HOLIDAY, Florida – Police say a 54-year-old man was arrested Tuesday accused of forcibly attempting an exorcism on his 80-year-old girlfriend. According to a Pasco Sheriff’s report, the exorcism began on Monday when David Edward Benes got into a fight with his live-in girlfriend. Benes allegedly grabbed her, held her down and told her his intent was to “exorcise her and get the devil out of her.”
The report also states that at some point, Benes removed batteries from the house phones, confiscated her car keys and rigged the garage door closed so that she could not escape or call for help. She eventually fell asleep according to the report but when she awoke on Tuesday, the exorcism began again.
When officers arrived on scene, they found the 80-year-old sitting outside the home crying. Her arms were bruised and scratched. Police say Benes was inside on the couch intoxicated and with no memory of the events, although he told officers his girlfriend started the fight “because she is crazy.”
Benes was arrested and charged with domestic battery on a person 65 or older, tampering with a witness and false imprisonment.