In 1980, 11-year old David Glatzel underwent multiple exorcisms (Margaritoff) to exorcise what was claimed to be 42 demons possessing him (“Demon Murder | Dengrove”). Just a month before the alleged possession began, Arne Johnson moved into the home (“Demon Murder | Dengrove”). During one such exorcism in October 1980, Johnson, 19 and engaged to David’s sister, Debbie,, begged the alleged demon to take him instead of the younger boy. At the time, it seemed things had passed and the strange predictions made by David had not come to pass. By the end of February 1981, one of his predictions came true (Margaritoff).
While David’s alleged possession began with the young boy complaining of nightmares of an animalistic man, Johnson’s seemed to take him suddenly. Johnson, who worked for a tree surgeon, met up with his landlord, Alan Bono, 40, after work on February 16, 1981. The two, who normally got along, got into a heated argument. At approximately 6:30 PM, Johnson pulled a five inch pocket knife (Margaritoff) on Bono and stabbed him over 20 times (“Demon Murder | Dengrove”), resulting in Bono’s death. The murder was the first in the nearly 200 year history of Brookfield, Connecticut and shook the inhabitants (Margaritoff).
The defense in the case attempted a plea of not guilty due to demonic possession, though a plea of insanity may have worked better (Margaritoff). The plea, though not entirely unprecedented, brought international attention to the small area of Connecticut. Debbie Glatzel pointed to photographs that show Johnson over her brother during one of the exorcisms, pressing his crucifix to him, followed by a photograph of Johnson holding David down with his crucifix seen broke on the ground as evidence of the alleged possession (Clendinen). The plea was rejected by Judge Robert Callahan, who argued the defense would not be provable and testimony would be irrelevant (Margaritoff)(Clendinen). Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous and controversial demonologists, were heavily involved with the case along with the addition of the Catholic church being involved (Clendinen). The two had been present at the exorcisms of David Glatzel and believed that Johnson has been possessed at the time of the murder. Followers of the case at the time felt that the Warrens and Johnson’s attorneys were looking to profit off the case, instead of focus on what actually happened (Margaritoff).
The plea eventually decided on by Johnson’s team was self-defense, claiming that he had attacked Bono out of a need to defend himself. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in late November 1981 with a 10-20 year sentence, but only served five (Margaritoff). When the Warren’s book on the case was published in 2006, one of the Glatzel brothers’ sued, claiming the story was made up to receive fame and money at the expense of the Glatzel’s (“Demon Murder | Dengrove”).
Was Arne Johnson truly possessed when he brutally stabbed Bono to death in 1981? Until possession can be definitively proven or disproven, those who know the case will be split. Those who believe in demons will likely side with the defense in saying that Johnson was possessed, while others will disbelieve entirely or continue to ask for more evidence.
Margaritoff, Marco. “Inside The ‘Demonic’ Murder That Inspired ‘The Conjuring 3′”. All That’s Interesting, 2021, https://allthatsinteresting.com/arne-cheyenne-johnson.
“Demon Murder | Dengrove”. Archives.Law.Virginia.Edu, https://archives.law.virginia.edu/dengrove/trials/demon-murder.
Clendinen, Dudley. “DEFENDANT IN A MURDER PUTS THE DEVIL ON TRIAL (Published 1981)”. Nytimes.Com, 1981, https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/23/nyregion/defendant-in-a-murder-puts-the-devil-on-trial.html.
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