Human beings are perhaps the only species that has the neurological capacity to experience mysticism. This capacity, perhaps essential for imagination and creativity, has been expressed in various forms throughout history. In this neo pagan era where people openly disdain traditional religion especially Christianity, this mysticism is still expressed in many ways, many of them disturbing and often leading to tragedy. One can only wonder what was going through Laundrie’s mind when he had his final confrontation with this young woman who apparently had her own demons.
I’ve always been inclined toward a sort of ‘nympholepsy’ myself - in the sense of an ecstasy toward something materially impossible.
I’ve always figured that Christian Mysticism was going after the same sort of thing.
It’s still possible that it was an accidental death. Erotic asphyxiation, maybe.