Episode 72: Haunting in Chicago - The Becker Family Story

In the early 1970s, Edwin and Marsha Becker thought they’d found the perfect place to start their family—a quiet two-flat home nestled in the Chicago suburbs. The upper apartment would be theirs, the lower rented out for extra income. It all seemed ideal. The tenants were kind. The neighborhood, peaceful. But peace never lasts when something else is living in the house. It began subtly. Phones falling from their cradles. Cabinet doors slamming shut. Heavy footsteps echoing through empty rooms. Something was in the house and whatever it was, it wanted their attention. Whispers among neighbors spoke of death—of lives cut short within those walls. The Beckers believed they weren’t alone. And they were right. Desperate, Marsha pleaded with priests, ministers, psychics—anyone who might help. Most turned them away. But in 1971, two reverends answered the call. What followed was the first televised exorcism in American history—captured by NBC cameras. Listen in to hear the chilling true story of the Becker haunting. A story that the Becker’s couldn’t wait to leave behind.

YouTube - Becker Family Exorcism

SOURCES:

The Lineup – The Story Behind True Haunting and the First Ever Televised Exorcism – Orrin Grey – November 24, 2022 - The Story Behind 'True Haunting' and the First Ever Televised Exorcism

Light Force Network – True Haunting – The Exorcism of The Becker Home – SpectreCollector – February 10, 2025 - True Haunting – The Exorcism Of The Becker Home

Cook County Clerk’s Office - Search Recordings | Cook County Clerk

Burial Day – The Exorcist in Chicago – Murder & Mayhem in the Windy City – Gravedigger – January 31, 2019 - https://burialday.com/the-exorcist-in-chicago-murder-mayhem-in-the-windy-city/

Paranormal Witness – Season 2 Finale – ‘The Tenants’

HuffPost – ‘Paranormal Witness’ Finale: The Haunting that Led to the First Televised Exorcism - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paranormal-witness-finale_n_2014941

Paranormal Witness - The Tenants - https://paranormal-witness.fandom.com/wiki/The_Tenants

Geek Tyrant - The Story Behind 1971 Televised Exorcism is Being Adapted into a Film called TRUE HAUNTING – Joey Paur – May 2019 - https://geektyrant.com/news/the-story-behind-1971-televised-exorcism-is-being-adapted-into-a-film-called-true-haunting

Haunt Jaunts - True Haunting: First Televised Exorcism Inspires Movie – Courtney Mroch – March 11, 2022 - https://www.hauntjaunts.net/true-haunting-first-televised-exorcism-inspires-movie/#google_vignette

Creepy Catalog – This 2023 Horror Movie will Explore the Bonkers Story of the First Televised Exorcism – Chrissy Stockton – January 5, 2023 - https://creepycatalog.com/this-2023-horror-movie-will-explore-the-bonkers-story-of-the-first-televised-exorcism/

YouTube – True Haunting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aKrxGjZZBg

Paranormal Witness – Vedere Family - https://paranormal-witness.fandom.com/wiki/Vedere_Family

Independent Spiritualist Association - https://independentspiritualists.org/about-isa

Wikipedia - Aspergillum - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillum      

Bygonely – The Street of Chicago in the 1970’s through these Fabulous Vintage Photos - https://www.bygonely.com/chicago-street-life-19