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  To my beautiful girls, Christina Marie and Daniella Ann, your love and support in my life has enabled me to carry on. To my grandson, Jacob Michael, God keeps blessing me and I love you, little man.

  My whole world revolves around all of you, and I feel that God has blessed me. I will love you all forever.

  Ralph Sarchie

  To John, Alison, Georgia, and Rosalie, you lift my spirit with your love and laughter.

  Lisa Collier Cool

  A special dedication to the late Father Malachi Martin, one of God’s great warriors.

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Epigraphs

  Foreword

  Preface

  1. The Halloween Horror

  2. Nightmare’s End

  3. Cops and Soul Robbers

  4. The House by the Graveyard

  5. The Incubus Attack

  6. The Satanic Stalker

  7. Caught by the Occult

  8. The Werewolf

  9. Dabblers in the Damned

  10. Busting the Devil

  11. The September Curse

  12. Real-Life Ghost Stories

  13. A Deadly Sin

  14. Possessed Over the Phone

  Afterword

  Letter to the Reader

  Appendix I: Prayers of Exorcism

  Appendix II: The Rosary

  Appendix III: Act of Consecration to the Virgin Mary

  Copyright

  FOREWORD

  No one can claim to be a Christian, much less Catholic, who doubts or denies the Devil. Christ came to redeem mankind from the dominions of Satan and his apostate legions of fallen angels. “Now is the judgment of the world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth [on the cross] will draw all things to myself” (John 12:31–32). The instances recounted in the Gospel of Jesus casting out devils from possessed persons demonstrate the reality of these unseen spirits. In the words of the Church’s traditional prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, they “wander the world seeking the ruin of souls.”

  Today more than ever! Along with the ever-expanding abyss of immorality engulfing the world is a deluge of preternatural demonic infestation. The Devil’s hand in immorality is on the ordinary level—Satan is the standard-bearer of sinners—but the demonic infestation involves his invasion of mind and body. When I was ordained some forty years ago, diabolical obsession and possession of people was almost unheard of—something the average priest, even though ordained an exorcist, would hardly encounter in his lifetime; something confined to the theology textbooks. But today, for those who have eyes to see, it is almost commonplace.

  Exorcism exposes the Devil behind the veil of all too many, if not most, “psychiatric” cases. He talks to you, he defies you, he threatens you. He torments his victim in front of you and can test every fiber of those restraining him. Not in every case—in some he plays deaf and dumb—but in enough to show the pattern.

  Whence this deluge? It stems from the spread—nay the plague—of the occult. In nine out of ten cases, the victim of demonic oppression has had connection, directly or indirectly, with witchcraft, open or disguised. This connection ranges from the possession of superstitious artifacts, such as Ouija boards, to “harmless” charms and outright satanic rituals. In between the two extremes are Charismatic and New Age movements. Satanism itself has been accepted as a religion, and there is even a “Bible” of Satan. Those who seek knowledge and power outside the order instituted by God seek it from His enemy and stand, for their correction, to be handed over to His power and suffer the consequences.

  Ralph Sarchie, author of this book, is well qualified to write on the demonic. For years he has been investigating cases of it, and he, with others, has stood by me in exorcisms. Without assistants to restrain those who may become violent, it is perilous, as I have indicated, to exorcise anyone who is possessed. No subject, I daresay, could be of more practical, if not urgent, interest. May this book serve the humanitarian purpose for which it has been undertaken.

  Bishop Robert F. McKenna, O.P.

  Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel

  Monroe, Connecticut

  PREFACE

  I never set out to write a book about the supernatural. I am a New York City police sergeant, and cops write about police work, not demons, ghosts, and exorcism. But I live in two worlds: one of cop life, down and dirty in the streets with very real blood and guts, and one plagued by a different sort of crime, perpetuated by forces that are evil beyond imagination. These worlds seem very far apart for most. People ask me, “How can you see all that gritty reality as a cop for sixteen years and then believe in the spirit world?” But I have found that most cops do believe in spirits, and, most important of all, the vast majority believe in God and are religious people. That makes me happy because what cops see every day can have a corrosive effect on spirituality. I have experienced that effect firsthand.

  It is because of my profession that I can distinguish between the two worlds and know that the preternatural and supernatural exist. To live in the world of crime and justice helps me to deal with the reality of pure evil when it strikes real people with real terror. As Joe Forrester, my partner in spiritual investigations, so eloquently says, two different types of evil exist: primary evil, which comes from the Devil, and secondary evil, which is the evil that people do. Although all evil stems from the Devil, I am not always quick to blame the Devil for the nasty deeds that one human being can inflict on another. I know the difference between human and inhuman evil when I see it.

  I had no idea what I was letting myself in for when, a decade ago, I started in “the Work,” investigating haunted houses and cases of demonic possession. Like police work, it takes its toll on you, but I have no regrets. Due to the Work my faith has grown, and my love for Jesus Christ is just as real as the love I have for my wife and children. When you read this book, keep one thing in mind: The book is not about some cop or the Devil, it is about God. When you read about a situation that seems hopeless for the people involved, always remember that with God all things are possible. Although some of the people I write about continue to experience their troubles, one thing has changed for them: God has now entered their lives, and He makes it bearable for them to live with their spiritual problems.

  Before I go on to acknowledge the many people whom I have become friends with due to the Work, friends I hold dear in my own way, I want to say that I have always handled my investigations in an honest, straightforward, and professional manner. Everything in this book taken from my cases is exactly as it was told to me by eyewitnesses or from what I observed personally. These events are documented in my notes, and in the video- and audio-tapes I’ve made of my investigations. My experiences are not embellished in any way; I have changed some names and certain identifying details to protect the privacy of families or individuals who sought my help.

  To my daughters, Christina and Daniella, I have no words to express my love for you both, and I thank God every day for the special blessings that you are. You are my pride and my joy, and I will love you both for eternity.

  My mother, Lillian, has always been a source of joy and inspiration for me—keep smiling, Mom. My father, Ralph Sr., has taught me more than he will ever realize: Dad, your guidance has enabled me to reach this point in my life. To my sister Lisa, although you are scared witle
ss about the Work, you have unfailingly given me your support, and your kindness is heartfelt. To my godson, Joseph, my nieces Stephanie and Jessica, and my nephew, Vincent, may the good Lord watch over you and smile on you all your days. To all my brothers and sisters in the New York City Police Department, you do a fantastic job serving the people of this city.

  To Bishop McKenna, without your love for God and humanity, many would suffer. You have given me and countless others the opportunity to carry on. To Sister Mary Philomena, I owe you special gratitude for so graciously leading me to the Blessed Virgin Mary and teaching me that the rosary is a devotion that I should not be without. To all the Sisters at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, thank you for all your kindness and prayers. Monsignor Richard M., you gave generously of yourself, and your friendship is greatly valued. Father Mike S., Father Mike T., Father Frank P., and Father John F., I rejoice in your friendship and your prayers. Brother Andrew, I have no words to honor you enough for all that you have done for me, both in the Work and in my personal life. Without you I don’t know how things would have turned out for me, but you know better than anybody.

  Without these people, the Work would have been next to impossible. I thank each and every one of them for giving of themselves and being dedicated to the service that they provided to the children of God. Phil W., Rose W., Chris W., Tony B., Antonio and Vicki B., Kathy D., Fred K., Dennis M., Millie M., Marie P. (may you rest in peace), Scott S., John Z., Joe Z., Dean L., Steve I., David A., and Matt M.–although I have lost contact with some of you, you will forever be in my memory and prayers.

  Lisa Collier Cool, thanks for putting up with me on this journey. I could not have a better writer working on this book with me. Jimmy Vines, this was all your idea, and I thank you for having faith in me. Doug Montero, your interest got the ball rolling and for that I am grateful. Joe Veltre and Joe Cleemann, your editorial wisdom has been a tremendous help in guiding this book to publication.

  And last, but not least, to my special friend and partner Joe Forrester: From the very beginning, you have taught me the most in the Work, and your everlasting friendship is cherished. You are a man I have entrusted with my life on so many occasions without hesitation. Thank you for all your guidance and your help in writing this book. With the grace of God our friendship will last throughout the ages, in this life and the next.

  I would like to leave you, the reader, with one thing. You can tell me that you don’t believe a damn word that I say about my cases and the demonic. If you’re skeptical, that’s okay—but if just one person tells me that he believes in God after reading these stories, I will walk away from this project smiling. I know if you are that person, you’ve won half the battle.

  God bless you all,

  Ralph Sarchie

  Bethpage, New York

  1

  THE HALLOWEEN HORROR

  I hate Halloween. It wasn’t always this way: When I was a child, I liked to dress up and collect candy from the neighbors; and when I was a little older, I was one of those guys who would go out with eggs and shaving cream, ready for a night of nasty fun. After I became a cop, patrolling dangerous public housing projects, I saw another side of this holiday: Every pervert and nutjob in New York thinks it’s suddenly open season on kids. At the Forty-sixth Precinct in the South Bronx, where I work as a sergeant, the 911 calls start pouring in. We race from one crime scene to the next, our sirens screaming, locking up the animals who prey on children as fast as we can. But awful as the crimes of man can be—and in my sixteen years on the police force, I’ve seen more blood and gore than you could ever imagine—they’re not the only evil that intensifies on October 31.

  Halloween has a malevolent history: According to two-thousand-year-old legends, it’s the night when spirits of the dead roam the world, intent on playing terrifying tricks. To appease ghosts, our ancestors used to leave food offerings outside their homes and sacrifice animals. Early Europeans feared that these marauding spirits had a much darker motive: They were hunting for live bodies to inhabit. To prevent possession, it became the custom to wear a mask or disguise on the Day of the Dead, as this holiday is known in some countries. The ancient dread of this date is rooted in more than just folklore or superstition, I discovered after I entered what I now call “the Work”–investigating haunted houses and demonic possession. Almost invariably, I get a sudden surge of cases around the end of October, either on Halloween itself or the day before, which, appropriately enough, is called Devil’s or Mischief Night.

  One of my most harrowing supernatural investigations began on Halloween, 1991. My partner in the Work, Joe Forrester, was putting out candy for trick-or-treaters when he got a call about a haunted house. The caller was Father Hayes, the exorcist for a Catholic diocese in a nearby state. He wanted us to investigate a report of demonic activity in Westchester County, a wealthy county just north of New York City. While this priest had discerned some signs of a diabolical presence when he spoke to the family over the phone, he didn’t give Joe any specifics about the problems they were having. Since my partner and I knew Father Hayes from other investigations, we trusted that he wouldn’t send us out on a case unless it had merit.

  * * *

  Like me, Joe comes from a law enforcement background, but he works on the other side of the fence, as a polygraph examiner for the Legal Aid Society. Although he looks like a middle-aged monk, with his round, untroubled face and his fringe of brown hair around a balding head, he’s actually an extremely adept demonologist. Not only is he a walking encyclopedia of the occult—definitely the man to call for a quick rundown on Nigerian crocodile cults or Brazilian black magic rituals—but as a decorated Vietnam vet, Joe has more than enough guts to face down supernatural terror. Combine that with the built-in bullshit meter he’s developed from years of administering lie detector tests to con men and crooks of every other description and to the wrongly accused, and you have an ace investigator.

  When Joe and I handle cases as demonologists in our off-duty hours, we don’t charge a cent for our services. Helping people who have spiritual problems isn’t a career for us—it’s a calling. As devout Catholics, we take Jesus Christ’s biblical injunction to “cast out demons in My name” literally.

  Before going out on a case, I put aside my gun and police badge and arm myself with holy water and a relic of the True Cross.

  Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a religious fanatic and I’m anything but holy, as any of the guys who work with me at the Four-Six Precinct can tell you. I am a cop, and I would rather kick down doors and arrest ten armed robbers with my bare hands than take on the demonic. Plain and simple, the Devil frightens me much more than anything I’d ever seen on street patrol—and in all my years on the force, I’ve seen just about every horror one person can inflict on another: I’ve responded to countless shootings and stabbings; I’ve put the cuffs on people who commit rape or murder as if these crimes meant nothing at all.

  I’ve had to tell people that their loved ones have died in car crashes or have been the victim of every terrible crime you could imagine. I’ve seen the broken bodies of little kids hurt in senseless accidents because their parents were too busy getting high to watch them. I’ve arrested drug dealers who turn their fellow human beings into the living dead with their poison—and a mother who sold her ten-year-old daughter for sex, all for a vial of crack. Recently I was called to a house where I found a woman stoned out her mind on drugs. That wouldn’t be particularly unusual in the places I patrol, except that she was stumbling around with a newborn baby dragging between her legs—still attached to its umbilical cord—and she didn’t even know she’d given birth. It turned out that this was her tenth kid: Child Protective Services had already taken all the others because of her crack addiction.

  This has been my reality night after night. Dealing with the tragedy and devastation that crime causes has helped prepare me for the Work, to a certain degree. It’s certainly taught me to recognize evil when I see it. When cops I wo
rk with find out that I help with exorcisms and investigate demonic activity, a lot of them ask, “What gives an aggressive and sometimes nasty guy like you the right to do this pious stuff?” I tell them, “Don’t you see the beauty of God using a sinner like me to fight evil?” The truth is that I like to help people. When I joined the police force I took an oath to get bad guys off the street, and I have made over three hundred arrests to that end. As a committed Christian, I have a different mission: to bust the Devil and his demons.

  I’ve never investigated cases officially for the Roman Catholic Church, but I have worked on official church cases for individual priests. Much of my work is with Bishop Robert McKenna, a Traditionalist Catholic priest and exorcist who has never shied away from doing battle with Satan and his forces of darkness. (Traditionalist churches use the Pre–Vatican II Latin mass.) From assisting him with nearly two dozen exorcisms over the past ten years, I’ve developed the utmost respect for this saintly man of God. If he ever needed me to walk into the depths of Hell with him, I’d go without a second thought.

  Most major religions have ceremonies to expel evil spirits. The Roman Ritual of Exorcism dates back almost four hundred years. Years ago Catholic priests were given the minor order of Exorcist, and with the permission of their diocesan bishops were ready to undertake the tasks associated with that order. The problem today is that many priests, clergy of other faiths, and even bishops of the Catholic Church don’t believe in the Devil, even though Jesus Himself performed exorcisms. When a priest friend of mine spoke of Satan during one of his sermons, he actually said to the congregation, “The Devil does exist. Sorry, folks.” My wife said I looked as if I were about to jump out of my pew. If it were me, I’d make no apologies for telling people the Devil is real because I’ve seen his satanic fiends at work.

  Most of the people who call Joe and me for help don’t believe in the Devil either—until they are tormented and terrorized by bizarre, otherwise inexplicable events. Since neither of us has ever sought publicity for our involvement in the Work, our cases come to us through word of mouth. We both believe that if God wants people to get help, He’ll see to it that they get it, either from us or from someone else. Asking for the help of a demonologist isn’t the first impulse of the families who contact us: It’s usually a last resort, after they have exhausted every logical explanation for the horrifying phenomena they’re experiencing and may even have begun questioning their sanity. By the time they dial my number or Joe’s, they’re at their wit’s end and have nowhere else to go. Or they may have turned to one of the many priests we know and been referred to us that way, as happened in our Halloween case.