Confrontation with Evil: The 1949 Saint Louis Exorcism - Softcover

LaChance, Steven Allen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0578425327 ISBN 13: 9780578425320

Publisher: Steven A. LaChance, 2018

Synopsis

From the bestselling author of The Uninvited comes one of the most chilling true accounts of demonic possession ever written.
 
Known to the world as the inspiration behind The Exorcist, the 1949 St. Louis Exorcism has long been buried under decades of speculation, secrecy, and myth. In Confrontation with Evil, Steven LaChance uncovers the disturbing truth behind the case—offering new evidence, deep historical research, and shocking revelations that reframe everything we thought we knew.
 
What really happened to the boy called "Roland Doe"? Was the possession as simple as a child playing with a Ouija board, or was something much darker at work? With over a decade of personal research, LaChance explores the spiritual vulnerability of grief, the hidden role of the boy's mother, and how a series of misguided decisions opened a doorway that could not easily be closed.
 
This Special Edition includes never-before-seen photos, extended material, and a closer look at the diary of Father Bishop, one of the priests involved in the exorcism. The book goes beyond the ritual and into the aftermath—the spiritual and cultural scars left on the city of St. Louis, and how this single case changed the Catholic Church forever.
 
Confrontation with Evil has been praised by The New York Post and The Sun, and named Best Book of 2018 by St. Louis Go Magazine. It is also featured in the acclaimed Discovery+ documentary The Exorcism of Roland Doe, part of the Shock Docs series.
 
Forget the spinning heads and pea soup. This is not a movie. This is the real story—and it's far more terrifying.

About this title

About the Author

Steven LaChance is an acclaimed horror writer and investigator known for his fearless exploration of real-life hauntings and the dark corners of spiritual experience. He first came to national attention with The Uninvited, a true account of a demonic infestation that he and his family survived in Union, Missouri. That experience launched a lifelong commitment to uncovering the truth behind the paranormal.
 
In Confrontation with Evil, LaChance brings both personal insight and investigative rigor to one of the most infamous exorcism cases in history. Born and raised in the St. Louis area, he approaches the 1949 possession story not just as a researcher but as someone who lives where it happened—where the past still lingers.
 
LaChance has appeared on Discovery+, Travel Channel, CNN, and countless radio and documentary programs. His work is respected for going beyond sensationalism to reveal the emotional and spiritual toll of real supernatural encounters. With a voice that blends empathy, honesty, and hard-earned experience, he writes not just to scare, but to awaken.
 
Praise for Confrontation with Evil
* "An essential reexamination of the case that inspired The Exorcist. This is the real story—and it's far scarier."
* "LaChance doesn't just dig deep—he rips the lid off decades of silence."
* "A true horror classic that belongs on the shelf next to The Uninvited."
* "Best Book of the Year"—St. Louis Go Magazine
* "LaChance brings new light to one of the darkest stories ever told."—The Sun

Edition details

• Publisher: Steven A. LaChance
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0578425327
• ISBN 13: 9780578425320
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260
• Editor: Lusk Shannon Nichole