Bloomington, USA - An Indiana student minister faces criminal charges after investigators said he committed an exorcism on an autistic teenager.
Monroe County police said a religious ritual turned criminal inside a Bloomington home. Moreover, they said they had never seen anything like it before.
According to police, Eddie Uyesugi, 22, a pastor in training at Cherry Hill Christian Church, promised healing for a 14 year old autistic boy.
Uyesugi convinced the boy's mother he could cure autism with an exorcism.
"Through prayer, casting demons out. She was initially in agreement in doing this thinking it was something authorized through the church," said Brad Swain of the Monroe County Police.
However, police said the exorcism turned violent. Under the guise of “God’s work”, Uyesugi battered and beat the boy.
"He stuck fingers into the boy's mouth while he was restrained on the bed, causing him to vomit. And this happened several times. The family said that Mr. Uyesugi told them this was to cast the demons out," Swain added.
Police also said Uyesugi punched the autistic teen in the face, a ritualistic beating that lasted for 11 hours.
Swain said, "He knew he didn't have demons in him. So why he was being abused and being told for demons to come out, it was really lost on him."
The teen’s mother, who police said tried to end the exorcism unsuccessfully, had put her trust in the church.
Pastors at Cherry Hill Church would not comment on the alleged exorcism, however, they told police while they do teach how to cast out demons, their methods do not include violence.
The church removed Uyesugi from the parsonage after the incident.
He told police he was simply trying to restrain the boy, but the attempted exorcism left the teen seriously injured.
The student minister now faces criminal charges. Moreover, police said the exorcism was not authorized by the church.
Uyesugi is expected to turn himself into police Wednesday.