DETROIT, MI – A Michigan priest known for his exorcism-themed podcast is embroiled in controversy as he faces charges for allegedly pulling out a teenage girl’s hair and using it in a bizarre manner. Father Carlos Martins of Detroit, host of “The Exorcist Files” podcast and author of a book with the same title, has been charged with misdemeanor battery after an incident in Illinois.
Prosecutors in Will County, Illinois, detailed in a criminal complaint filed on January 22 that Martins allegedly put the hair of a minor in his mouth in a manner that was “insulting or provoking.” Martins, who denies the allegations, was visiting the Queen of Apostles parish in Joliet during a nationwide tour of the Relic of St. Jude organized by his ministry, Treasures of the Church.
It is alleged that while at the parish, Martins, who is bald, made jokes about having hair. An eyewitness said that he then pulled a 13-year-old girl’s hair and mimicked flossing with it. Joliet Police spokesperson Sgt. Dwayne English confirmed that a male teen who was present recounted these details.
The situation reportedly escalated when Martins allegedly sat behind the girl in a church pew and began making growling noises, according to English. In response to the incident, the Diocese of Joliet issued a statement in November instructing Martins to leave both the parish and the diocese.
Martins was arrested on January 27 and charged with battery. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a notice to appear in court. Following the charges, the religious order associated with his ministry, the Companions of the Cross, announced that Martins had agreed to step back from his pastoral duties, expressing their prayers for those impacted by the situation.
Additionally, the Archdiocese of Detroit has barred Martins from participating in any public ministry within its jurisdiction. The situation remains tense as Martins’ legal proceedings continue.
Marcella Burke, Martins’ attorney, issued a statement describing the accusations as “egregious and unfounded.” Burke maintains that Martins never used the girl’s hair for flossing, nor did he make growling noises. She further described the charges as an attack on Martins’ integrity and expressed confidence that the legal system would ultimately clear him of wrongdoing.
As the case unfolds, all eyes will be on the court to determine the veracity of these unusual allegations and the future of Martins’ ministry.
