The Demon Murder Trial: When a Killer Blamed Possession



The Demon Murder Trial is one of the most bizarre and chilling cases in American legal history. In 1981, a young man named Arne Cheyenne Johnson stood trial for the murder of his landlord, Alan Bono, in Brookfield, Connecticut. What made this case so infamous was Johnson’s defense—he claimed he was possessed by a demon at the time of the killing. This case became the first known instance in the United States where demonic possession was used as a legal defense, drawing widespread media attention. It also gained notoriety through Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators who were involved in the case. Their involvement helped cement the story in the world of the supernatural, later inspiring the 2021 film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

The Haunting That Started It All

The origins of the case go back to the alleged possession of 11-year-old David Glatzel, the younger brother of Johnson’s fiancée, Debbie Glatzel. According to the Glatzel family, David began exhibiting strange behavior after moving into a new home. He reportedly saw terrifying visions of a demonic figure, spoke in deep, unnatural voices, and displayed violent outbursts. The family, terrified, sought help from Ed and Lorraine Warren, who concluded that David was possessed by a demonic entity.

The Warrens, along with a local priest, attempted multiple exorcisms on David. During one of these sessions, Arne Johnson, who was dating Debbie Glatzel, allegedly challenged the demon, shouting: "Take me on instead!"

According to Johnson and the Warrens, the demon left David and entered Johnson, setting the stage for the tragedy that followed.

The Murder of Alan Bono

Months after the exorcism, on February 16, 1981, Arne Johnson and Debbie Glatzel were living together in Brookfield, Connecticut. Johnson was working as a tree surgeon, while Debbie worked for Alan Bono, a local kennel owner.

On the day of the murder, Johnson, Debbie, Bono, and a few others had been drinking heavily. At some point, an argument broke out between Johnson and Bono. Suddenly, Johnson pulled out a knife and stabbed Bono multiple times, ultimately killing him. Witnesses claimed Johnson appeared to be in a trance-like state before fleeing the scene. He was later arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter.

The "Demonic Possession" Defense

When the case went to trial, Johnson’s lawyer, Martin Minnella, made an unprecedented move—he attempted to argue that Johnson was possessed by a demon at the time of the killing and was therefore not responsible for his actions.

Minnella claimed that the devil had taken control of Johnson’s body, using his past involvement in David Glatzel’s exorcism as evidence. He even reached out to the Vatican for support and planned to bring in exorcism specialists to testify.

However, the judge rejected the defense, ruling that demonic possession had no place in a court of law. As a result, Johnson’s legal team was forced to switch to a self-defense argument instead.

The Verdict and Aftermath

Despite the supernatural claims, Arne Johnson was ultimately convicted of manslaughter in November 1981 and sentenced to 10–20 years in prison. However, he served only about five years before being released on good behavior.

The Legacy of the Case

The Demon Murder Trial became a sensational media event, fueling debates about paranormal phenomena in the justice system. It also cemented Ed and Lorraine Warren’s status as major figures in the world of paranormal investigation.

Years later, the case inspired the film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), which dramatized the events surrounding the trial. However, skeptics argue that the possession story was a fabrication, possibly a way for the Warrens to gain publicity or for Johnson to avoid full responsibility for the crime.

Was It Truly Demonic Possession?

To this day, the case remains one of the most debated paranormal mysteries in legal history. Some believe Johnson was truly a victim of dark forces, while others see the possession claim as a desperate legal strategy. Was Arne Johnson controlled by a demon, or was this simply a tragic case of alcohol-fueled violence? The truth may never be known—but the legend of the Demon Murder Trial lives on.



Anneliese Michel



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Anneliese Michel was a German woman born in 1952 in Leiblfing, Bavaria. Raised in a devout Catholic family, she began experiencing strange symptoms in her late teens, including seizures, hallucinations, and hearing voices. Initially diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, her condition worsened despite medical treatment.

The Exorcisms

Over time, Anneliese and her family became convinced that her suffering was not medical but demonic. She reportedly spoke in different voices, showed aversion to religious objects, and displayed unnatural physical strength. In 1975, two Catholic priests, Father Ernst Alt and Father Arnold Renz, were given permission to perform an exorcism following the Rituale Romanum, an old Catholic exorcism rite.

For 10 months, Anneliese underwent 67 exorcism sessions, some lasting hours. Her condition deteriorated severely—she refused to eat, suffered injuries, and ultimately died on July 1, 1976, from malnutrition and dehydration. She was just 23 years old.



Aftermath & Controversy

Her parents and the two priests were later charged with negligent homicide. In 1978, they were found guilty but received light sentences, as the court acknowledged that Anneliese had been mentally ill. The case remains one of the most controversial examples of religion vs. medicine, with some believing she was truly possessed, while others see it as a tragic case of misdiagnosed mental illness.

The Hexham Heads



The Hexham Heads are a mysterious pair of small carved stone heads that were discovered in 1971 by two boys, Colin and Leslie Robson, in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, England. The heads, roughly the size of a tennis ball, were found in the garden of their home and are believed to be ancient, though their exact origins remain unclear.

After their discovery, strange events reportedly began occurring around the Robson household. These included poltergeist activity, unexplained noises, and even sightings of a werewolf-like creature. Some researchers and paranormal enthusiasts have linked the heads to supernatural occurrences, while others suggest they may have been Celtic artifacts or even modern forgeries.

Dr. Anne Ross, a Celtic scholar who studied the heads, experienced eerie phenomena after taking them into her possession, including an encounter with a large, shadowy beast in her home. This further fueled speculation about their mystical or cursed nature.

Despite various tests and theories, the true origin of the Hexham Heads remains a mystery, making them a fascinating and enduring topic in paranormal folklore.

The South Shields Poltergeist



The South Shields Poltergeist is one of the most chilling and well-documented poltergeist cases in the UK. It took place in South Shields, England, in 2006, when a young couple and their three-year-old son began experiencing terrifying paranormal activity in their home.

Activity and Phenomena

The disturbances started subtly with strange noises and unexplained movements of objects but quickly escalated into something far more sinister. Some of the most disturbing occurrences included:

• Physical attacks – The entity reportedly scratched, bit, and hit the man of the house.
• Flying objects – Furniture and toys were seen moving on their own, sometimes hurled across rooms.
• Threatening messages – Messages like “You're Dead” appeared on a toy’s magnetic writing board.
• Malevolent entity – A dark figure, sometimes described as shadowy or hooded, was seen looming near the child’s crib.

Possible Explanations

Investigators, including paranormal researchers Darren W. Ritson and Mike Hallowell, documented the case and later wrote a book, The South Shields Poltergeist: One Family’s Fight Against an Invisible Intruder. While skeptics suggest psychological or natural explanations, the sheer number of witnesses and physical disturbances make it one of the most compelling modern poltergeist cases. Was it a malevolent spirit? A trick of the mind? Or something else entirely? The mystery of the South Shields Poltergeist remains unsolved.