Fatal Ending to Ariz. Exorcism Response
Pastor Dale Morgan
Fatal Ending to Ariz. Exorcism Response*
Monday July 30, 2007 12:01 AM
By PAUL DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP) - Officers responding to a report of an exorcism on a young
girl found her grandfather choking her and used stun guns to subdue the
man, who later died, authorities said Sunday.
The 3-year-old girl and her mother, who was also in the room during the
struggle between 49-year-old Ronald Marquez and officers, were
hospitalized, police said. Their condition was unavailable.
The relative who called police said an exorcism had also been attempted
Thursday.
``The purpose was to release demons from this very young child,'' said
Sgt. Joel Tranter.
Officers arrived at the house Saturday and entered when they heard
screaming coming from a bedroom, Tranter said.
A bed had been pushed up against the door; the officers pushed it open a
few inches and saw Marquez choking his bloodied granddaughter, who was
crying in pain and gasping, Tranter said.
A bloody, naked 19-year-old woman who police later determined to be
Marquez's daughter and the girl's mother was in the room, chanting
``something that was religious in nature,'' Tranter said.
The officers forced open the door enough for one to enter, leading to a
struggle in which an officer used a stun gun on Marquez, Tranter said.
After the initial stun had no visible effect, another officer squeezed
into the room and stunned him. The girl was freed and passed through the
door to the relative, Tranter said.
Marquez was placed in handcuffs after a struggle with officers and
initially appeared normal, but then stopped breathing, Tranter said. He
could not be revived and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The cause of death was not immediately known, and autopsy results
probably will not be available for several weeks, Tranter said.
Tranter declined to identify Marquez's daughter and granddaughter but
said they lived in the house with Marquez.
The mother was not arrested, but police will consider criminal charges,
Tranter said.
There was no phone listing at Ronald Marquez's address.