April 1, 2025 • 67 mins
Growing tired of their defiant daughter, Jacob and his mistress place a curse on a young Anna Ecklund, ensuring her life turns out to be a living hell. Only when a concerned priest reaches out does anyone try to help Anna. As a result, she endures a series of exorcisms and a lifetime of torment.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This taking contains content that may not be suitable for
all audiences listeners, discretion is advised. Roughly Never in their
(00:25):
lives did Jacob Schmidt and his mistress Mina dream they'd
be up late concocting the demise of their own child.
But here they are doing just that. Jacob's daughter Emma,
hasn't done anything wrong all of the midnight plotting by
her parents. It has nothing to do with discipline or
(00:47):
come up, and it's just part of something menacing, something vile,
that's always been. It's concerning just how many times Emma's
woken up on the kitchen floor or outside in the mud,
with no short term memory, just the throbbing headache that
lasts for days. It's hard to imagine the nasty, unspeakable
(01:12):
things Jacob has whispered in Emma's ears, all while Mina
stands with idle hands in an emotionless expression. Before that,
it was Emma's mother doing just the same. While her
mother expressed remorse, she hid in the shadows of an
unlit bedroom, a pillow wrapped around her head to block
(01:36):
out the sounds of her daughter's please for mercy and
whimpers of pain. Emma's never understood her father's rage. Did
it begin when they left Germany and headed to Wisconsin,
or did it happen much before that. Sometimes Emma suspects
(01:56):
the anger comes from her mother. Something about here just
always torments her father, But now here he is acting
in the same suit, well after she's passed away. Of course,
Emma suspected herself as the corbrit many times, but she's
never been sure why. Her mother always said it had
(02:20):
to do with the booze. Her dad said it was
because there is no God. Whatever demons lurk beneath Jacob's skin,
they've always let him down the same direction, lashing out
his frustrations a poor little Emma. Tonight, though, Jacob wants
(02:42):
something more. He wants his daughter to suffer for a
long time to truly know what pain is. Mina supports
this idea and has a hell of a suggestion. How
many times has physical retaliation fallen short? No matter what
(03:03):
Emma still speaks, her mind speaks back to her father.
How ungrateful Emma must be. See. Mina has a few secrets.
One of them isn't so well kept around Wisconsin, and
it's that she is well versed in the dark arts.
(03:23):
A Satanist to some a witch to others. Mina suggests
that they try placing one of the nastiest curses she
knows on Emma, one that will drive her mad and
propel her toward a slow, drudging death.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
By the power of the shadows that mind I call
upon forces both cruel and unkind. With this curse, I
seal her fate, the suffer and torment. No light touch her,
no peace find her soul.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
An I can imagine blood pouring out from the eyes
of her priest, moths emerging from his throat, his beaten
body strapped to the cross. The weeks following the curse
are especially difficult for Anna. Every Sunday, she squirms in
her church pew, wrestling with itchy clothing and even itchier skin,
(04:40):
resisting not only to scratch, but also the urged scream
out and curse amid every prayer, where she remembers colorful
lights dripping down from stained glass panels as only darkness.
The priest, who she adored just weeks ago, now feels
(05:01):
like an enemy. Anna can see herself dismantling and destroying
every last object in the church. Oh how she wants to.
She's able to keep her struggles inward at first, but
as time passes she can hardly make it through the
front door, and she doesn't dare dip her fingers in
(05:21):
holy water on the way inside. They must be doing
something different. Maybe the bulls just need a good cleaning.
Her skin burns as the water brushes over her finger tips.
The water has a bou smell to it too, at least,
(05:42):
Anna thinks so. The church bells ring out as Anna
slowly steps into the sanctuary. Her eyes scope out the
room as she makes her way down the pew, taking
her seat, Anna keeps studying all the decor, the religious
symbols in regalia. In a way, it's all so intimidating.
(06:08):
The priest begins a sermon, clutching a black rosary in
his hand. Anna stares at the beads and the crucifix.
Then she looks up at the much larger crucifix looming
behind him. Anna feels an overwhelming urge to scream that
(06:29):
pop out of her seat and run. Her skin burns,
a thick sweat builds on her forehead. Without further warning,
Anna bolt upright. Her movements a natural and rigid her
mouth opens wide, as though her jaw dilocates momentarily, but
(06:50):
her scream it's nothing more than a whisper. A few
people nearby and the priest rushed to Anna's side, offering
their support. Anna grabs at the edges of the pew
in front of her. There are white and red blotches
around her knucklebut it's as though Anna grips tight while
(07:13):
unseen forces try to drag her away. The priest reaches out,
feeling for her hand, trying to calm her down. The
entire congregation stares and quite frankly, he's worried about Anne's
well being. Her head tips back, her jaw gaped. Anna's
(07:35):
voice finally breaks free, and a guttural, blood curdling scream
escapes her, echoing off the walls. The priest reaches out again,
trying to settle down Anna as she thrashes her body
against the sides of the pews, but she brushes past him.
(07:58):
The priest utters a prayer on her her way out,
to which Anna growls, you're listening to Mary X. The
(08:35):
Exorcism of Anna Uckland the first story from Less Taken
season four. In this episode, we hop between Wisconsin and
Iowa to explore the documented demonic possession of Anna Uckland
and the long, intensive series of exorcisms that zue. If
(08:56):
this is your first time listening to us, Let's take
and explores documented horror stories from all around the Midwest,
dramatizes them with a bit of soundscaping, and when necessary,
debunks any falsehoods. Be sure to let us know what
you think of this episode when you're done by leaving
a fair rating and review. Wherever you're listening, You can
(09:18):
also leave reviews, check out all Things Less Taken and
pick up some of our new merch at less takenpot
dot com. Follow us before we follow you on Facebook, Instagram, threads,
and Blue Sky under the handle at let us taken pot,
and if you truly enjoy the show, be sure to
subscribe with auto downloads on perhaps Tell a friend it
(09:39):
all truly helps. I'm Seam Humphreys and this is Less Taken,
real life horror stories from the Midwest. Thanks for listening.
I hope you enjoy. Mary x Anna Uckland born Emma
(10:34):
Schmidt on March twenty third, eighteen eighty two and her
mother are god fearing Midwesterners, which is where the trouble begins.
Maybe begins isn't exactly the word for it, but religion
always seems to be what her father, Jacob latches onto
(10:56):
when he's a few beers deep in the middle of
a Sunday afternoon noon. Depending on who you trust, it's
generally believed that Anna's dark journey through life begins in Marathon, Wisconsin,
from the distant glands of an outsider. The Schmidt family
should be your typical American household, at least for the times.
(11:20):
The father works, the mother tends to the home as
well as Anna and her eight siblings. They smile at
neighbors and arrive early to church every weekend. That is,
all of the Schmidt family except Jacob. Jacob sways from
(12:07):
side to side in his chair, his bloodshot eyes focused
on a glass of ice with a rusty ring around
the bottom, but the glass is on the table. In
his hand is a bottle of whiskey, and it's empty.
(12:33):
His daughter, Anna and his wife Augusta walk through the
front door, the bold afternoon sunlight piercing the Jacob's blurred vision. Anna,
still holding a rosary, nervously shifts her gaze between her
parents Jacob. His breath damn near flammable, says.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Another Sunday, Augusta.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Day wasted, just so other people know you're Christian too.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Augusta's eyes glistened with unshead tears, but she remains quiet,
her lips moving in a silent prayer.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Help us time met in the chaos.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You know, Jacob continues his gaze, unfocused.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
The world is changing.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
People are starting to see that there's more to life
than what the Bible tells us. The Darwin's work, it
shows us the life evolves not by divine creation, but
by natural selection. It's real, Like Gusta, this is science,
(13:49):
and this is real.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Augusta's voice is barely a whisper. Help us in the chaos.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Jacob laughs, meaning, sometimes I wonder if we're just fooling ourselves,
trying to find patterns where there are none. The Bible,
it's full of contradictions and outdated morals. We can't abase
(14:28):
our lives and attexts. That's so flawed. How stupid are you?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Anna feels a not tightening in her stomach.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
Please.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Jacob's grip on the bottle titans, his knuckles turning white.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
No, Anna, you've listen.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I've read all about how the universe works. That this
is the discoveries they're making. It's also fast and indifferent
and the suffering, the suffering we see all around us.
How can a benevolent god allow so much pain?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Think about it, Anna, don't be dumb like your mother.
It doesn't add up. How can you believe any of this?
You're not scared? Are you? Because it's scared people who
go to church?
Speaker 1 (15:29):
A gust that looks up our eyes, pleading.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Jacob, Not everything can be explained.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Jacob's voice softens, almost as if he's speaking to himself.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Let me ask you, this is God keeping a roof
over our heads. I'm pretty sure that's me.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The church. It's full of hypocrites, you know it, probably
why you go there.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Anna, her voice trembling but determined, speaks up.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Maybe face isn't about answers.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Jacob's eyes narrow, his anger starting to flare.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
So you think you know better.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Than me, You think you can just just accept everything.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Without question, then maybe you'll accept this.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
No, a guess that calls out. The room falls silent,
the tension hanging heavy in the air, the silhouettes of
Jacob and Anna mingling along the walls, Jacob stands upright,
(16:50):
the bottle dropping to the floor in the shadow of
his right arm lengthens and as cheeksbury. Her eyes are
filled with tears, shocked and fear as her rosary shatters
and slides across the floor. Occasionally, or if she's honest,
(17:50):
quite frequently, Jacob's anger gets out of line. Perhaps she'll
never understand why or what demons he's chasing with all
that booze. During these times when Jacob's anger gets out
of control, Anna becomes an easy target amongst her siblings.
Maybe it's because she's the only one brave enough to
(18:11):
speak back to defend herself when necessary. Augusta might like
to think she's always been there to protect her daughter
from Jacob's outbursts, but Anne surely remembers her mother standing
idle in the corner during several of these violent events.
Either way, she's no longer around to stand by Anna's side,
(18:33):
even if in silence. Shortly after Anna's mother passes away,
Jacob finds a love interest in a dark clothed woman
named Mina, who just happens to be his sister in
law or former sister in law. Either way, not cool.
Anne and her mother are known as being devout Catholics.
(18:56):
Jacob may pretend to be like everyone else in public,
but at home, Anna knows him as an outspoken atheist. Now,
adding another volatile ingredient to the mix is Mina, with
her dedication to the dark arts and what some might
simply call witchcraft. Jacob should have plenty of opportunities to
(19:20):
shut down Mina's beliefs too, but ultimately he doesn't. As
Anna becomes more and more outspoken herself, Jacob starts to
wonder just how real Mina's magic truly is. Anne opposes
a threat to Jacob, at least to his control over
the household. In fact, just the sight of Anna makes
(19:42):
him sick. Sometimes she looks just like her mother, argues
just like her mother. All of this leads to Jacob
giving in to mean a suggestion and taking a gamble
by placing a curse on his own daughter, and he'll
(20:02):
be damned the curse actually works. The heavy church door
(20:36):
creaks open as Anna uckland steps inside. Her heart pounding
in her chest, she worries everyone is staring at her.
She's late again. As she walks down the aisle, her
vision blurs and her steps falter. Each movement feels like
(20:58):
a battle. As her body trembles. Anna grips the back
of a pew, trying to steady herself, but the nausea
only intensifies. The sight of the crucifix at the front
of the church sends a shiver, and she averts her
gaze power Father art in heaven. The priest begins the
(21:21):
communion right, and Ana takes a deep breath, stealing herself
for what comes next. She steps forward, her hands shaking
as she approaches the altar. The congregation watches in silence.
(21:41):
Their face is filled with concern and confusion. As the
priest places the wafer in her hand, a searing pain
shoots through her fingers. She gasped, dropping the wafer to
the floor, her skin red and blistered where it touched her.
(22:03):
Sky Whispers start to ricochet amongst the worshipers. She determined
to see it through. Anna picks up the wafer and
places it in her mouth. The moment it touches her tongue,
a violent wave of nausea crashes over her. Anna doubles over,
retching uncontrollably, the taste of the wafer burning at the
(22:26):
back of her throat. The congregation recoils in horror. Their
face is pale as they witness the unsettling scene. The
priest rushes to her side, trying to offer comfort, but
Anna can barely stand. Her bodies racked with pain and
(22:46):
her eyes are filled with a mix of fear and anguish.
As she collapses to the floor, the church is filled
with an eerie silence, broken only by Anna's labored breaths.
Everyone stares everyone. It's a familiar scene. Anna is stuck outside,
(23:33):
just a few hundred feet away from the church entrance.
She takes a deep breath, willing herself to step inside,
but an invisible force seems to hold her back, perhaps
spotting her from a window. The priest steps outside and
approaches Anna. He says, Anna, come forward to speak with you.
(24:01):
Anna's eyes fill with determination. She takes a tentative step forward.
Pains shoots through her body and she winces, her legs
trembling once again. She takes another step, but the agony intensifies,
making it nearly impossible for her to move. Her muscles
tightened and her legs full gelatinous all at once. Somehow,
(24:28):
her vision blurs and she can feel her stomach start
to churn. As she looks at the church, her surroundings
shift into stort The once familiar sanctuary transforms into a
nightmarish landscape. The walls breathe in and out, sometimes changing angles.
(24:52):
The crucifix at the front of the church twist and contorts,
its figure grotesque and menacing. The priest's voice grows more.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Insistent, Anna, come to me, please.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Desperation fills her eyes as Anna tries to take another step,
but the pain is unbearable, and that doubles over, clutching
her stomach and a foul, dark substance begins to rise
in her throat. She gags, unable to hold it back,
and spits a vile liquid in the direction of the priest.
(25:31):
The dark substance splatters on the ground, narrowly missing the priest.
His face shifts with shock and disgust as he takes
a step back. Anna laughs, and that keeps showing up
(26:21):
in front of the church as she wants to enter.
But that's never what happens. The priest, noticing her hesitation,
steps out from the church and approaches her cautiously.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
You know, come inside and let's have.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
A chat, he calls out, extending his.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Hand we really ought to have a talk, and.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
His eyes flicker with a mix of fear. In defiance,
she shakes her head, remaining deep rooted to the spot.
The priest's sighs and walks over to her.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Please, Dana, let's talk, he.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Says as he draws closer, and his expression shifts to
something darker. She leans in her lips, nearly brushing his ear,
and begins to whisper. Hear her breath is hot, much
hotter than any human should be. It almost burns. Her
(27:27):
words are barely audible, but the Priest's face pales when
he hears them, his eyes widened in horror, and his
voice continues low, insidious. She tells him things a fourteen
year old girl should never tell a grown man, especially
not a man of the Lord. She whispers unspeakable things,
(27:48):
unspeakable things, just like the ones her father used to
whisper when her mommy was away, and sometimes even when
she wasn't. The priest takes an unsteady step back, his
heart pounding in his chest, but she follows her whispers,
growing more intense. They swarm around him like bats. Finally
(28:16):
unable to bear it any longer, the priest recoils and
stumbles back. He turns and retreats back inside the church,
leaving Anna standing alone in the gathering darkness. The priest
(29:01):
sits at his desk, the room dimly lit by a
single candle. He shakes as he writes a letter detailing
the disturbing events surrounding Anna Euckland. At once devout young Christian,
concern presses on him, his thoughts filled with images of
Anna's tormented face and the sinister whispers that still echo
(29:22):
in his ears. She whispered such vile things. Unable to
bear the burden alone any longer, the priest reaches out
for help, contacting a Kipuchin monk from Marathon, Wisconsin. He
seals the letter and sends it off, hoping for a
swift response. Days later, the priest receives a reply. The monk,
(29:47):
deeply concerned by the account, suggests that Anna might be
possessed by evil spirits. The monk advises the priest that
they need the expertise of an experienced exorcist.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
I recommend Father Philophilus or Father Theo. He has dealt
with cases like this before and could provide the.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Help you need. So the priest reaches out to Father
Theo upon the recommendation of the monk, and surprisingly, Father
Theo agrees to take the case. Father Theo may believe
(30:43):
in demons, and he may be willing to perform a
basic exorcism at Anna Uckland, but he's also highly skeptical.
Whenever someone claims another individual is haunted by unseen the
farious forces, he can't help, but under that individual suffers
from a physical or mental ailment. Sometimes it's not the
(31:06):
individual that's unstable, but the reporter. Sometimes it's just all
a bunch of bullshit. Father Theo deems the monk and
the priest trustworthy sources, so he rules out the idea
of the reporter being crazy or just full of crap. However,
Ana's condition remains to be determined. He needs to figure
(31:30):
out whether something truly dark and sinister plagues the young woman,
or if she might need the help of a doctor
over an exorcist. To test this, Father Theo doesn't have
to go out of his way or expend a great
deal of effort. It all comes down to two little
vials of water. One quite naturally is holy water, the
(31:55):
other comes straight from the tap. He'll introduce both to
Anna and see how she reacts. Father Theo stands before
Anna and the priest. Anna sits in a chair, her
eyes darting around the room. There are moments when she's
friendly and compliant, then there are many others, many more
(32:19):
in which she curses and argues. Father Theo approaches Anna
with a calm and confident demeanor. He holds the two
vials of water in his hands. He looks at Anna.
Speaker 5 (32:32):
We need to determine if he truly possessed Anna. This
test will help us.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
He uncaps the vial of tap water and sprinkles a
few drops on Anna's arm. She flinches slightly, but there's
no real reaction. It's just a shock of being splashed.
Father Theo then uncaps the vial of holy wit. There's
a collective rise to everyone's heart rate. Father Theo sprinkles
(33:09):
a few drops of holy water on Anna's arm, and
immediately her skin begins to scissor and boil. Anna's eyes
widened in fear, and she lets out a piercing scream.
She squirms in agony, her body contorting as the holy
water continues to burn at her flesh. The priest takes
(33:32):
a step back, his face pale with shot Father Theo
remains calm and his eyes never leave Anna. Father Theo whispers.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
The presence of evil is strong within her.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Father Theo prepares for the exorcism. Anna lies restrained on
the bed, her body contorting in unnatural ways that she
tries to escape. She initially agrees because she knows something
is deeply troubled about her, but once things begin, a
different side of Anna comes out, a completely different personality.
(34:37):
In this Anna does not consent. Father Theo stands at
the front of the bed, his hands gripping her crucifix tightly.
The priest watches anxiously from the corner of the room.
Speaker 5 (34:51):
Or to say, Michael the arch Angel, in the name
of the Father, and.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
This Father Theo and to As the procedure drags on,
Andy's body convulses violently in a guttural, unearthly growl escapes
her lips. The room grows colder, and the scent of
sulfur now fills the air. Father Theo sprinkles holy water
(35:19):
on Anna, and her skin sizzles and boils, causing her
to scream out and hanging.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
By the power of Christ, I compelled you.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Father Theo continues his voice unwavering from the tyranny. He
holds a crucifix aloft, pressing it against Anna's forehead. She
thrashes and writhes, her screams echoing through the room. The
priest watches more stressful as Anna's body contorts, her eyes
(35:48):
rolling to the back of her.
Speaker 5 (35:49):
Head to crush safe beneath our feet. That he may
no longer retained man captain and due injury to the.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Church, Father Theo's prayers grow louder and more intense. Minutes
stretch into what feels like ours. As Father Theo continues
his relentless prayers and his body twists and shudders. Her
screams a haunting symphony. Finally, after a brooding struggle, and
(36:23):
his body begins to relax, her shrieks and screams subside
into whimpers. Father Theo steps back, his face carved by exhaustion.
The Priest approaches slowly.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
And asks is it over?
Speaker 1 (37:20):
The candles cast an eerie glow as Jacob and Mina
sit at the kitchen table, their faces unstirred and unreadable.
But if anyone walked into that room, they'd immediately feel
the negative energy. Something's wrong, something is about to get
(37:40):
much worse. The news of Anna's exorcism reaches them, and
the thought of the curse they placed being broken heats
them with animosity. Jacob clenches his fist in resentment. Anna
has always been a thorn in his side. Her outspoken
nature and disobedience have made their lives a living helm
(38:03):
in his mind. Not that he believes in hell and
Mina shares his sentiments and an effort to regain control,
Mina gathers the necessary ingredients for another dark ritual, herbs,
the candles, and a crude dull that almost resembles a
(38:26):
young Anna. Surprisingly, Jacob and Mina pick up a worn
ancient bible. They turn to Matthew twelve forty three forty five,
their fingers trembling with anticipation. Together they read the verses aloud.
(38:46):
Their voice is harmonizing in low, shaky tones, and the unclaimed
spirit is done.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
When the spirit is gone out of man.
Speaker 6 (38:56):
He walk u through a dry place, through.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
A dry place, can rest and finds.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
None and none.
Speaker 6 (39:04):
Then he's saying, I will return into my house from
whence I came out. When yous come, he find us
at empty, sweat varnished.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
You find it empty.
Speaker 6 (39:19):
Then doth he and taketh with himself seven.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Other spirits, wicked and another spirit, and.
Speaker 6 (39:27):
They enter in and dwelfare and the last state of
that man. So shall it be also unsating wicked generation generation.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
The words hang heavy in the air. Jacob Mena exchange
a glance under the candlelight, one of amusement and more importantly,
one of satisfaction. Jacob Schmidt passes away in nineteen twelve,
and Mina in nineteen thirteen. However, the curse doesn't die
(40:05):
with them. In the days after the exorcism, Anna experiences
(40:28):
a brief moment of peace or calm or something whatever
it is. It feels like a weight has been lifted
off of her shoulders, and for a while she can
breathe easier, But that calm doesn't last long. Sitting alone
in her room, Anna tries to concentrate on her studies,
(40:48):
but her mind is racing. Unwonted. Dark intrusive thoughts crawl
into her mind. She shakes her head, trying to push
them away, but they just won't. They make a home there.
Sometimes she can steer off the thoughts, especially if she
keeps her mind occupied enough, but then come the whispers.
(41:13):
They're soft at first, but they soon amplify. They speak
of violence, destruction, and terrible things she should do. Terrible
things involving her siblings, terrible things involving her neighbors, terrible
things involving the church. The voices won't stop me, they hiss.
(41:53):
Her heart pounds and her hands shake as she clutches
her head, trying to block out the voices. But the
voices are too strong. They flood her mind with vivid
images of chaos, of her yanking every crossing crucifix from
the walls, of her, trapping the priest in a confessional,
(42:14):
and setting the church ablaze. Suddenly, she jumps to her feet,
gasping for breath. The room feels like it's closing in
on her. The whispers get louder, their demands more urgent.
Speaker 5 (42:40):
To it, and it.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Was The room is filled with a soft, yet warm
light as Anna sits across from her spiritual counselor, a
(43:05):
kind woman who has been guiding her with the support
of the priest and father.
Speaker 8 (43:09):
Theo Anna that's focus under breathing, take a d breath, thin.
Speaker 7 (43:21):
And slow.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
Anna nods, closing her eyes as she attempts to follow along.
For a moment, she feels a sense of calm wash
over her, a much needed break from the chaos swirling
in the back of her mind. But soon enough, those
dark thoughts creep back in relentless insidious. The counselor continues speaking,
(43:51):
unaware of the turmoil brewing inside of Anna. Suddenly and
his's eyelid's on zip and a wild look tears across
her face. She springs upright and lunges forward, her hands
gripping the counselor's throat with the strength unnatural for such
(44:11):
a young girl. The counselor gases her, her eyes wide
with shock and fear. She struggles to break free, but
Anna's grip doesn't let up. Their room fills with the
sound of the spiritual Counselor's frantic breaths and muffled cries
for help. Then, just as quickly as it starts, the
(44:32):
chaos stops, and it releases her hold and stumbles back.
The counselor collapses to the floor, coughing and desperate for air.
Anna stands there, her eyes wide. She looks down at
her hands, red and swollen, as if she's seeing them
(44:54):
for the very first time. Her voice shaky, she looks
at the counselor and asks what just happened. The spiritual
(45:38):
counselor sits in her office, her hands shaking a bit
as she dials Father Theo. The memory of Anna's violent
outburst is still vivid in her mind and she knows
they need to take action. When Father Theo picks up,
she rushes to explain what happened, her voice filled with urgency.
Speaker 6 (45:58):
I'm really worried that Anna's condition is getting worse.
Speaker 5 (46:04):
I'll talk to the Bishop for guidance.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
Standing before the Bishop, Father Theo shares the unsettling details
about Anna, focusing on her violent behavior and the dark
forces that influence her control her.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
We need to perform another exercism.
Speaker 1 (46:28):
Father Theo concludes. The Bishop flashes a worried look before
reluctantly nodding in agreement. You have my blessing, Father Theo.
But this has to be handled discreetly.
Speaker 7 (46:45):
Anna needs to be moved and her identity must be
kept safe. Knowledge of the Church's involvement must be kept
in trust.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
The following days are filled with careful planning, and is
quietly moved to a new location in Iowa, and this
is when she loses the birth name of Emma Schmidt
and becomes known as Anna Uckland or in some cases
Mary X. The new name is a step meant to
(47:25):
protect her from further harm or public scrutiny, and it's
also a step meant to protect the church's reputation. As
everyone prepares for the next confrontation with the malevolent forces
that overwhelm and his soul, the quiet halls of the
(47:57):
Franciscan Sisters Convent stand and show contrast to the chaos
that has taken over Anna's life. Pastor Joseph Steiger, the
head of the convent, is hesitant about allowing such a
risky situation within these sacred walls. Father Theo meets with
Pastor Steiger. Urgency in his voice.
Speaker 5 (48:19):
Pastor Steiger, we need your help. Anna is in a
bad way and we have to perform the exorcis in
somewhere safe in private.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Steiger pauses, concern etched on his face. He tells Father
Theo that this convent is a place of peace. He
worries about bringing in that kind of darkness.
Speaker 5 (48:47):
They have the bishop's approval. We need to help Anna
before it's too layed.
Speaker 1 (48:54):
After a moment, Hester Steiger nods reluctance, giving way to
a sense of responsibility. All right, Father Theo, But we
have to keep it quiet. The sisters in the community
can't know what's going on. When Anna has moved to
(49:36):
the Franciscan Sisters Convent, her rival is kept mum. The
sisters welcome her warmly, completely unaware of the darkness that
lingers around this so called Mary X. From the moment
Anna steps into the convent, the atmosphere shifts. We once
(49:58):
felt serene now feels heavy, as if something is watching.
The sisters begin to notice odd changes in Anna, unexplained
outburst in sudden moments of agitation. There's a dark energy
that seems to follow her everywhere. Father THEO and Pastor
Steiger exchange where he looks. Knowing that strong forces still
(50:22):
have a grip on Anna, they begin preparing for the exorcism,
taking every precaution to keep everyone in the confident safe.
But how can they protect themselves from an enemy they
can't see, can't identify, and have never encountered. What good
are these precautions really. The hush setting of the convent
(51:16):
is interrupted only by the soft footsteps of Sister Margaret
as she heads to Anna's room, a tray of food
in her hands. When she arrives at the door, she
gives a gentle knock before stepping inside.
Speaker 2 (51:33):
Anna, I thought.
Speaker 1 (51:35):
You something they eat, says sister Margaret. She places a
tray on a small table next to the bed. The
meal has been blessed, as is their tradition, but Sister
Margaret doesn't realize what that might mean for Anna. Anna,
(51:58):
her eyes tired and filled with dread and defiance, sits
upright and glances at the tray. She reaches for the food,
her hands shaking, but as soon as she takes a bite,
her face transforms. Anna's body begins the convulse again, and
she drops the food, her eyes wide as she grips
(52:19):
her head. The air is seemingly sucked up in a low,
guttural growl escapes from her lips. Sister Margaret steps back,
her eyes filled with shock and worry. She asks what's wrong.
(52:41):
Anna responds by hurling the tray across the room, food
scattering across the floor. She continues to squirm on the bed,
her body twisting in sharp angles. The commotion draws the
attention of another sister, who rushes to Anna's room there,
she finds Sister Margaret standing in the doorway, her face
(53:06):
completely white and terrified. When Father Theo arrives, he immediately
(54:01):
orders an exorcism and a second exorcism at this point,
and he hopes the last. It's clear that the young
woman's situation has escalated and everyone needs to act fast,
abandoning many of their preparations. August eighteenth, nineteen twenty eight,
(54:25):
just one day after Anna arrives at the convent, Father
Theo and Pastor Steiger meet up to join forces and
hopefully rid Anna the demon that plays her. So they
stand at the foot of Anna's bed. Their voice is
rising and falling in Latin praying as they confront whatever
demon consumes Anna.
Speaker 9 (54:46):
I likes a lbao and then Neo Spiritus hit that
luckdown speedhead the tyra sanctor by the sleevedon.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
And his body starts to bend. Her animalistic growl fills
the room, cutting through the prayers. Steiger sprinkles holy water
on her as he joins the incantation.
Speaker 4 (55:18):
Ominous Felicia sadi immense humani solutis.
Speaker 1 (55:30):
Ana Let's out and unholy scream, her voice reverberating through
the walls. Shaking the very foundation of the convent. She
begins to call out the nuns by name, her words
dripping with venom, Maria.
Speaker 8 (55:45):
I know your secret, miss yours.
Speaker 2 (55:54):
I can tell them all about her uses.
Speaker 1 (55:58):
Well you too, in your guard warning.
Speaker 8 (56:01):
As the sun says.
Speaker 1 (56:04):
The nuns overcome with fear and shame. As their sins
are laid out bare for all within earshot they hear,
they flee the room. Outside, dozens of neighbors gather at
the gates, drawn by the relentless screams and aerie sounds
emanating from the convent. Inside the room, the holy man
(56:26):
refuse to falter.
Speaker 5 (56:29):
But your lt serpents and de game or the.
Speaker 1 (56:35):
Alanmatorium and his mouth clamps shut. Yet the deep voice continues,
and it spews out blasphemies and multiple tongues. This for hours,
(56:59):
and his body are ruches off the bed, he restrained,
limbs straining against the fabric. The priest's voice grow louder,
more forceful as they repeat their prayers.
Speaker 9 (57:10):
Nomine dominates astray, Jesus christisti, Jesus Christie, and beardo e
spirit is.
Speaker 3 (57:20):
And what.
Speaker 1 (57:23):
Anna lets out a final deafening scream that sounds so
unnatural and piercing. It silences everything around them, right before
her body collapses onto the bed, limb and motionless. Hope suffocates.
(58:21):
With each passing day of Anna's exorcism, Father THEO and
Pastor Joseph Steiger continue their relentless prayers in Latin, fighting
to free Anna from the grip of the demons. Yet
the ordeal takes a heavy toll, not just under faith
and determination, but an Anna's body and spirit. One evening,
(58:45):
in a fit of fury, breaks free from her restraints
with an unearthly strength. She bolts from her bed, darting
past the nuns, and leaps into the wall above her door,
clinging there like a creature, defying the laws of nature.
(59:06):
The nuns rush to pull her down, but she remained
stuck to the wall, immovable and smiling. Her low, mocking
laughter echoes throughout the room, ransacking everyone's nerves. Despite their efforts,
the clergy and the nuns are unable to subdue Anna
(59:29):
until Father Theo's commanding voice cuts through the room.
Speaker 5 (59:33):
But you're all see spirit sism spirit sysm Mundee the
Sunday and reade local Fiale die.
Speaker 1 (59:43):
The words seemed to momentarily disrupt the darkness within her,
allowing Anna to be brought down and restrained once more,
but it is clear to all involved that the darkness
is not yet defeated. Without warning, Anna's body shake violently,
her head snapping back as she lets out another scream.
(01:00:07):
Her mouth opens wide, and a dark, foul smelling substance
starts to pour out, splattering onto the floor. The nuns
gasp in horror, some of them stepping back completely overridden
by fear. The substance is thick and tar like, resembling
tobacco in both color and stench. It oozes from Anna's
(01:00:31):
mouth in an unrelenting stream, as if the demons themselves
are being expelled from her body. As the exorcism continues,
the battle wears on Anna's body, Her once vivid features
grow pale and skeletal. Her screams one's ear piercing, weaken
(01:00:52):
in to whimpers. As the darkness attacks her from within,
Her body, already subjected to unimaginable strain, begins to shut
down under the weight of all the mental and physical abuse.
Father Theo and Pastor Steiger see the signs of Anna's collapse.
They fear that continuing the exorcism may cost Anna her life,
(01:01:16):
he sacrifice they are unwilling to make. The exorcism is
finally called off on December twenty third, nineteen twenty eight,
almost four months after it began. The exorcism in nineteen
(01:01:57):
twenty eight seems to lift Anna Uckland from the grip
of her tormentors, but her peace is short lived. The
scars from her struggles, physical, psychological, and spiritual, stay with
her for the rest of her life. Even years after
her time at the Franciscan Sister's Convent in Earling, Iowa,
whispers circulate that Anna still faces moments of demonic harassment
(01:02:21):
up until her death. While the attacks never reach the
same terrifying heights, they're a constant reminder, or perhaps threat,
of the dark times she endured. Father Theo goes back
to his ministry after the events in Earling, continuing to
serve the church. Father Theo carries on with his work
(01:02:44):
until he passes away in nineteen forty one. Remembered as
a man of conviction. Pastor Steiger returns to lead the
Franciscan Sister's Convent, looking after the spiritual needs of the
nuns in the local community. What he witnesses during Anna's
exorcism changes his perspective on faith and strength, deepening his
(01:03:07):
commitment to his calling. He continues his duties until he
eventually passes on as well. The exact date is a
little unclear. The convent eventually stops operating as a religious institution,
but its legacy remains intertwined with Anna's. Even though the
(01:03:29):
exorcism seems to work, Anna is never truly free. She
lives in seclusion, grappling with the aforementioned scars. Story has
it he occasionally feels a faint touch of the darkness
from time to time until she passes away on July
twenty third, nineteen forty one. Well maybe, but more on
(01:03:52):
that next time. Unless Taken. Thank you for listening to
(01:04:43):
Mary X The Exorcism of Anna Auckland, and welcome the
season four of Less Taken. As we mentioned in the
introduction episode, there will be a few changes the Less Taken.
Instead of releasing an episode every other week, we'll have
(01:05:04):
one longer episode that's more of a deep dive, as
well as a companion episode, and of course a preview
in between. And if you're new to Less Taken again,
we take real life horror stories from all around the Midwest,
dramatize them with a bit of soundscaping, and when necessary,
debunk some of the falsehoods. Essentially, all of our stories
(01:05:26):
are based in reality, whether it's more of a true
crime kind of horror story or if it's more of
a folkloric one. Let us know what you think of
the show by leaving a fair rating and review wherever
you're listening, and you can also leave reviews at less
takenpot dot com. There you'll find all things less Taken, sources, notes,
(01:05:48):
additional media, and of course our merch Follow us before
we follow you on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, and threads
under the handle at less Taken Pod. Quick note on
our storytelling. While we do our best to stick to
the facts, we sometimes take creative liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness.
(01:06:09):
For example, a lot of the dialogue in this episode
comes from secondhand accounts, quotes, and a bit of paraphrasing.
I'm seem Humphreys and this is less Taken real life
horror stories from the Midwest. Once again, thanks for listening,
(01:06:29):
and come back in a couple of weeks for our
first roads. Let's take an episode
This taking contains content that may not be suitable for
all audiences listeners, discretion is advised. Roughly Never in their
(00:25):
lives did Jacob Schmidt and his mistress Mina dream they'd
be up late concocting the demise of their own child.
But here they are doing just that. Jacob's daughter Emma,
hasn't done anything wrong all of the midnight plotting by
her parents. It has nothing to do with discipline or
(00:47):
come up, and it's just part of something menacing, something vile,
that's always been. It's concerning just how many times Emma's
woken up on the kitchen floor or outside in the mud,
with no short term memory, just the throbbing headache that
lasts for days. It's hard to imagine the nasty, unspeakable
(01:12):
things Jacob has whispered in Emma's ears, all while Mina
stands with idle hands in an emotionless expression. Before that,
it was Emma's mother doing just the same. While her
mother expressed remorse, she hid in the shadows of an
unlit bedroom, a pillow wrapped around her head to block
(01:36):
out the sounds of her daughter's please for mercy and
whimpers of pain. Emma's never understood her father's rage. Did
it begin when they left Germany and headed to Wisconsin,
or did it happen much before that. Sometimes Emma suspects
(01:56):
the anger comes from her mother. Something about here just
always torments her father, But now here he is acting
in the same suit, well after she's passed away. Of course,
Emma suspected herself as the corbrit many times, but she's
never been sure why. Her mother always said it had
(02:20):
to do with the booze. Her dad said it was
because there is no God. Whatever demons lurk beneath Jacob's skin,
they've always let him down the same direction, lashing out
his frustrations a poor little Emma. Tonight, though, Jacob wants
(02:42):
something more. He wants his daughter to suffer for a
long time to truly know what pain is. Mina supports
this idea and has a hell of a suggestion. How
many times has physical retaliation fallen short? No matter what
(03:03):
Emma still speaks, her mind speaks back to her father.
How ungrateful Emma must be. See. Mina has a few secrets.
One of them isn't so well kept around Wisconsin, and
it's that she is well versed in the dark arts.
(03:23):
A Satanist to some a witch to others. Mina suggests
that they try placing one of the nastiest curses she
knows on Emma, one that will drive her mad and
propel her toward a slow, drudging death.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
By the power of the shadows that mind I call
upon forces both cruel and unkind. With this curse, I
seal her fate, the suffer and torment. No light touch her,
no peace find her soul.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
An I can imagine blood pouring out from the eyes
of her priest, moths emerging from his throat, his beaten
body strapped to the cross. The weeks following the curse
are especially difficult for Anna. Every Sunday, she squirms in
her church pew, wrestling with itchy clothing and even itchier skin,
(04:40):
resisting not only to scratch, but also the urged scream
out and curse amid every prayer, where she remembers colorful
lights dripping down from stained glass panels as only darkness.
The priest, who she adored just weeks ago, now feels
(05:01):
like an enemy. Anna can see herself dismantling and destroying
every last object in the church. Oh how she wants to.
She's able to keep her struggles inward at first, but
as time passes she can hardly make it through the
front door, and she doesn't dare dip her fingers in
(05:21):
holy water on the way inside. They must be doing
something different. Maybe the bulls just need a good cleaning.
Her skin burns as the water brushes over her finger tips.
The water has a bou smell to it too, at least,
(05:42):
Anna thinks so. The church bells ring out as Anna
slowly steps into the sanctuary. Her eyes scope out the
room as she makes her way down the pew, taking
her seat, Anna keeps studying all the decor, the religious
symbols in regalia. In a way, it's all so intimidating.
(06:08):
The priest begins a sermon, clutching a black rosary in
his hand. Anna stares at the beads and the crucifix.
Then she looks up at the much larger crucifix looming
behind him. Anna feels an overwhelming urge to scream that
(06:29):
pop out of her seat and run. Her skin burns,
a thick sweat builds on her forehead. Without further warning,
Anna bolt upright. Her movements a natural and rigid her
mouth opens wide, as though her jaw dilocates momentarily, but
(06:50):
her scream it's nothing more than a whisper. A few
people nearby and the priest rushed to Anna's side, offering
their support. Anna grabs at the edges of the pew
in front of her. There are white and red blotches
around her knucklebut it's as though Anna grips tight while
(07:13):
unseen forces try to drag her away. The priest reaches out,
feeling for her hand, trying to calm her down. The
entire congregation stares and quite frankly, he's worried about Anne's
well being. Her head tips back, her jaw gaped. Anna's
(07:35):
voice finally breaks free, and a guttural, blood curdling scream
escapes her, echoing off the walls. The priest reaches out again,
trying to settle down Anna as she thrashes her body
against the sides of the pews, but she brushes past him.
(07:58):
The priest utters a prayer on her her way out,
to which Anna growls, you're listening to Mary X. The
(08:35):
Exorcism of Anna Uckland the first story from Less Taken
season four. In this episode, we hop between Wisconsin and
Iowa to explore the documented demonic possession of Anna Uckland
and the long, intensive series of exorcisms that zue. If
(08:56):
this is your first time listening to us, Let's take
and explores documented horror stories from all around the Midwest,
dramatizes them with a bit of soundscaping, and when necessary,
debunks any falsehoods. Be sure to let us know what
you think of this episode when you're done by leaving
a fair rating and review. Wherever you're listening, You can
(09:18):
also leave reviews, check out all Things Less Taken and
pick up some of our new merch at less takenpot
dot com. Follow us before we follow you on Facebook, Instagram, threads,
and Blue Sky under the handle at let us taken pot,
and if you truly enjoy the show, be sure to
subscribe with auto downloads on perhaps Tell a friend it
(09:39):
all truly helps. I'm Seam Humphreys and this is Less Taken,
real life horror stories from the Midwest. Thanks for listening.
I hope you enjoy. Mary x Anna Uckland born Emma
(10:34):
Schmidt on March twenty third, eighteen eighty two and her
mother are god fearing Midwesterners, which is where the trouble begins.
Maybe begins isn't exactly the word for it, but religion
always seems to be what her father, Jacob latches onto
(10:56):
when he's a few beers deep in the middle of
a Sunday afternoon noon. Depending on who you trust, it's
generally believed that Anna's dark journey through life begins in Marathon, Wisconsin,
from the distant glands of an outsider. The Schmidt family
should be your typical American household, at least for the times.
(11:20):
The father works, the mother tends to the home as
well as Anna and her eight siblings. They smile at
neighbors and arrive early to church every weekend. That is,
all of the Schmidt family except Jacob. Jacob sways from
(12:07):
side to side in his chair, his bloodshot eyes focused
on a glass of ice with a rusty ring around
the bottom, but the glass is on the table. In
his hand is a bottle of whiskey, and it's empty.
(12:33):
His daughter, Anna and his wife Augusta walk through the
front door, the bold afternoon sunlight piercing the Jacob's blurred vision. Anna,
still holding a rosary, nervously shifts her gaze between her
parents Jacob. His breath damn near flammable, says.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Another Sunday, Augusta.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Day wasted, just so other people know you're Christian too.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Augusta's eyes glistened with unshead tears, but she remains quiet,
her lips moving in a silent prayer.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Help us time met in the chaos.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You know, Jacob continues his gaze, unfocused.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
The world is changing.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
People are starting to see that there's more to life
than what the Bible tells us. The Darwin's work, it
shows us the life evolves not by divine creation, but
by natural selection. It's real, Like Gusta, this is science,
(13:49):
and this is real.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Augusta's voice is barely a whisper. Help us in the chaos.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Jacob laughs, meaning, sometimes I wonder if we're just fooling ourselves,
trying to find patterns where there are none. The Bible,
it's full of contradictions and outdated morals. We can't abase
(14:28):
our lives and attexts. That's so flawed. How stupid are you?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Anna feels a not tightening in her stomach.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
Please.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Jacob's grip on the bottle titans, his knuckles turning white.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
No, Anna, you've listen.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I've read all about how the universe works. That this
is the discoveries they're making. It's also fast and indifferent
and the suffering, the suffering we see all around us.
How can a benevolent god allow so much pain?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Think about it, Anna, don't be dumb like your mother.
It doesn't add up. How can you believe any of this?
You're not scared? Are you? Because it's scared people who
go to church?
Speaker 1 (15:29):
A gust that looks up our eyes, pleading.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Jacob, Not everything can be explained.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Jacob's voice softens, almost as if he's speaking to himself.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Let me ask you, this is God keeping a roof
over our heads. I'm pretty sure that's me.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The church. It's full of hypocrites, you know it, probably
why you go there.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Anna, her voice trembling but determined, speaks up.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Maybe face isn't about answers.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Jacob's eyes narrow, his anger starting to flare.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
So you think you know better.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Than me, You think you can just just accept everything.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Without question, then maybe you'll accept this.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
No, a guess that calls out. The room falls silent,
the tension hanging heavy in the air, the silhouettes of
Jacob and Anna mingling along the walls, Jacob stands upright,
(16:50):
the bottle dropping to the floor in the shadow of
his right arm lengthens and as cheeksbury. Her eyes are
filled with tears, shocked and fear as her rosary shatters
and slides across the floor. Occasionally, or if she's honest,
(17:50):
quite frequently, Jacob's anger gets out of line. Perhaps she'll
never understand why or what demons he's chasing with all
that booze. During these times when Jacob's anger gets out
of control, Anna becomes an easy target amongst her siblings.
Maybe it's because she's the only one brave enough to
(18:11):
speak back to defend herself when necessary. Augusta might like
to think she's always been there to protect her daughter
from Jacob's outbursts, but Anne surely remembers her mother standing
idle in the corner during several of these violent events.
Either way, she's no longer around to stand by Anna's side,
(18:33):
even if in silence. Shortly after Anna's mother passes away,
Jacob finds a love interest in a dark clothed woman
named Mina, who just happens to be his sister in
law or former sister in law. Either way, not cool.
Anne and her mother are known as being devout Catholics.
(18:56):
Jacob may pretend to be like everyone else in public,
but at home, Anna knows him as an outspoken atheist. Now,
adding another volatile ingredient to the mix is Mina, with
her dedication to the dark arts and what some might
simply call witchcraft. Jacob should have plenty of opportunities to
(19:20):
shut down Mina's beliefs too, but ultimately he doesn't. As
Anna becomes more and more outspoken herself, Jacob starts to
wonder just how real Mina's magic truly is. Anne opposes
a threat to Jacob, at least to his control over
the household. In fact, just the sight of Anna makes
(19:42):
him sick. Sometimes she looks just like her mother, argues
just like her mother. All of this leads to Jacob
giving in to mean a suggestion and taking a gamble
by placing a curse on his own daughter, and he'll
(20:02):
be damned the curse actually works. The heavy church door
(20:36):
creaks open as Anna uckland steps inside. Her heart pounding
in her chest, she worries everyone is staring at her.
She's late again. As she walks down the aisle, her
vision blurs and her steps falter. Each movement feels like
(20:58):
a battle. As her body trembles. Anna grips the back
of a pew, trying to steady herself, but the nausea
only intensifies. The sight of the crucifix at the front
of the church sends a shiver, and she averts her
gaze power Father art in heaven. The priest begins the
(21:21):
communion right, and Ana takes a deep breath, stealing herself
for what comes next. She steps forward, her hands shaking
as she approaches the altar. The congregation watches in silence.
(21:41):
Their face is filled with concern and confusion. As the
priest places the wafer in her hand, a searing pain
shoots through her fingers. She gasped, dropping the wafer to
the floor, her skin red and blistered where it touched her.
(22:03):
Sky Whispers start to ricochet amongst the worshipers. She determined
to see it through. Anna picks up the wafer and
places it in her mouth. The moment it touches her tongue,
a violent wave of nausea crashes over her. Anna doubles over,
retching uncontrollably, the taste of the wafer burning at the
(22:26):
back of her throat. The congregation recoils in horror. Their
face is pale as they witness the unsettling scene. The
priest rushes to her side, trying to offer comfort, but
Anna can barely stand. Her bodies racked with pain and
(22:46):
her eyes are filled with a mix of fear and anguish.
As she collapses to the floor, the church is filled
with an eerie silence, broken only by Anna's labored breaths.
Everyone stares everyone. It's a familiar scene. Anna is stuck outside,
(23:33):
just a few hundred feet away from the church entrance.
She takes a deep breath, willing herself to step inside,
but an invisible force seems to hold her back, perhaps
spotting her from a window. The priest steps outside and
approaches Anna. He says, Anna, come forward to speak with you.
(24:01):
Anna's eyes fill with determination. She takes a tentative step forward.
Pains shoots through her body and she winces, her legs
trembling once again. She takes another step, but the agony intensifies,
making it nearly impossible for her to move. Her muscles
tightened and her legs full gelatinous all at once. Somehow,
(24:28):
her vision blurs and she can feel her stomach start
to churn. As she looks at the church, her surroundings
shift into stort The once familiar sanctuary transforms into a
nightmarish landscape. The walls breathe in and out, sometimes changing angles.
(24:52):
The crucifix at the front of the church twist and contorts,
its figure grotesque and menacing. The priest's voice grows more.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Insistent, Anna, come to me, please.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Desperation fills her eyes as Anna tries to take another step,
but the pain is unbearable, and that doubles over, clutching
her stomach and a foul, dark substance begins to rise
in her throat. She gags, unable to hold it back,
and spits a vile liquid in the direction of the priest.
(25:31):
The dark substance splatters on the ground, narrowly missing the priest.
His face shifts with shock and disgust as he takes
a step back. Anna laughs, and that keeps showing up
(26:21):
in front of the church as she wants to enter.
But that's never what happens. The priest, noticing her hesitation,
steps out from the church and approaches her cautiously.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
You know, come inside and let's have.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
A chat, he calls out, extending his.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Hand we really ought to have a talk, and.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
His eyes flicker with a mix of fear. In defiance,
she shakes her head, remaining deep rooted to the spot.
The priest's sighs and walks over to her.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Please, Dana, let's talk, he.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Says as he draws closer, and his expression shifts to
something darker. She leans in her lips, nearly brushing his ear,
and begins to whisper. Hear her breath is hot, much
hotter than any human should be. It almost burns. Her
(27:27):
words are barely audible, but the Priest's face pales when
he hears them, his eyes widened in horror, and his
voice continues low, insidious. She tells him things a fourteen
year old girl should never tell a grown man, especially
not a man of the Lord. She whispers unspeakable things,
(27:48):
unspeakable things, just like the ones her father used to
whisper when her mommy was away, and sometimes even when
she wasn't. The priest takes an unsteady step back, his
heart pounding in his chest, but she follows her whispers,
growing more intense. They swarm around him like bats. Finally
(28:16):
unable to bear it any longer, the priest recoils and
stumbles back. He turns and retreats back inside the church,
leaving Anna standing alone in the gathering darkness. The priest
(29:01):
sits at his desk, the room dimly lit by a
single candle. He shakes as he writes a letter detailing
the disturbing events surrounding Anna Euckland. At once devout young Christian,
concern presses on him, his thoughts filled with images of
Anna's tormented face and the sinister whispers that still echo
(29:22):
in his ears. She whispered such vile things. Unable to
bear the burden alone any longer, the priest reaches out
for help, contacting a Kipuchin monk from Marathon, Wisconsin. He
seals the letter and sends it off, hoping for a
swift response. Days later, the priest receives a reply. The monk,
(29:47):
deeply concerned by the account, suggests that Anna might be
possessed by evil spirits. The monk advises the priest that
they need the expertise of an experienced exorcist.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
I recommend Father Philophilus or Father Theo. He has dealt
with cases like this before and could provide the.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Help you need. So the priest reaches out to Father
Theo upon the recommendation of the monk, and surprisingly, Father
Theo agrees to take the case. Father Theo may believe
(30:43):
in demons, and he may be willing to perform a
basic exorcism at Anna Uckland, but he's also highly skeptical.
Whenever someone claims another individual is haunted by unseen the
farious forces, he can't help, but under that individual suffers
from a physical or mental ailment. Sometimes it's not the
(31:06):
individual that's unstable, but the reporter. Sometimes it's just all
a bunch of bullshit. Father Theo deems the monk and
the priest trustworthy sources, so he rules out the idea
of the reporter being crazy or just full of crap. However,
Ana's condition remains to be determined. He needs to figure
(31:30):
out whether something truly dark and sinister plagues the young woman,
or if she might need the help of a doctor
over an exorcist. To test this, Father Theo doesn't have
to go out of his way or expend a great
deal of effort. It all comes down to two little
vials of water. One quite naturally is holy water, the
(31:55):
other comes straight from the tap. He'll introduce both to
Anna and see how she reacts. Father Theo stands before
Anna and the priest. Anna sits in a chair, her
eyes darting around the room. There are moments when she's
friendly and compliant, then there are many others, many more
(32:19):
in which she curses and argues. Father Theo approaches Anna
with a calm and confident demeanor. He holds the two
vials of water in his hands. He looks at Anna.
Speaker 5 (32:32):
We need to determine if he truly possessed Anna. This
test will help us.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
He uncaps the vial of tap water and sprinkles a
few drops on Anna's arm. She flinches slightly, but there's
no real reaction. It's just a shock of being splashed.
Father Theo then uncaps the vial of holy wit. There's
a collective rise to everyone's heart rate. Father Theo sprinkles
(33:09):
a few drops of holy water on Anna's arm, and
immediately her skin begins to scissor and boil. Anna's eyes
widened in fear, and she lets out a piercing scream.
She squirms in agony, her body contorting as the holy
water continues to burn at her flesh. The priest takes
(33:32):
a step back, his face pale with shot Father Theo
remains calm and his eyes never leave Anna. Father Theo whispers.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
The presence of evil is strong within her.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Father Theo prepares for the exorcism. Anna lies restrained on
the bed, her body contorting in unnatural ways that she
tries to escape. She initially agrees because she knows something
is deeply troubled about her, but once things begin, a
different side of Anna comes out, a completely different personality.
(34:37):
In this Anna does not consent. Father Theo stands at
the front of the bed, his hands gripping her crucifix tightly.
The priest watches anxiously from the corner of the room.
Speaker 5 (34:51):
Or to say, Michael the arch Angel, in the name
of the Father, and.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
This Father Theo and to As the procedure drags on,
Andy's body convulses violently in a guttural, unearthly growl escapes
her lips. The room grows colder, and the scent of
sulfur now fills the air. Father Theo sprinkles holy water
(35:19):
on Anna, and her skin sizzles and boils, causing her
to scream out and hanging.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
By the power of Christ, I compelled you.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Father Theo continues his voice unwavering from the tyranny. He
holds a crucifix aloft, pressing it against Anna's forehead. She
thrashes and writhes, her screams echoing through the room. The
priest watches more stressful as Anna's body contorts, her eyes
(35:48):
rolling to the back of her.
Speaker 5 (35:49):
Head to crush safe beneath our feet. That he may
no longer retained man captain and due injury to the.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Church, Father Theo's prayers grow louder and more intense. Minutes
stretch into what feels like ours. As Father Theo continues
his relentless prayers and his body twists and shudders. Her
screams a haunting symphony. Finally, after a brooding struggle, and
(36:23):
his body begins to relax, her shrieks and screams subside
into whimpers. Father Theo steps back, his face carved by exhaustion.
The Priest approaches slowly.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
And asks is it over?
Speaker 1 (37:20):
The candles cast an eerie glow as Jacob and Mina
sit at the kitchen table, their faces unstirred and unreadable.
But if anyone walked into that room, they'd immediately feel
the negative energy. Something's wrong, something is about to get
(37:40):
much worse. The news of Anna's exorcism reaches them, and
the thought of the curse they placed being broken heats
them with animosity. Jacob clenches his fist in resentment. Anna
has always been a thorn in his side. Her outspoken
nature and disobedience have made their lives a living helm
(38:03):
in his mind. Not that he believes in hell and
Mina shares his sentiments and an effort to regain control,
Mina gathers the necessary ingredients for another dark ritual, herbs,
the candles, and a crude dull that almost resembles a
(38:26):
young Anna. Surprisingly, Jacob and Mina pick up a worn
ancient bible. They turn to Matthew twelve forty three forty five,
their fingers trembling with anticipation. Together they read the verses aloud.
(38:46):
Their voice is harmonizing in low, shaky tones, and the unclaimed
spirit is done.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
When the spirit is gone out of man.
Speaker 6 (38:56):
He walk u through a dry place, through.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
A dry place, can rest and finds.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
None and none.
Speaker 6 (39:04):
Then he's saying, I will return into my house from
whence I came out. When yous come, he find us
at empty, sweat varnished.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
You find it empty.
Speaker 6 (39:19):
Then doth he and taketh with himself seven.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Other spirits, wicked and another spirit, and.
Speaker 6 (39:27):
They enter in and dwelfare and the last state of
that man. So shall it be also unsating wicked generation generation.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
The words hang heavy in the air. Jacob Mena exchange
a glance under the candlelight, one of amusement and more importantly,
one of satisfaction. Jacob Schmidt passes away in nineteen twelve,
and Mina in nineteen thirteen. However, the curse doesn't die
(40:05):
with them. In the days after the exorcism, Anna experiences
(40:28):
a brief moment of peace or calm or something whatever
it is. It feels like a weight has been lifted
off of her shoulders, and for a while she can
breathe easier, But that calm doesn't last long. Sitting alone
in her room, Anna tries to concentrate on her studies,
(40:48):
but her mind is racing. Unwonted. Dark intrusive thoughts crawl
into her mind. She shakes her head, trying to push
them away, but they just won't. They make a home there.
Sometimes she can steer off the thoughts, especially if she
keeps her mind occupied enough, but then come the whispers.
(41:13):
They're soft at first, but they soon amplify. They speak
of violence, destruction, and terrible things she should do. Terrible
things involving her siblings, terrible things involving her neighbors, terrible
things involving the church. The voices won't stop me, they hiss.
(41:53):
Her heart pounds and her hands shake as she clutches
her head, trying to block out the voices. But the
voices are too strong. They flood her mind with vivid
images of chaos, of her yanking every crossing crucifix from
the walls, of her, trapping the priest in a confessional,
(42:14):
and setting the church ablaze. Suddenly, she jumps to her feet,
gasping for breath. The room feels like it's closing in
on her. The whispers get louder, their demands more urgent.
Speaker 5 (42:40):
To it, and it.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Was The room is filled with a soft, yet warm
light as Anna sits across from her spiritual counselor, a
(43:05):
kind woman who has been guiding her with the support
of the priest and father.
Speaker 8 (43:09):
Theo Anna that's focus under breathing, take a d breath, thin.
Speaker 7 (43:21):
And slow.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
Anna nods, closing her eyes as she attempts to follow along.
For a moment, she feels a sense of calm wash
over her, a much needed break from the chaos swirling
in the back of her mind. But soon enough, those
dark thoughts creep back in relentless insidious. The counselor continues speaking,
(43:51):
unaware of the turmoil brewing inside of Anna. Suddenly and
his's eyelid's on zip and a wild look tears across
her face. She springs upright and lunges forward, her hands
gripping the counselor's throat with the strength unnatural for such
(44:11):
a young girl. The counselor gases her, her eyes wide
with shock and fear. She struggles to break free, but
Anna's grip doesn't let up. Their room fills with the
sound of the spiritual Counselor's frantic breaths and muffled cries
for help. Then, just as quickly as it starts, the
(44:32):
chaos stops, and it releases her hold and stumbles back.
The counselor collapses to the floor, coughing and desperate for air.
Anna stands there, her eyes wide. She looks down at
her hands, red and swollen, as if she's seeing them
(44:54):
for the very first time. Her voice shaky, she looks
at the counselor and asks what just happened. The spiritual
(45:38):
counselor sits in her office, her hands shaking a bit
as she dials Father Theo. The memory of Anna's violent
outburst is still vivid in her mind and she knows
they need to take action. When Father Theo picks up,
she rushes to explain what happened, her voice filled with urgency.
Speaker 6 (45:58):
I'm really worried that Anna's condition is getting worse.
Speaker 5 (46:04):
I'll talk to the Bishop for guidance.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
Standing before the Bishop, Father Theo shares the unsettling details
about Anna, focusing on her violent behavior and the dark
forces that influence her control her.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
We need to perform another exercism.
Speaker 1 (46:28):
Father Theo concludes. The Bishop flashes a worried look before
reluctantly nodding in agreement. You have my blessing, Father Theo.
But this has to be handled discreetly.
Speaker 7 (46:45):
Anna needs to be moved and her identity must be
kept safe. Knowledge of the Church's involvement must be kept
in trust.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
The following days are filled with careful planning, and is
quietly moved to a new location in Iowa, and this
is when she loses the birth name of Emma Schmidt
and becomes known as Anna Uckland or in some cases
Mary X. The new name is a step meant to
(47:25):
protect her from further harm or public scrutiny, and it's
also a step meant to protect the church's reputation. As
everyone prepares for the next confrontation with the malevolent forces
that overwhelm and his soul, the quiet halls of the
(47:57):
Franciscan Sisters Convent stand and show contrast to the chaos
that has taken over Anna's life. Pastor Joseph Steiger, the
head of the convent, is hesitant about allowing such a
risky situation within these sacred walls. Father Theo meets with
Pastor Steiger. Urgency in his voice.
Speaker 5 (48:19):
Pastor Steiger, we need your help. Anna is in a
bad way and we have to perform the exorcis in
somewhere safe in private.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Steiger pauses, concern etched on his face. He tells Father
Theo that this convent is a place of peace. He
worries about bringing in that kind of darkness.
Speaker 5 (48:47):
They have the bishop's approval. We need to help Anna
before it's too layed.
Speaker 1 (48:54):
After a moment, Hester Steiger nods reluctance, giving way to
a sense of responsibility. All right, Father Theo, But we
have to keep it quiet. The sisters in the community
can't know what's going on. When Anna has moved to
(49:36):
the Franciscan Sisters Convent, her rival is kept mum. The
sisters welcome her warmly, completely unaware of the darkness that
lingers around this so called Mary X. From the moment
Anna steps into the convent, the atmosphere shifts. We once
(49:58):
felt serene now feels heavy, as if something is watching.
The sisters begin to notice odd changes in Anna, unexplained
outburst in sudden moments of agitation. There's a dark energy
that seems to follow her everywhere. Father THEO and Pastor
Steiger exchange where he looks. Knowing that strong forces still
(50:22):
have a grip on Anna, they begin preparing for the exorcism,
taking every precaution to keep everyone in the confident safe.
But how can they protect themselves from an enemy they
can't see, can't identify, and have never encountered. What good
are these precautions really. The hush setting of the convent
(51:16):
is interrupted only by the soft footsteps of Sister Margaret
as she heads to Anna's room, a tray of food
in her hands. When she arrives at the door, she
gives a gentle knock before stepping inside.
Speaker 2 (51:33):
Anna, I thought.
Speaker 1 (51:35):
You something they eat, says sister Margaret. She places a
tray on a small table next to the bed. The
meal has been blessed, as is their tradition, but Sister
Margaret doesn't realize what that might mean for Anna. Anna,
(51:58):
her eyes tired and filled with dread and defiance, sits
upright and glances at the tray. She reaches for the food,
her hands shaking, but as soon as she takes a bite,
her face transforms. Anna's body begins the convulse again, and
she drops the food, her eyes wide as she grips
(52:19):
her head. The air is seemingly sucked up in a low,
guttural growl escapes from her lips. Sister Margaret steps back,
her eyes filled with shock and worry. She asks what's wrong.
(52:41):
Anna responds by hurling the tray across the room, food
scattering across the floor. She continues to squirm on the bed,
her body twisting in sharp angles. The commotion draws the
attention of another sister, who rushes to Anna's room there,
she finds Sister Margaret standing in the doorway, her face
(53:06):
completely white and terrified. When Father Theo arrives, he immediately
(54:01):
orders an exorcism and a second exorcism at this point,
and he hopes the last. It's clear that the young
woman's situation has escalated and everyone needs to act fast,
abandoning many of their preparations. August eighteenth, nineteen twenty eight,
(54:25):
just one day after Anna arrives at the convent, Father
Theo and Pastor Steiger meet up to join forces and
hopefully rid Anna the demon that plays her. So they
stand at the foot of Anna's bed. Their voice is
rising and falling in Latin praying as they confront whatever
demon consumes Anna.
Speaker 9 (54:46):
I likes a lbao and then Neo Spiritus hit that
luckdown speedhead the tyra sanctor by the sleevedon.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
And his body starts to bend. Her animalistic growl fills
the room, cutting through the prayers. Steiger sprinkles holy water
on her as he joins the incantation.
Speaker 4 (55:18):
Ominous Felicia sadi immense humani solutis.
Speaker 1 (55:30):
Ana Let's out and unholy scream, her voice reverberating through
the walls. Shaking the very foundation of the convent. She
begins to call out the nuns by name, her words
dripping with venom, Maria.
Speaker 8 (55:45):
I know your secret, miss yours.
Speaker 2 (55:54):
I can tell them all about her uses.
Speaker 1 (55:58):
Well you too, in your guard warning.
Speaker 8 (56:01):
As the sun says.
Speaker 1 (56:04):
The nuns overcome with fear and shame. As their sins
are laid out bare for all within earshot they hear,
they flee the room. Outside, dozens of neighbors gather at
the gates, drawn by the relentless screams and aerie sounds
emanating from the convent. Inside the room, the holy man
(56:26):
refuse to falter.
Speaker 5 (56:29):
But your lt serpents and de game or the.
Speaker 1 (56:35):
Alanmatorium and his mouth clamps shut. Yet the deep voice continues,
and it spews out blasphemies and multiple tongues. This for hours,
(56:59):
and his body are ruches off the bed, he restrained,
limbs straining against the fabric. The priest's voice grow louder,
more forceful as they repeat their prayers.
Speaker 9 (57:10):
Nomine dominates astray, Jesus christisti, Jesus Christie, and beardo e
spirit is.
Speaker 3 (57:20):
And what.
Speaker 1 (57:23):
Anna lets out a final deafening scream that sounds so
unnatural and piercing. It silences everything around them, right before
her body collapses onto the bed, limb and motionless. Hope suffocates.
(58:21):
With each passing day of Anna's exorcism, Father THEO and
Pastor Joseph Steiger continue their relentless prayers in Latin, fighting
to free Anna from the grip of the demons. Yet
the ordeal takes a heavy toll, not just under faith
and determination, but an Anna's body and spirit. One evening,
(58:45):
in a fit of fury, breaks free from her restraints
with an unearthly strength. She bolts from her bed, darting
past the nuns, and leaps into the wall above her door,
clinging there like a creature, defying the laws of nature.
(59:06):
The nuns rush to pull her down, but she remained
stuck to the wall, immovable and smiling. Her low, mocking
laughter echoes throughout the room, ransacking everyone's nerves. Despite their efforts,
the clergy and the nuns are unable to subdue Anna
(59:29):
until Father Theo's commanding voice cuts through the room.
Speaker 5 (59:33):
But you're all see spirit sism spirit sysm Mundee the
Sunday and reade local Fiale die.
Speaker 1 (59:43):
The words seemed to momentarily disrupt the darkness within her,
allowing Anna to be brought down and restrained once more,
but it is clear to all involved that the darkness
is not yet defeated. Without warning, Anna's body shake violently,
her head snapping back as she lets out another scream.
(01:00:07):
Her mouth opens wide, and a dark, foul smelling substance
starts to pour out, splattering onto the floor. The nuns
gasp in horror, some of them stepping back completely overridden
by fear. The substance is thick and tar like, resembling
tobacco in both color and stench. It oozes from Anna's
(01:00:31):
mouth in an unrelenting stream, as if the demons themselves
are being expelled from her body. As the exorcism continues,
the battle wears on Anna's body, Her once vivid features
grow pale and skeletal. Her screams one's ear piercing, weaken
(01:00:52):
in to whimpers. As the darkness attacks her from within,
Her body, already subjected to unimaginable strain, begins to shut
down under the weight of all the mental and physical abuse.
Father Theo and Pastor Steiger see the signs of Anna's collapse.
They fear that continuing the exorcism may cost Anna her life,
(01:01:16):
he sacrifice they are unwilling to make. The exorcism is
finally called off on December twenty third, nineteen twenty eight,
almost four months after it began. The exorcism in nineteen
(01:01:57):
twenty eight seems to lift Anna Uckland from the grip
of her tormentors, but her peace is short lived. The
scars from her struggles, physical, psychological, and spiritual, stay with
her for the rest of her life. Even years after
her time at the Franciscan Sister's Convent in Earling, Iowa,
whispers circulate that Anna still faces moments of demonic harassment
(01:02:21):
up until her death. While the attacks never reach the
same terrifying heights, they're a constant reminder, or perhaps threat,
of the dark times she endured. Father Theo goes back
to his ministry after the events in Earling, continuing to
serve the church. Father Theo carries on with his work
(01:02:44):
until he passes away in nineteen forty one. Remembered as
a man of conviction. Pastor Steiger returns to lead the
Franciscan Sister's Convent, looking after the spiritual needs of the
nuns in the local community. What he witnesses during Anna's
exorcism changes his perspective on faith and strength, deepening his
(01:03:07):
commitment to his calling. He continues his duties until he
eventually passes on as well. The exact date is a
little unclear. The convent eventually stops operating as a religious institution,
but its legacy remains intertwined with Anna's. Even though the
(01:03:29):
exorcism seems to work, Anna is never truly free. She
lives in seclusion, grappling with the aforementioned scars. Story has
it he occasionally feels a faint touch of the darkness
from time to time until she passes away on July
twenty third, nineteen forty one. Well maybe, but more on
(01:03:52):
that next time. Unless Taken. Thank you for listening to
(01:04:43):
Mary X The Exorcism of Anna Auckland, and welcome the
season four of Less Taken. As we mentioned in the
introduction episode, there will be a few changes the Less Taken.
Instead of releasing an episode every other week, we'll have
(01:05:04):
one longer episode that's more of a deep dive, as
well as a companion episode, and of course a preview
in between. And if you're new to Less Taken again,
we take real life horror stories from all around the Midwest,
dramatize them with a bit of soundscaping, and when necessary,
debunk some of the falsehoods. Essentially, all of our stories
(01:05:26):
are based in reality, whether it's more of a true
crime kind of horror story or if it's more of
a folkloric one. Let us know what you think of
the show by leaving a fair rating and review wherever
you're listening, and you can also leave reviews at less
takenpot dot com. There you'll find all things less Taken, sources, notes,
(01:05:48):
additional media, and of course our merch Follow us before
we follow you on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, and threads
under the handle at less Taken Pod. Quick note on
our storytelling. While we do our best to stick to
the facts, we sometimes take creative liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness.
(01:06:09):
For example, a lot of the dialogue in this episode
comes from secondhand accounts, quotes, and a bit of paraphrasing.
I'm seem Humphreys and this is less Taken real life
horror stories from the Midwest. Once again, thanks for listening,
(01:06:29):
and come back in a couple of weeks for our
first roads. Let's take an episode
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