The Devil Made Me Do It: Arne Cheyenne Johnson

On November 24, 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson stabbed his landlord Alan Bono to death in Brookfield, Connecticut. What made the case unique was Johnson’s defense: he claimed that a demon had possessed him and forced him to commit the murder. This became the first American trial in which demonic possession was used as a legal defense, attracting national attention and the involvement of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The Background: David Glatzel’s Possession

The case began not with Arne Johnson but with his girlfriend Debbie Glatzel’s eleven-year-old brother David. In July 1980, the Glatzel family moved into a new home in Brookfield. Shortly after, David began experiencing terrifying visions and physical attacks by an entity he described as an old man with black eyes.

David’s symptoms escalated over the following months. He reportedly growled, hissed, and spoke in voices not his own. He demonstrated knowledge he shouldn’t have possessed. His body contorted into painful positions. He identified his tormentor as a demon who had come to claim his soul.

The family contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, who investigated and concluded that David was genuinely possessed. They arranged for Catholic priests to perform exorcisms, which they documented through photographs and recordings.

The Transfer

During one of the exorcism sessions, Arne Johnson reportedly challenged the demon to leave David and enter him instead. According to witnesses, including the Warrens, this challenge was accepted. The demon left David and entered Arne.

At first, there were few signs that the transfer had occurred. But over the following months, Arne’s behavior began to change. He experienced periods of trance-like dissociation. He had violent outbursts that seemed out of character. Those who knew him noticed that he was becoming a different person.

The Warrens warned that Arne was possessed and needed exorcism himself, but no ritual was performed before the tragedy occurred.

The Murder

On November 24, 1981, Arne Johnson and Debbie Glatzel were at the kennel where Debbie worked. The kennel was owned by Alan Bono, who lived in a nearby apartment. During the day, there was an altercation between Bono and the couple.

According to witnesses, Johnson suddenly attacked Bono, stabbing him repeatedly with a pocket knife. Bono died of his wounds. Johnson fled the scene but was arrested a short distance away. He had no memory of the attack.

The Trial

Johnson’s attorney, Martin Minnella, announced that the defense would be demonic possession. He argued that Johnson was not responsible for his actions because a demon was controlling him at the time of the murder. This had never been attempted in an American courtroom.

The judge, Robert Callahan, ruled that demonic possession was not a valid legal defense. He did not allow testimony about David Glatzel’s possession or the alleged transfer to Johnson. The Warrens were not permitted to testify about their observations.

With the possession defense excluded, Johnson’s options were limited. He was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter, a compromise verdict that suggested the jury had some doubts about the circumstances. He was sentenced to ten to twenty years in prison.

Aftermath

Arne Johnson served five years before being released on parole in 1986. He married Debbie Glatzel while in prison, and they remained together after his release. He has generally avoided publicity since then.

David Glatzel’s story took a controversial turn. As an adult, he and his brother Carl sued Lorraine Warren and others involved in the case, claiming the possession had been fabricated. They alleged that they had been manipulated and exploited. The lawsuits were eventually dismissed, but they cast doubt on the original possession claims.

The Movie

The case inspired the 2021 film “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” which dramatized the events with considerable creative license. The film renewed interest in the case and introduced it to a new generation.

The Glatzel family disputed many aspects of the film’s portrayal. The legal and ethical issues surrounding the dramatization of real crimes and the people involved in them became part of the case’s legacy.

Questions

The Johnson case raises several questions that remain unanswered. Was David Glatzel genuinely possessed, mentally ill, or performing? Did Arne Johnson experience some kind of dissociative episode during the murder, or was he simply violent? Did the focus on supernatural explanations distract from more prosaic factors like alcohol use, which played a role in the events of November 24?

The judge’s refusal to allow the possession defense meant these questions were never fully explored in court. The legal system had no framework for evaluating supernatural claims, so they were simply excluded.

Legacy

Arne Johnson’s case remains the most famous attempt to use demonic possession as a murder defense in American history. It demonstrated the limits of religious explanations in secular legal contexts while also showing the continued power of possession narratives in American culture.

The case is cited in discussions of law, religion, and psychology as an example of the tensions that arise when supernatural beliefs intersect with criminal justice. Whether viewed as a genuine case of demonic influence or a disturbed young man’s desperate excuse, the “Devil Made Me Do It” case has secured its place in American legal and paranormal history.