Watseka Possession

Lurancy Vennum and Mary Roff Had a Paranormal Connection

Aug 28, 2007

Is spirit possession possible? Among the best documented cases of discarnate possession happened in Illinois. It's known as the Watseka Wonder.

The Beginnings

In July, 1877, thirteen year old Lurancy Vennum went into strange trances in which she claimed she was talking to spirits. These spells happened many times daily and, at times, lasted up to eight hours. She spoke in different voices, but remembered nothing when she awoke. Words about Lurancy’s condition began to circulate around the town.

This attracted the attention of Watseka resident Asa Roff, a Spiritualist, who was convinced that his daughter, Mary, who died years earlier had the same affliction. He believed that Mary and Lurancy actually spoke to spirits. Mary had been sent to an asylum where she suffered the primitive barbaric treatment that was the norm in that era and contributed to her death.

Roff finally became involved when a doctor and a minister said Lurancy should be sent to a state mental asylum. He was able to get the Vellums’ permission to see Lurancy. He asked Dr. E. Stevens, also a Spiritualist, to join him.

Mary Makes her Presence Known

When Stevens first visited Lurancy, she acted like a wild animal. She appeared to have Multiple Personality Disorder, now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. This is a psychiatric condition in which there are two or more separate personalities, alters, within a person's body and at least two of them take control of the person’s body at various times. The alters are not aware of the others and do not recall what happened when they were in control.

Lurancy told the doctor that several entities lived in her body. First, was Katrina Hogan, then, there was Willie Canning. Finally, Mary emerged. When Mary took over, Lurancy did not recognize her home or her family, the Vennums. She wanted to go with the Roffs whom she acknowledged to be family. This was allowed.

Mary’s Stay with the Roffs

Lurancy became Mary. She knew the Roff’s family and friends and was familiar with the contents of the house. She recalled many things that happened during Mary’s life. She went into trances, although not often, refused to eat and said she would eat in Heaven. On May 21, 1878, Lurancy returned, but Mary would, occasionally “visit” with her knowledge.

Aftermath

Lurancy married George Binning a farmer, and subsequently had eleven child. She kept in close touch with the Roffs for the rest of their lives.

The case made the front page of the Watseka Times and was written about in several Spiritualist magazines.

Dr. Stevens gave lectures about what happened in Watseka before he died suddenly in 1886.

Some skeptics claim that Lurancy, although a teenager, was a skilled actress who gloried in the attention that was given her and took advantage of those involved. This cannot explain how Lurancy/Mary knew family and friends, the objects in the house and could recall incidents from Mary’s past. There were those who added that she was in love with one of the Roff’s sons and this was another reason for her behavior, so she could get close to the family. There is no evidence to support this.

Some have suggested Lurancy had telepathic talent; however she showed no evidence for this ability.

Later, Richard Hodgson investigated the case for the American Society for Psychic Research, one of the most prestigious parapsychological organizations in the world. He believed that Mary Roff’s spirit possessed Lurancy Vellum.