Exorcism Ends In Deadly Stun-Gun Struggle

Phoenix Man Accused Of Choking 3-Year-Old Granddaughter Dies After Fight With Police

(CBS/AP)  A 3-year-old Phoenix girl is recovering in a hospital after her grandfather was found allegedly choking her during an exorcism.

The girl is expected to recover physically and police are investigating "other possible abuses," said Sgt. Joel Tranter, a Phoenix police spokesman. Tranter declined to specify the nature of the possible abuse.

The man died after what Phoenix police described Sunday as a struggle in a house where officers went in response to a report of an exorcism being conducted on a young child.

Officers arrived at the house on Saturday in response to a check-welfare call from a relative of the family that lived there and entered when they heard screaming from a bedroom, Tranter said.

A bed was pushed up against the bedroom door but officers were able to push it open a few inches, allowing one to peer inside and see that 49-year-old Ronald Marquez was clutching his bloodied granddaughter, who was crying in pain, screaming and gasping as Marquez choked her, Tranter said.

A bloody, naked 19-year-old woman who was determined to be Marquez's daughter and the girl's mother also was in the room, chanting "something that was religious in nature," the spokesman said.

The officers then were able to force open the door enough for one to enter, leading to a struggle in which the officer used a Taser stun gun as he tried to free the girl, Tranter said.

After the initial stun had no visible effect on Marquez, a second officer also squeezed into the room and Marquez was stunned a second time, allowing one of the officers to free the girl and pass her out the door to the relative, Tranter said.

Marquez was placed in handcuffs after a struggle with police and he initially appeared normal but then was observed not breathing, Tranter said.

Efforts by the officers and Fire Department personnel to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Cause of death was not immediately known and autopsy results probably will not be available for several weeks, Tranter said.

With one arm, Marquez held his granddaughter in a headlock, while squeezing her torso with his other arm, police told the Arizona Republic.

"It's very bizarre, (a) very unusual and pretty horrific situation this young child was involved in," Tranter told the newspaper.

Tranter said the investigation was continuing but that the relative who called police said there also had been an exorcism attempted Thursday.

"The purpose was to release demons from this very young child," Tranter told The Associated Press.

The spokesman said the 3-year-old girl and her mother were hospitalized for treatment of various injuries. He declined to identify either by name but said they lived in the house with Marquez.

Tranter said the girl had bruises and other undisclosed injuries, while the woman had a cut lip and facial lacerations.

The mother was not immediately arrested, Tranter said. "We will be looking at criminal charges at her."

[extremophil]

The exorcism worked. She got rid of her demon grandfather.

[gramto7]

I agree with Extremophil! That man, if it could be called that, deserved a more painful death than he got!

[jn122736]

Thank God (yes God) the girl lived.
Posted by mitchschultz at 08:41 AM : Jul 30, 2007
_______________

Wonder why god let it happen in the first place?

God didn't let her live any more than he let this happen.

People who believe in exorcism are no different from those who believe in miracles.
The each believe that their %u201Cgod%u201D solves their problems for them whish is nothing less than being unable or unwilling to accept responsibility for their own life and needing someone or some %u201Cthing%u201D (god) to do the hard work for them.

[ozone-baby]

That man was apparently the biggest demon that little girl had to deal with, and what about the mother? Was she capable of protecting her daughter or was she a pawn also? Thank GOD it turned out well (so far) and she is young enough that she has a great chance of recovering mentally as well, with the right help

[rfcnj68]

Pitty, you do not believe in God jn122736, but thak God that you live in a country where you can have that belief. If you believe in evolution why has your science not come up with away to save everyone since you feel God does not exists and if he did why would he not have prevented this? I would pose the same question to you about all those great scientists you have put your faith in.

[kevboom]

Would be interesting to hear what "symptoms" led this family to exorcise their child. The mother and aunt (?) were also in the room while the grandfather did his thing, so what did they say? I'm not defending them, but I'm surprised people would write off the possibility of demon possession after six tragic years under president Bush.

[bombadil4]

In my opinion, exorcisms (even by trained clergy) are simply an exercise in futility since there are no demons. But this episode does not even qualify. This was apalling child abuse being carried out by psychotics.

[theeggman369]

If you believe in evolution why has your science not come up with away to save everyone
Posted by rfcnj68

Save everyone? Huh?? From What? Do you mean from religious extremists? From Religion based crusades led to wipe out everyone who does not believe in your particular god? People like Jim Jones? Science has come up with an answer. It's called sterilization.

[nothappyatall]

The purpose was to release demons from this very young child," Tranter said."


Again religion KILLS, another right winger gone haywire over the bibull.

www.evilbible.com

[iceman_1960]

"If you believe in evolution why has your science not come up with away to save everyone since you feel God does not exists and if he did why would he not have prevented this? I would pose the same question to you about all those great scientists you have put your faith in."
- Posted by rfcnj68 at 09:25 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Because unlike RELIGION, SCIENCE does not claim the mantles of infallibility, omniscience and omnipotence.

The "faith" I may put in science is not the "faith" Tammy Faye Bakker put in God. These are two separate meanings of that word.

Christopher Hitchens makes this point when he says that the teachings of Socrates stand on their own merits and could not be weakened even if it turned out that so such man actually existed, whereas the teachings of religious figures collpase when the historical facts believed about their personal lives are shown to be fictitious.

[mo005]

I don't understand this at all. Why was the 19 year old mother of the daughter naked.
Was this supposed to catch the demons off gaurd, Or is dad messing with the daughter and her child. This whole story doesn't smell right to me. People just keep getting more weird in this world every day.

[hungry1968]

"Efforts by the officers and Fire Department personnel to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital."


Good. I hope he suffered too.

[rcbraden]

Why thank god that she was saved? Thank the family member who reported it, the police and firemen who took care of it. They were the ones who had to deal with it, see it, handle it, live with it. Religion does cause sometimes normal people to see boogeymen, my mom thought I was demon possessed when I was in my teens. Hello, my teens.

[carolrhill]

These kind of things went on even in the Bible but now a days it should be done by professional people if that is the way people believe.
I am one of those people that do not believe in this kind of thing but those who do should take the child to a professional and that is the way it is.
I feel so badly for the little child because now she marred for life what a horrible thing that child went through she doesn't understand what she did wrong she is just a baby.
This man didn't even realize that the cops were there or they used a stun gun on him. He was so far gone he wasn't aware at all.
MAY GOD BE WITH CHILD NOW AND FOREVER AS I AM SURE HE WILL BE THERE FOR HER ALWAYS!!!

[rcbraden]

A professional? Like on the movie "exorcist"?

[snglwytfemal]

God doesn't "make" or "let" things happen. He does however answer our prayers when we take the time to talk to him. He may not answer them in the obvious ways that one would think, or give the "answer" that we expect. We are all his children and those who continue to believe in Him will have a place next to Him in heaven one day. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son....". The little girls' prayers were answered. Thank You God.

[ozone-baby]

Not everone who belives in God or has faith is a religious nut! There have been cruel acts done by people who claim to be from all walks of life and beliefs. Crazies are EVERYWHERE! As a non-catholic I do not belive in demons and the power of exorcism, but have friends who do. Are they zealots? NO, and would not do this to their child. This man was no christian, what ever he might claim.

[iceman_1960]

"There are all kinds of devices invented for the protection and preservation of countries: defensive barriers, forts, trenches and the like. All these are the work of human hands aided by money. But prudent minds have as a natural gift one safegaurd which is the common possession of all, especially to the dealings of democracies with dictatorships. What is this safeguard? Skepticism. This you must preserve. This you must retain. If you can keep this, you need fear no harm."
-- Demosthenes (384-322 BCE)

[wiccantexan]

Thank God (yes God) the girl lived.
Posted by mitchschultz at 08:41 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Ask God why the psychosis of seeing demons in a 3-yr-old child was provoked by a religion based in His name. What do you think God would answer?

[iceman_1960]

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." - Mark 16:16-18

"Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short (April 13, 1820)

[jn122736]

rfcnj68;
Those who jump to conclusions (Aassume) all too often wind up landing on their a s s.

First, you assume that I am an atheist. Wrong. Christians believe, earth and man had to have come from somewhere, so god created us.
When asked where did god come from they say, %u201Cgod has always been here%u201D.

Until we can say where god came from, I can%u2019t fully believe this theory.

Second, you assume that I believe ONLY in evolution, wrong again. Atheists have the same problem. They cannot say where WE came from or how we got here so they, also, have only opinions/faith.

I am an agnostic, honest enough to admit that the evolution of the human mind has a ways to go before we know for sure.

Third, that I have faith only in scientists. This is only partially correct. It has nothing to do with %u201Cfaith%u201D per se.
I do however, recognize and accept many things scientists have discovered/uncovered.
For instance, if not for scientific evolution you and I would not be posting here, we would still be drawing pictures on cave walls and using sign language for communication.

I do however, believe that God/nature has given all life forms on earth a tremendous amount of unexplained intelligence/capabilities at time of birth, including a sense of right and wrong.

I also believe that even if there was a divine creator he/it gave us everything we need at birth to live our lives and we are SOLELY responsible for what we do..

[wiccantexan]

The little girls' prayers were answered. Thank You God.
Posted by snglwytfemal at 10:24 AM : Jul 30, 2007

From the report, there was likely other abuse, as well as another attempted exorcism. So, does God not answer prayers until there are a certain number of spiritual 911 calls, so to speak?

How horrific, that the timely intervention of professionals saving this girl's life is interpreted as "God answered her prayers."

[wiccantexan]

Good. I hope he suffered too.
Posted by hungry1968 at 10:14 AM : Jul 30, 2007

A hearty Amen to that!
______________________

what about the mother? Was she capable of protecting her daughter or was she a pawn also?
Posted by ozone-baby at 09:15 AM : Jul 30, 2007

The mother is 19, which means she was a tender 16 when she gave birth. Likely she was taught that her child was demon-possessed because she'd sinned by giving birth out of wedlock, or some other similar notion.

[bekah1974]

Hopefully the baby will be to young to remember what happened and go on to lead a normal life.I think the cops did a good job for once,cause now taxpayers won't have to pay to jail this wacko,the have done fryed his butt!Justice was finally served.

[iceman_1960]

"These kind of things went on even in the Bible but now a days it should be done by professional people if that is the way people believe."
- Posted by carolrhill at 10:19 AM : Jul 30, 2007

"A professional? Like on the movie "exorcist"?
- Posted by rcbraden at 10:23 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Yes, only professional Hollywood actors should attempt this.

That Linda Blair 360 degree head rotation can be very dangerous if amateurs try it at home.

[usayesterday]

The police should have just stuck a video camera in the room for a few minutes and then post the video on the web and/or the late news!

Heck, if these religious wing-nuts are going to cause a stir, then why not allow the rest of us to watch and be entertained!

[iceman_1960]

"The police should have just stuck a video camera in the room for a few minutes and then post the video on the web and/or the late news!"
- Posted by USAyesterday at 10:44 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Our far-seeing Commander in Chief had situations like this in mind when he called on Congress for enhanced surveillance laws.

How the devil else could the nation be aware of this ?

[usayesterday]

I guess the grandfather got confused when someone told him that he should 'exercise' more often! (Not exorcise).

[usayesterday]

Insane religious nuts: "possessed by DEMONS!"

Clear thinking people: "Terrible twos/threes"

[olebd]

This guy could have done the job with a few doses of Ridalin.

I wish nut cases like this would instinctively kill themselves before hurting others.

[iceman_1960]

Francis Crick and James Dewey Watson,
co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule, did more to help their fellow men and women than all the mythologizing religious figures put together.

Crick and Watson were humanists and atheists.

[swwils]

I am glad that the Police arrived because that child would have been dead,and probably never found for yrs.

[pt133]

This three year old has not reached the age of accountability according to the Bible. The demonic person in this situation is the grandfather. What a pity!! May God have mercy on his soul. Jesus said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of God" Matt. 19-14

[passerby2]

the grandfather must of been absent when they were going over exorcism techinques at the church. He's suppose to tie her to the bed not put her in a headlock. The headlock is only supposed to be used when her head starts to spin around 360 degrees.

[adkinskd]

A " very bizarre, very unusual and pretty horrific situation." But in this age of religious terrorism, are the events really so unusual? The deliberate creation and exploitation of horror or fear through illegal violence or threats of illegal violence to force somebody to do something against his or her own will for religious or political purposes is at least one definition of terrorism. To attract attention and generate publicity, terrorists will perpetrate dramatic and astonishing acts of violence to distress and otherwise influence not only their immediate audience, which includes their victims, but any other people who may be affected by the events through the media or other sources Terrorists will often use their own deaths to achieve their goal of disseminating information.
This particular exhibition and its 'high visibility' has garnered significant public attention. It's easy to understand why. The details of the events are as sensational and lurid as a suicide bombing and the epitome of fanaticism. In the absence of proof to confirm or contradict his claims, a presumptuous 49 year old grandfather declares a 3 year old child possessed by 'demons', and then himself seizes her, puts her in a headlock, squeezes her, chokes her, and otherwise exploits and takes advantage of her for the sake of his religion, putting her life at risk and ending his own in the process. And we who are privvy to the performance are shocked and awed by the spectacle.
Sound familiar?

[willylou11]

Some of us believe in God and miracles for a reason. My own personal experience, when i was 5 years old, I was in the hosptial with pneumonia. As a child I was regularly in every winter witht this illness. The doctors had tried everything they could think of, but my condition only worsened. They had basically sat my mother down and gave her the "He may make it through the night, but the chances aren't good speech" and told her to be prepared for the worst. My mother sat next to my bed that night and prayed to GOD to heal me through her, to take my sickness away and give to her instead. The very next morning, my fever had broke, and my condition made a 100% turnaround. My mother became ill that very morning, and not a single one of you scientifically profound doctors could explain how it happened. I believe miracles, because without one 22 years ago, I would not be here to type this post.

[randalds]

Praise the Lord and pass the bullsh*it! Another near murder due to religious lunacy.

[ubikvalis2]

The good news is that this crazy fruitcake won't be strangling any more little girls.

[ubikvalis2]

"If you believe in evolution why has your science not come up with away to save everyone"

What does that even mean? I remember I had a neighbor who would give me sermons while I was watering my garden (he was a born again Christian) ... He would talk about how, in his past, he was into drugs and alcohol and then he "was saved" and no longer does drugs and alcohol ... But I wanted to tell him "I don't drink and I don't do drugs, and, unlike you, I don't smoke like a chimney. Doesn't that mean I'm more 'saved' than you?" -- But I was too polite to of course.

[iceman_1960]

In medical illnesses, prayer only seems to "work" for self limiting illnesses, those where spontaneously remission may occur in any event.

Prayer has never helped an amputee to grow a new leg.

[adventurepa]

Posted by WiccanTexan
"How horrific, that the timely intervention of professionals saving this girl's life is interpreted as "God answered her prayers.""

Religious wacko's. "UP to no Good!"

There is no God and no devil,
No demons or angles.
You have been suckered and indocturnated if you believe in that fantasy.
Check out evilbible.com

[susanhelit]

Something is very wrong with that family - the grandfather, and the naked mother - there's something weird going on there. Like most nutjobs, they call it religion. I wonder if it's the grandfather being a perv who damaged the young mother when she was his daughter, or if it's just a family history of mental illness.

But - while I'm very much not religious - while they called it an exorcism, that doesn't mean this is really about religion, any more than when a gang member dies being beat into the gang, it's really about brotherly bonding.

[iceman_1960]

The Bible teaches that "God" is the one who created pneumonia in the first place.

[Isaiah 45:7 "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

John 1:3 "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."]

So to be grateful to someone for saving you from the dangers he sent your way, is to fall for a very old scam.

In modern prisons, predators use this scam when they "protect" new inmates from other convicts, after first hiring those convicts to frighten the "new fish."

[susanhelit]

To those who want to say God saved this little girl, answered her prayers - if he did that, could do that - why wait for so long, why wait until she's nearly dead, and has been abused for quite some time, time that she'll have to remember, time that will hurt or destroy the rest of her life? No - if God rescued her, he waited way, way, way too long. You can't have the good, without the bad - if God rescues her, he also knew about it all along, and let it happen.

Her prayers were ignored, until a neighbor finally called the police. If there's a god, he's not answering prayers, he's very hands off.

[randalds]

There is no God and no devil,
No demons or angles.
You have been suckered and indocturnated if you believe in that fantasy.

Posted by adventurepa at 01:49 PM : Jul 30, 2007

Amen.

[willylou11]

I understand and appreciate your points Iceman. While i respect your opinion, however, that does not mean I agree with you in any way shape or form. I believe in what happened to me and I believe in God. I'm not asking you to admit you are wrong, but merely explaining one of my own experiences as to why I believe. Does that harm anyone, not that I can think of. Will it keep non-believers up at night because I believe, I should hope not. We are all entitled to our own views and opinions, I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, Do I think the world would be better if everyone believed in God, yes, but that is my opinion and I am entitled to it, just as you are entitled to your opinion and beliefs. So say what you will, cause I'm to busy preparing myself to walk the streets of gold beside the Lord Jesus Christ.

[bananaamy]

I cant help but notice there is no church, father, or priest named in the news report....

[iceman_1960]

I think I can explain this whole thing (with apologies to "toldyouso21")

God knew before the creation of the world that this tragic incident would occur.

So he whispered into some wise inventor's ear, the idea of the "stun gun."

And it was ready just in time.

For the Lord helps those who work in mysterious ways.

[susanhelit]

willylou - no - it does no harm to me nor anyone else that you believe - so long as you don't push that on others. That's what America was founded for - so everyone could believe as they liked, and coexist.

It doesn't make me believe, of course - but then that's my choice and does no harm to you. To me - I've seen plenty of cases where the doctors prepare the family for the last night - just in case, because if it was, and they didn't tell the family that it could be, that'd be horrible. Your mother getting sick - she's been by you, in a hospital, no doubt not getting enough sleep, enough food, and tons of stress weakening her immune system - her getting sick isn't a surprise either. Your fever breaking - that's kinda how it happens - your body finally turns the corner on fighting the disease, figures out how to kill it, and does so.


But I think the thing is that prayer comes up when people try to say this was all God - and if you say that God decided to save her, then he also decided to not save her earlier, before she'd been hurt so many times. You can't have it both ways.

[randalds]

I can't wait to hear the nutjobs claiming that the grandfather died because the possessed child killed him with her mental/spirtual powers. (Er, would that be in self-defense?) Too bad Jerry Falwell isn't still around - he would have been good for such a quote!

Posted by r_bayless at 02:07 PM : Jul 30, 2007

Or that he successfully "exorcised" the demon out of the child and into himself, which is why he was trying to kill her.......or some such other religious bullsh*it.....it all reads like a bad movie script....