An early morning exorcism on Tuesday turned violent and led to the arrest of four county residents, officials said.
Dianna Brewer, 54, 6647 Franklin 52, Spruce Pine; Christie Wahl, 39, 6647 Franklin 52, Spruce Pine; Ginnie George, 36, 100 East Side Plaza, Apt. 233, Russellville; and Zachary Bryant, 20, 32839 Franklin 724, Russellville were all arrested and charged with third-degree domestic violence, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.
According to Oliver, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Franklin 61 at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday for a domestic violence call.
Upon arrival, reports state that deputies found the front door standing open and a Bible lying on the front porch.
Oliver said the victims stated they were trying to perform an exorcism on one of the women involved in the altercation.
Oliver said during the exorcism, the woman reportedly began hitting another woman at the residence who was also holding a two-year-old female child.
Oliver said the child was hit during the incident, which sparked a fight between all four defendants.
At press time, they were all being held in the Franklin County Jail without bond.