EP 29: Demonology with James Annitto

How do you know when you come across an evil spirit that it's not necessarily a demon, but just an "asshole"?

In this episode of Splintered Spirits, Gary sits down with demonologist and author James Annitto to answer that question. James, a former ordained Old Catholic deacon and founder of the Dominion Ministry, brings over two decades of experience investigating the dark edges of the paranormal.

James is known for his objective approach, often looking through a psychological lens before jumping to supernatural conclusions. In this interview, he shares terrifying case files that blurred the line between mental health crises and true evil, including a premonition of murder that almost made him quit the field.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Difference: Distinguishing between a haunting, a demonic infestation, and a spirit that is just a jerk.

• The Nightmare Case: A harrowing story where James dreamt of dismembering a family—only to arrive the next day and find them wearing the exact clothes from his dream.

• The "Wall Puncher": The time James caught a lonely elderly woman staging poltergeist activity on CCTV.

• True Possession: A violent encounter in Salem, MA involving physical transformations and a rosary that instantly oxidized.

• Pop Culture: What movies like Nefarious and Insidious actually get right about the paranormal.

Featured Book:James Annitto’s new book, The Psychological Dimensions of the Paranormal, is available now:  https://amzn.to/47duJBs

Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: What are spirits?2:15 - From Deacon to Demonologist8:45 - Defining a Demon: Evil Spirit or Fallen Angel?22:45 - The Nightmare Case: A Demonic Infestation40:30 - Debunking the Wall-Punching Ghost51:00 - The "Trifecta" of Evidence1:04:00 - Advice to a Young Demonologist

About Splintered Spirits:Hosted by Gary, Splintered Spirits explores the strange, the haunted, and the theories that might explain it all. We are trying to find the answer to one question: What are spirits?