The Deadly Exorcism of Arely Procter: Spiritual and Ritual Abuse Happens Right Here in the U.S.

Show Notes

What happens when spiritual beliefs are used to justify harm against children in the United States? In this episode, Josh Hutchinson, Sarah Jack, and guest host Mary Bingham explore Spiritual and Ritual Abuse, known as SARA, and why it remains a largely unrecognized crisis in American communities. The team examines how belief-driven violence crosses every demographic and faith background, discusses the landmark case of 3-year-old Arely Procter, and raises critical questions about accountability when religious freedom is invoked as a legal defense.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

What Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA) is and how international bodies define it
How SARA manifests in the United States across faiths, communities, and demographics
Why cases of belief-driven child abuse often go unrecognized or are prosecuted without acknowledging the spiritual motivations behind them
How familiar cases like Elizabeth Smart and Ruby Franke fall under the SARA umbrella
The story of Arely Procter and the ongoing legal proceedings in Santa Clara County, California
What the Racial Justice Act of 2020 is and how it is being used in Arely’s case
Why the United States lacks a centralized system for monitoring spiritual abuse-and what End Witch Hunts is doing about it
What research tells us about the prevalence of supernatural beliefs in America

About Our Guest Host

Mary Bingham is a director of End Witch Hunts and a researcher focused on spiritual and ritual abuse cases spanning historical witch trials through present-day prosecutions. Her case research and victim profiles are available on the Sarah Wildes 1692 YouTube channel, including a dedicated playlist for World Day Against Witch Hunts 2025.

Key Terms

SARA (Spiritual and Ritual Abuse): Abuse where an offender uses spiritual, superstitious, or traditional beliefs to justify harming others, or uses a victim’s own beliefs to manipulate and control them.
Harmful Traditional Practices: The United Nations’ terminology for practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, reported in at least 60 nations.
Racial Justice Act of 2020 (California): Legislation ensuring that racial, ethnic, or national origin does not influence criminal investigations intentionally or unintentionally.