The First Televised Exorcism: The Haunting of the Becker Family

The Becker Family's Move and Early Hauntings

• 🏠 Edwin and Marsha Becker purchased a dilapidated house in Chicago in 1970, unaware of its troubled past.
• 👻 Strange occurrences began shortly after moving in, including lights flickering, doors opening and closing on their own, and objects moving inexplicably.
• 🗣️ The couple also heard disembodied crying, which led them to believe the house needed to be exorcised.

Escalating Paranormal Activity and Skepticism

• 🔑 Edwin, initially a skeptic, struggled to rationalize the events, attributing some to his wife's new motherhood and city life.
• 📞 The home phone was frequently found off the hook, and objects like a handheld mixer levitated, increasing Edwin's concern.
• ✝️ A priest's attempt to bless the house was met with a shattered holy water vial and a hasty departure, deepening the family's distress.
• 📚 Edwin discovered a hidden room filled with pornography and signed cutouts, leading him to believe a spirit named "Ben" was responsible for the hauntings.

Investigation and the Televised Exorcism

• 🕵️‍♂️ After Myra, a problematic tenant, moved out, the paranormal activity intensified, prompting Edwin to seek help from psychic Joseph de Luis.
• 📰 De Luis, along with reporter Tom Valentine, investigated the house, confirming multiple entities, possibly demonic, were present.
• 📺 Joseph de Luis contacted NBC, leading to the first-ever televised exorcism, which aired locally in Chicago.
• 🕊️ During the ritual, conducted by de Luis and Reverend William Daryl Davis, a spirit communicated cryptically, and strange phenomena occurred, including wind and bird sounds.

Aftermath and Lingering Questions

• 🤫 Despite the exorcism, the Beckers reported that the paranormal activity continued, though Edwin initially downplayed it to the media.
• 🏠 The house remained difficult to sell, with potential buyers sensing something was off, until Edwin's realtor, Chuck, eventually bought it.
• 📚 Edwin Becker later published a book detailing his experiences, "True Haunting," and continues to believe in residual energy and the dangers of the occult.
• 🤔 Skeptics suggest potential explanations like carbon monoxide poisoning, but the Beckers' continued experiences after moving and the lack of definitive proof leave the case open to interpretation.