30-01-2025
Detroit priest allegedly attempted to use teen's hair to floss teeth
The Brief
A Detroit priest during a visit to Illinois allegedly asked a teen to use her hair to floss his teeth.
The priest is accused of grabbing the teen's hair and attempting to floss with it.
If found guilty in Illinois, he could spend a year behind bars.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - A Detroit priest and self-proclaimed exorcist is facing charges after allegedly attempting to use a 13-year-old girl's hair to floss his teeth with.
The backstory
Father Carlos Martins is from Detroit and is the star of a popular podcast named "The Exorcist Files," comparing his life to the movie "The Exorcist." He's a member of the Catholic Church and works and lives on Detroit's west side at the Companions of Cross Church.
In November, Father Martins was visiting Illinois as a traveling priest.
What they're saying
There, it is alleged he approached a 13-year-old girl, asked about her hair, and specifically if she ever used it to floss her teeth with.
"Then it's alleged that he then picked up her hair, placed it in his mouth and made a flossing motion," said Sgt. Dwayne English with the Joliet Police Department.
Police say minutes later he sat in the pew behind her and started growling at her.
"That was the allegation that was made by not only the young lady herself but the individuals that were around her at that time," Dwayne said.
He turned himself in earlier this week on a misdemeanor charge of battery for grabbing the teen's hair and trying to floss with it.
What's next
FOX 2 spoke to the leader of "Companions of Cross Church" and confirmed Father Martins is currently not able to work with the public until his case works through the courts.
If found guilty in Illinois, he could spend a year behind bars or on probation.
The Source
FOX 2 spoke with Sgt. Dwayne English with the Joliet Police Department and Companions of Cross Church.
