Arne Johnson's Possession

The tale of Arne Johnson’s possession revolves around a real-life case that captured widespread attention and became known as the “Devil Made Me Do It” case. This gripping incident unfolded in the United States during the 1980s and involved Arne Cheyenne Johnson, his girlfriend Debbie Glatzel, and the Glatzel family. The chain of events leading to the possession commenced with David Glatzel, Debbie’s younger brother, who purportedly started encountering peculiar phenomena, including unsettling visions and abnormal behavior. Convinced that David was tormented by demonic entities, the Glatzel family sought assistance from Ed and Lorraine Warren, a renowned couple specializing in paranormal investigations involving hauntings, possessions,

Following this encounter, peculiar incidents persisted, and Arne allegedly began exhibiting signs of possession. Friends and family members reported witnessing a profound transformation in his demeanor, marked by extraordinary strength and a deep, growling voice. Arne himself claims to have no recollection of the possession or the subsequent events. Tragically, on February 16, 1981, the situation took a sinister turn. While working as a maintenance worker, Arne engaged in a heated argument with his landlord, Alan Bono, resulting in Arne stabbing Bono multiple times, leading to his death. Arne was arrested, charged with murder, and defended by Martin Minnella, who argued that Arne was possessed by a demon at the time, giving rise to the now-famous phrase “the Devil Made Me Do It.” During the trial, the judge disallowed the defense’s presentation of demonic possession as a legitimate legal defense. Consequently, the case did not revolve around the possession itself but instead focused on the circumstances surrounding the murder. Arne Johnson was ultimately found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. However, he served only five years

One of their most famous investigations took place in the early 1980s and involved the possession of Arne Johnson. It all began when the Glatzel family in Brookfield, Connecticut reached out to the Warrens after their younger son, David Glatzel, started showing signs of possession. Convinced that a malevolent entity was targeting David, the Warrens believed that an exorcism was necessary to save him. During the exorcism, Arne Johnson, who was dating David’s older sister Debbie, bravely but unwisely taunted the entity and invited it to leave David and possess him instead. Tragically, this act led to Arne becoming the new vessel for the malevolent presence. After the possession, Arne’s behavior underwent a dramatic change. He displayed violent tendencies and suffered from terrifying hallucinations. In February 1981, Arne committed a horrific act of murder by repeatedly stabbing his landlord, Alan Bono. This shocking event led to Arne’s arrest and subsequent trial, where his defense argued that he was not responsible for his actions due to demonic possession. The Warrens played a significant role in the legal proceedings by testifying in court and presenting their expert opinions on demonic possession and the events leading up to the murder. Their involvement influenced the trial’s narrative and brought the concept of demonic possession into