The Tragic case of 3-Year-Old Arely Naomi Proctor: Young girl killed during exorcism ritual at San Jose church

In San Jose, California, a 3-year-old girl, lost her life during an exorcism ritual led by her family. 

Her family believed that they were fighting off an evil spirit, but instead, they caused her death in a brutal ordeal.

In September 2021, Arely Naomi Proctor's tragic death during an exorcism stunned the whole of California.

Her mother, Claudia Hernandez Santos, her uncle, and her grandfather were all involved in her death.

They believed the ritual was a desperate attempt to save the little girl from demonic possession. 

As more details emerged, it became clear that the family’s religious beliefs played a role in a series of misguided actions that led to Arely’s untimely death.

Arely Naomi Proctor

The Fatal Incident: An Exorcism Gone Horribly Wrong

The events leading to Arely’s death unfolded on September 24, 2021, inside Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas.

This is a small church run from a private home in downtown San Jose. 

That night, Arely was brought to the church by her mother and uncle.

They were both convinced that the young girl was possessed by a demon. 

According to court documents, Arely’s mother believed her daughter’s behavior—periodically waking up crying—was a sign of possession. 

In an effort to rid the "demon," the family engaged in a torturous ritual. 

During the exorcism, Arely’s family members forcefully grabbed her by the neck, repeatedly trying to make her vomit.

They believed that vomitting would expel the evil spirit. 

Despite the desperate cries for help from the 3-year-old, the family persisted. 

The ordeal lasted for hours, and tragically, Arely lost consciousness. 

Her little body was covered with bruises around her neck, eyes, and chest—visible signs of the abuse she had endured. 

By the time authorities were called, it was too late.

Arely was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.

Arely Naomi Proctor and her mother Claudia Hernandez

The Investigation: Uncovering the Horrific Truth

When law enforcement arrived at the church, they found Arely’s lifeless body on the floor. 

At first, Claudia Hernandez explained that her daughter had been possessed and that the family had only been praying for her. 

However, further investigation revealed a darker reality. 

The mother admitted to pressing down on her daughter's throat in an attempt to induce vomiting, believing it would expel the evil spirit. 

Shockingly, after Arely became unresponsive, they waited for hours before finally calling 911.

The autopsy report confirmed that Arely had died from asphyxia due to suffocation. 

Investigators uncovered that for hours leading up to her death, the little girl had been subjected to physical abuse in the guise of spiritual healing. 

The family had deprived her of food and water for days, further weakening her fragile body. 

It was later revealed that her grandfather, who was the pastor of the church, had also participated in the ritual.

Claudia Hernandez

Justice or Misguided Beliefs?

Claudia Hernandez was arrested shortly after the incident.

She was charged with felony assault on a child, which resulted in her daughter’s death. 

Her uncle and father were also charged, and all three pleaded not guilty. 

The case is ongoing, with a judge set to determine whether it will proceed to trial. 

If convicted, Claudia faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

In a disturbing twist, a video of Claudia surfaced on YouTube months before her arrest.

In the video, she spoke about her daughter’s death with an unsettling detachment. 

In the 45-minute video, she expressed sadness and resignation saying, “It is what it is.” 

She also said that her daughter was now free from a world “where everything is just so bad.”

The church

The Dangerous Rise of Exorcisms

Arely’s case sheds light on a troubling trend of increased exorcisms in both the United States and Latin America. 

According to experts, a combination of factors, such as poverty, anxiety, and lack of trust in modern medicine, has led more people to turn to supernatural explanations for problems they cannot understand or control. 

The Catholic Church, which traditionally oversaw such rituals, has not been preparing priests to perform exorcisms for over a century

This has left a void that is increasingly being filled by unqualified individuals, especially in evangelical and independent religious circles.

Professor Allison Kavey, who has studied the history of exorcism, suggests that people often turn to these rituals when natural explanations are unsatisfying. 

“It’s difficult for a parent to accept that their child might be suffering from a disease they can’t understand,” Kavey explained. 

“So they turn to what’s familiar to them, like demons and God, to find a sense of control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.”

A Tragic Loss with Unanswered Questions

The tragic death of Arely Naomi Proctor has raised many questions about the balance between faith and reason, especially when a child’s life is at stake. 

How could a mother, convinced she was helping her child, inflict such harm? 

Could this tragedy have been prevented with better mental health or medical intervention? 

While the legal process may bring some closure, Arely’s case remains a grim reminder of the dangers of extreme religious beliefs when they override basic care and compassion.

As the case moves through the courts, the family continues to claim their innocence.

However, the evidence paints a haunting picture of what really happened that fateful day. 

The courtroom will eventually decide the fate of those responsible, but for now, a community mourns the loss of a little girl whose life ended in a tragedy driven by faith.

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