“The Conjuring” movies, a series of supernatural horror films depicting alleged real-life cases, have delivered big box-office dollars and loads of scares for audiences since 2013. The latest of the films centers around a Connecticut killing that took place 40 years ago.
“The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It,” released in June, is based on a 1981 case in Brookfield, during which the defendant, Arne Cheyenne Johnson, claimed he was innocent of murder because at the time he stabbed his victim, he was possessed by demons.
What was the real story behind the slaying and Johnson’s bizarre claim? A documentary about the case started streaming on June 11 on Discovery +, “Shock Docs: The Devil Made Me Do It.” But here are the basic facts.
Who is Arne Johnson?
In 1981, Arne Johnson was a 19-year-old arborist in Brookfield. He was living with Deborah Glatzel, 26. Johnson and Glatzel also were believers in paranormalism. In the months prior to the killing, Johnson participated in exorcisms involving Glatzel’s 11-year-old brother, David.
Why was David Glatzel exorcised?
According to the story told at the time, in summer 1980, David entered a rental house in Newtown with Johnson and Glatzel. In the house, David saw an old man with hooves and other strangely dressed men who behaved threateningly toward him. No one else saw the men. The terrified boy then began behaving oddly, experiencing night terrors and showing unexplained wounds. Glatzel and Johnson asked a Brookfield priest to bless the Newtown house, then they decided to concentrate not on the house but on David. They brought in Ed and Lorraine Warren, self-proclaimed paranormal investigators, who lived in nearby Monroe. After examining David, the Warrens concluded that the boy was possessed by more than 40 demons. The Diocese of Bridgeport assigned an investigator to look into the claim of “diabolical possession.”
Who are Ed and Lorraine Warren?
Ed Warren called himself a demonologist. He and his wife Lorraine got involved in numerous investigations of alleged paranormal activity and hauntings. They also founded the New England Center for Psychic Research. They were beloved among the public who believed in such phenomena. But they had many detractors, including legendary mentalist George Kresge, aka The Amazing Kreskin. “They have an excellent vaudeville act, a good road show,” Kresge told The Courant on June 22, 1981. In the “Conjuring” films, the Warrens are portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Who did Arne Johnson kill?
Johnson killed Alan Bono. Bono was a 40-year-old manager of Brookfield Kennels, where Deborah Glatzel worked. Bono was Glatzel’s boss and also Glatzel and Johnson’s landlord.
What happened the night Bono died?
On Feb. 16, 1981 at 6:30 p.m., Johnson stabbed Bono repeatedly in the chest and stomach on the lawn of Brookfield Kennels. The prosecution, led by Walter D. Flanagan, claimed Bono made an obscene comment about Glatzel, leading the men to fight, which ended with the stabbing. The prosecution also stated the two men had been drinking heavily at the nearby Mug ‘N’ Munch Café before the violent confrontation took place. The men had eaten dinner there with Glatzel, Johnson’s sister Wanda and Glatzel’s cousin Mary.
Johnson used demonic possession as a defense?
Yes. Johnson’s defense attorney Martin J. Minnella claimed Johnson was possessed by demons and was therefore innocent.
How did Johnson say he became possessed?
Johnson claimed he became possessed during an exorcism of David conducted by a priest. According to a Hartford Courant report on Feb. 27, 1981, the Warrens told police, “Johnson leaped up and cried to the demon, ‘Come into me, I’ll fight you, come into me.’ From that time on, he was possessed.”
Is demonic possession the same as an insanity defense?
Not according to Minnella. “Minnella, who has said publicly he will prove that demons exist, plans to bring into evidence tapes of [the exorcism] rites and Johnson’s challenge,” The Courant reported on Oct. 26, 1981. Ed Warren told The Courant “The value of this case is that people who are truly under demonic possession … will be able to go into a court of law and have that jury and that judge be much more understanding.”
How did those claims play out in court?
They didn’t. “I’m not going to allow the defense of demon possession, period,” Judge Robert Callahan said. He decreed it would be impossible to show evidence and that testimony would not be scientific. Minnella wanted to put four priests associated with Diocese of Bridgeport on the witness stand. Callahan refused to allow it. The diocese took David Glatzel’s demon possession claims seriously, but after Bono’s death, the diocese backed off from the case.
How long did the trial last?
Johnson was indicted on March 19, 1981. The trial began in Danbury on Oct. 28, 1981. The jury deliberated three days and reached its verdict on Nov. 24, 1981. He was sentenced on Dec. 18, 1981.
Was Arne Johnson convicted?
Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. He was released on good behavior after serving slightly more than four years at the Connecticut Correctional Institute in Somers.
Where are the people involved now?
Arne and Deborah Johnson married in 1985 and went on to live in Sherman. According to Deborah’s brother, Carl Glatzel, she died recently. Minnella still practices law in Middlebury. Callahan served on the state Supreme Court from 1985 to 2000 — chief justice from 1996 to 1999 — and died in 2013. Ed Warren died in 2006 and Lorraine Warren died in 2019.
Did Martin J. Minnella really believe Johnson was possessed?
Yes, and he still does. Minnella said in addition to having religious faith, he also had proof. “I think we had evidence, that they could cross examine on. This was not conjecture,” Minnella said when reached at his office in Middlebury. Although the decision to reject the claim of possession was Callahan’s, Minnella believes lack of support from the Diocese of Bridgeport contributed to the failure of the claim. “They didn’t want the public to know that they were involved in this case for nine months before the murder … that they did exorcisms,” Minnella said. “After the murder, they did everything to hide what they were doing.” Minnella believes the church today might be more helpful, since the Vatican announced in 1999 that it had revised its rite of exorcism, and exorcism is more openly talked about today.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
