The Crucifixion

She was possessed and died during an exorcism.

It happened four days ago, but they're being arrested and charged now.

- For murder. - Why murder?

Because the autopsy report said it was a homicide.

Really, Nic, a possessed nun story?

She was tied to a cross for three days, given no food or water.

They crucified her.

She was only 23.

Actually, I managed to speak to the priest's lawyer this morning

and he said he could set up an interview for me.

Rule number one: editors assign stories.

Good journalists find them. You taught me that.

- We both know why you're doing this. - It's a good story.

No, it's another chance for you to nail faith to the wall,

and it's not gonna bring your mother back.

We're talking about a priest who murdered a young woman in the name of religion.

People deserve to know about that.

For a journalist, you don't sound too objective.

Okay, Uncle Phil, you want both sides of the story?

How about is this a madman who murdered a nun

or a holy man who lost a fight with a demon?

- Come on. - ( TAPPING DESK )

Let me find out.

Please?

All right, you got your shot.

- But you're checking in with me. - Thanks, Phil.

Mmm. You have your mother's persistence, I'll give you that.

Ms. Rawlins.

The doctor had good intentions,

but you can't take the devil out of people with pills.

God and I both know where the truth lies.

But you're the one in jail.

Perhaps he feels I'm needed behind these walls,

where many have lost their faith or have none to comfort them.

How do you feel about not getting the Church's support?

I expected it.

They never liked how I was doing things, but that's okay.

I was never doing it for them.

I was doing it for God and my congregation.

So why do you think she was possessed in the first place?

She told me about a sexual experience she had.

She had given herself to a boy in Germany.

It got her to question her faith, making her a target.

I'm sure his seduction was influenced by the devil.

You know, demons are everywhere, waiting for their opportunity.

They're saying you crucified her.

Only because we had to put her on the cross.

No!

The demon knew our intent

and had become incredibly violent against Adelina.

So we took Adelina into the church.

We wanted her to feel as close to God as we could get her.

It took a while to get the name of the demon possessing her,

- but we finally did. - ( SHOUTS IN ROMANIAN )

Agares! Agares!

I knew I was dealing with an incredibly powerful demon

because it could use the name of God and Mother Mary.

Lesser demons can't.

It was at the end of the third day

when I could finally feel the demon starting to give up.

The moment I looked into her eyes,

I knew the exorcism was over.

The demon had seen the conflict between the bishop and myself,

and that destroyed everything I had done up to that moment.

And it wasn't worried anymore.

She'd be alive today if he hadn't interfered.

So what happened?

She was worn out, vulnerable.

The demon took her life on the way to the hospital.

If I only had a little more time, she would have been saved.

I understand an exorcist needs years of experience

in order to recognize and deal with the possessed.

But you haven't had any.

And neither did Moses,

but with God's strength he parted the Red Sea.

I quit my studies because following the strict rules of the Church

wouldn't allow me to help those who needed it most.

Thanks. That's all I need.

God told me you were here to help.

Because she was so unresponsive, she was given a high dose of adrenaline

when the ambulance arrived.

The autopsy was to determine if perhaps

- that was the cause of death. - So how did she die?

Well, basically, her larynx had collapsed, cutting off the air supply.

Because she was dehydrated?

It might have been some factor, but not usually.

In most cases, it's strangulation that causes a collapsed larynx.

She was choked?

There were no bruise marks.

When I dissected the neck area, actually I thought she might have had

some sort of oral or pharyngeal cancer,

which, in some cases, could impinge on the larynx.

But the tissue samples and the biopsies came back inconclusive,

as I thought they might.

Why was that?

'Cause I'd never seen anything like it.

I hope you've got a strong stomach.

So if you don't know what this is,

how can you ever have a conclusive cause of death?

If we have enough contributing factors,

we can make an educated guess.

And in this case, what that girl endured for three days

definitely contributed to her death.

The photos tell us that much.

How's it going? Did you get to speak to the priest?

Father Dumitru, yeah. He's adamant the only reason the nun died

is 'cause Bishop Gornik prevented him from completing the exorcism.

But the coroner I met with thinks it's murder.

It's her funeral today, so I'm heading up to Tanacu to see what I can find out.

All right, you take care of yourself, and. um, call me later.

- Excuse me, Sister? - Yes?

You were close with Sister Marinescu?

Since we were children.

My name's Nicole Rawlins and I'm a journalist.

Please just leave us alone.

Look, I'm just curious about what happened, that's all.

I don't understand how Father Dumitru could kill her.

They didn't kill her.

- What are you doing?! - ( GASPS )

- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. - You have to leave now.

- I was just wondering if you could help me... - This way.

...by answering a few questions about the death of Sister Marinescu.

This way. Now.

Hi. Do you have a room available?

- Yes, of course. - Great.

You don't know what's going on outside, do you?

What's with all the masks?

They are setting up for the Strigoi Festival.

And what's that?

A long time ago, once a year,

villagers would exhume the body of someone they thought

to be an evil person and remove the heart.

Then they would burn it, mix the ashes with water from the local well and drink it.

- They wore masks to cover their faces... - ( CHUCKLES )

...protecting their identity from dead souls.

But now it's just another celebration to drink and have fun,

I suppose a lot like your... how do you say...

- Halloween. - Yes.

And how many nights will you be staying?

Can I kind of let you know as I go?

Yes, of course.

By lighting the prayer candles, we not only pray,

but our prayers become symbols of the one light of Christ.

Light also affirms the power of goodness

over the darkness of evil.

I'm Father Anton.

Nicole Rawlins.

Is there someone you'd like to pray for?

Actually, I came in here hoping to talk to you.

I saw you at Sister Marinescu's funeral.

You mind if I ask you a few questions?

Do you think Father Dumitru was responsible for her death?

I don't think it would really be fair for me to say anything,

because I wasn't there.

Do you think it would be fair to say

that if he truly felt she was possessed,

then it was his faith that killed her?

You sound like you don't have a lot of faith in faith.

Faith is taught, it's not something you're born with,

so whatever you end up believing defines your actions.

Yes, but God gave you free will.

It's your choice to accept those teachings or not.

There was a nun with brown hair crying over the casket.

- Yes, Sister Vaduva. - And the man standing next to her?

The man was Adelina's brother, Stefan Marinescu.

- Do they live nearby? - Yes.

He owns a vineyard north of town.

Sister Vaduva said that "they" didn't kill her.

Is there something going on here that the Church doesn't want her to talk about?

I think if you want to know the Church's response to all of this,

you should speak with Bishop Gornik.

Father Dumitru's monastery was under his governance

and sanctifying responsibility.

You can find him at the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest.

I'm curious...

Is it normal to tie someone to a cross during an exorcism?

No. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Good night.