It's not often that one hears about an exorcism going wrong. But that was the case when a Centerville, CA mom hit, bit, and choked her 11-year-old daughter during the extreme and archaic religious practice of exorcising demons from the body of the possessed. Or at least that's what the mom claimed she was up to.

The Sacramento Bee has the most detailed report we could find of this weird and tragic incident that took place on a secluded beach near Ferndale, in Humboldt County. Apparently 10 to 12 people watched as 45-year-old Kimberly Felder stripped her child naked, shoved sand in the kid's eyes and mouth, and hit the child with a piece of driftwood — all in the process of what Felder insisted was an exorcism and not just an excuse to beat a minor.

A local resident named John Marciel tried to stop Felder and someone eventually called 9-1-1 at approximately 9 a.m. on Friday. Needless to say, as soon as we obtain audio of that 9-1-1 call, we will post it because can you imagine?

Marciel told the Associated Press that Felder continued to hit her child with the stick even as he restrained her. "She questioned me about my faith," Marciel said.

When a sheriff's deputy arrived, Felder was taken to jail and charged with suspicion of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, felony child abuse and aggravated mayhem. The child was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries, which included severe damage to one ear. She'll remain in child protective custody.

CBS 5 adds that Felder was given a toxicology test to determine if she was under the influence of any substances.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office believes that Marciel saved the child's life and plans to give him the Red Cross Life Saving Award. Meanwhile, investigators have yet to release Felder's toxicology report which just might reveal exactly who had the possession issue in this particular situation.

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