Woman arrested after allegedly kidnapping grandmother for exorcism

Melissa Welsh told police that relative was possessed by demons

A California woman was arrested for allegedly kidnapping her grandmother to take her to Texas for an exorcism. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

A California woman was arrested accused of kidnapping her grandmother to take her to Texas for an exorcism.

Melissa Welsh allegedly told officers after she was arrested in Arizona that her grandmother was possessed by demons and she needed an exorcism performed by a church in Texas.

She was arrested by officers in Arizona who tracked her through her phone and performed a high-risk stop on the I-10 freeway.

"The reporting party had stated that Melissa Welsh had kidnapped her grandmother and was enroute to Texas to force an exorcism on her," stated court papers.

Melissa Nicole Welsh is accused of kidnapping, vulnerable adult abuse, credit card theft, and unlawful use of means of transportation.

She told authorities she believed it was okay to force her grandmother to go because she needed to get her help.

Court documents state that Welsh lived with her grandmother, but she was about to get a restraining order against her granddaughter and evict her.

A judge set a $200,000 bond for Welsh, and if she is released she will be subject to electronic monitoring.