The Atticus Institute

In the early 1970s, Dr. Henry West establishes the Atticus Institute in rural Pennsylvania. Fueled by a passion for uncovering supernatural evidence, he assembles a devoted team aimed at exploring phenomena like extrasensory perception.

Despite earnest efforts, Dr. West and his team repeatedly encounter charlatans posing as individuals with extraordinary abilities. Each setback causes the morale within the institute to decline sharply, leading to frustration and doubt among the researchers.

Judith Winstead is introduced to the institute by her sister Margaret, who is worried about Judith's unpredictable behavior. Initial assessments reveal Judith possesses exceptional and genuine paranormal abilities that astound Dr. West's team.

As Judith undergoes further examinations, her powers develop with alarming rapidity. The tension inside the institute rises as staff members begin experiencing strange, unexplainable phenomena, suggesting Judith’s influence may extend beyond her immediate presence.

With the situation spiraling, Dr. West's team turns to the United States military for assistance. Under military guidance, they embark on new experiments that reveal Judith's incredible abilities, including telekinesis and pyrokinesis.

During an experiment involving spectral photography, Judith has a violent reaction that leads to a stunning discovery. A cloud-like entity is observed exiting her body, leading the team to re-evaluate their hypotheses about her powers.

Following the revelation of the cloud-like entity, Dr. West and his team conclude that Judith is possessed. This finding radically shifts their approach, prompting them to consider her powers as a manifestation of demonic influence rather than mere extrasensory perception.

As Judith’s abilities are recognized, the military begins treating her as a strategic asset during the Cold War. Despite Dr. West's protests, she is subjected to inhumane experiments, including electroshock therapy, in a relentless quest to harness her powers.

In a desperate measure, military personnel arrange for a priest to exorcise the demon within Judith. The exorcism initially shows promise but quickly goes awry, as Judith violently reacts, injuring the priest and causing chaos in the facility.

As panic unfolds, the demon inside Judith retaliates. Using a soldier's body as a vessel, it wreaks havoc on the institute, incapacitating staff and asserting its wrath against Dr. West, marking a pivotal moment of tension and chaos.

The cameras capture a moment where Judith seems liberated from the demon's control, only to find herself restrained in an observation cell. As she processes the destruction around her, she realizes the dire consequences of the chaos.

In a harrowing climax, the demon emerges, having consumed Dr. West's soul. It confronts Judith from her cell, and in a moment of eerie calm, it crushes her heart using telekinesis, leaving viewers in shock as it fades into darkness.

Following her death, Judith's body is buried in an undisclosed location after an autopsy. Her case becomes notable as the only verified instance of possession acknowledged by the United States government.

Dr. Henry West vanishes on October 23, 1976, leading to speculation about his fate. Officially declared dead in 1982, he remains untraceable for over four decades, leaving behind many unanswered questions.

The shocking events at the Atticus Institute resonate long after, raising questions about the boundaries of science, the nature of supernatural phenomena, and the ethical implications of governmental experimentation on human subjects.