as normal as they knew how, but something frightened them about her and kept them distant. Isabella was ten years old before they even dared to take her to church. Prior to this they brought church to her at home through intense prayer. Isabella’s parents learned from their priest that she was “possessed”. He explained he could sense it the moment he saw her. Deeply religious folk, they were horrified and accepted the priest’s offer for an exorcism. The exorcism lasted almost a week, during which the parents were forbidden to enter “the sanctuary”. The parents reported hearing screams and profanities, groans and other strange noises on occasion. At one point, when the priest opened the door to accept food, they noted his face had been horribly scratched. After hearing no sounds for an entire day and night, and no answer at the door for food, Jacob broke in the door to discover a horrific scene. As he described it there was “blood and feces everywhere, and less than half the food had been eaten.” Isabella was found under the bed bruised and bloodied; the priest lay on the other side of the room with his throat ripped out On Isabella’s thirteenth birthday, driven by her demon, she took her life in the very chapel she spent most of her days. She was found by one of the ASLA staff and laid to rest in the institution graveyard. Her parents were not present for the burial. It is believed by many of the staff that Isabella has never really left the chapel. In truth, even patients refuse to go near for fear that “the demon within” will get them. NOTE FROM HANS MARTINI: "It is sad to fill out the report for Isabella’s death. The poor girl labored under the delusion of possession created by her parents. How ironic that she spent so much time praying there in the chapel for them to come take her home again. If only I had more time with her." Hans Martin BACK TO PERSONNEL FILES |
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