The Devil Made Me Do It: Arne Johnson Case

The Arne Cheyenne Johnson case made legal history as the first American court case in which the defense attempted to prove innocence based on the defendant’s claim of demonic possession. The case was investigated by renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Background: The Possession of David Glatzel

The events began not with Arne Johnson, but with his girlfriend’s 11-year-old brother, David Glatzel. In July 1980, David began experiencing terrifying visions while helping his sister Debbie and her boyfriend Arne look at a rental property in Brookfield, Connecticut.

David claimed to see an old man with black eyes, a thin face, and jagged teeth who threatened him. Over the following weeks, David’s behavior became increasingly disturbed:

• He spoke in strange voices
• Displayed knowledge of events he couldn’t have known
• Growled and hissed like an animal
• Levitated above his bed (according to family accounts)
• Predicted future events that came true
• Showed superhuman strength for a child his age

The Warrens’ Involvement

The Glatzel family contacted demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren after local priests proved unable to help. The Warrens documented the case extensively and arranged for multiple exorcism sessions to be performed on David.

During one of these sessions, Arne Johnson reportedly challenged the demon, demanding it leave David and enter him instead. According to witnesses, Arne said, “Take me on. Leave my little buddy alone.”

The Warrens later claimed this invitation allowed the demon to transfer to Arne.

Arne’s Possession

In the months following the exorcisms on David, Arne Johnson began exhibiting strange behavior:

• Going into trance-like states
• Growling and showing aggressive behavior
• Personality changes
• Memory blackouts
• Speaking in a voice not his own

The Warrens warned Debbie that Arne was in danger and urged them to seek help, but no intervention was pursued.

The Murder

On February 16, 1981, Arne Johnson stabbed his landlord, Alan Bono, multiple times during a confrontation. Bono died from his wounds.

According to witnesses, Arne had been behaving strangely all day, going in and out of trance-like states. When Bono allegedly grabbed Debbie during an argument, Arne attacked him.

Witnesses reported that during the attack, Arne growled and appeared not to be himself. He later claimed to have no memory of the stabbing.

The Trial

Defense attorney Martin Minnella attempted to enter a plea of “not guilty by reason of demonic possession” - the first such defense in American legal history.

Judge Robert Callahan ultimately ruled that demonic possession could not be used as a defense, stating there was no way to prove the existence of the Devil in court. The jury was not allowed to consider the possession claim.

Arne Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison. He served five years before being released for good behavior.

Aftermath

Ed and Lorraine Warren continued to advocate for the supernatural explanation of the case. They authored a book about the events called “The Devil in Connecticut” (1983), which detailed their investigation of both David Glatzel’s possession and Arne Johnson’s subsequent crime.

David Glatzel’s older brother, Carl Glatzel Jr., later sued the Warrens and Lorraine Warren’s organization, claiming the possession story was fabricated and that David had actually suffered from mental illness. The lawsuit was dismissed.

Legacy

The case was adapted into:

• “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (2021)
• Multiple documentaries and true crime programs

The Arne Johnson case remains significant as:

• The first American murder trial to attempt a demonic possession defense
• A landmark case in the intersection of law and religious belief
• One of the most famous investigations by Ed and Lorraine Warren
• A case that continues to spark debate about the nature of evil, mental illness, and legal responsibility

Arne Johnson and Debbie Glatzel later married and remained together. They have largely avoided publicity about the case in subsequent decades.