The 1981 Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial garnered worldwide attention as it was the first known court case in the United States in which the defense attempted to argue demonic possession to prove the defendant’s innocence. Arne Cheyenne was accused of killing his landlord Alan Bono, but denied personal responsibility for the crime because demons had taken over his body.
Supposedly, Arne was the unfortunate host of a demon that had been exorcised from David Glatzel, his fiancée’s brother. Cheyenne was at the supposed exorcism and taunted the demon into coming out of David and possessing him. The demon complied, Cheyenne argued, and consequently, caused him to kill Alan Bono.
The first case of ‘Devil Made Me Do It’ has inspired several productions and publications, the last being The Spell: The Devil Made Me Do It. Arne Cheyenne is alive and leading a quiet life surrounded by her family.
Arne Cheyenne took on a secret personal life after his release from prison
Arne’s lawyer, Martin Minnella, believed that Arne was possessed. No one could convince him that human hands could inflict the type of stab wounds on Bono’s body. “I went to see Ed and Lorraine [paranormal investigators] and decided to take the case after talking to them,” Minnella said. Washington Post.
“I was told that when you are possessed, you have no control over your actions. That stuck in my mind.” Martin told the Post his argument in court would revolve around religion. “The courts have dealt with the existence of God, and now they will be asked to deal with the existence of demon spirit.”
Judge Robert Callahan quickly dismissed the defense, referring to it as “irrelatative and unscientific”. He said the “business or hobby” of locating demons “has not reached that level of viability where it would be useful to a jury in deciding the case.” Therefore, the jury could not hear the ‘devil made me do it’ defense.
Instead, Martin presents a self-defense argument at the trial which lasted about three weeks. After the trial, the jury deliberated for 15 hours and returned a guilty verdict. Arne was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison for first degree manslaughter.
He married his fiancée Debbie while in prison in 1984. Five years after Arne’s sentencing, the parole board approved his early release as he had been a model inmate. Apparently tired of the intense media attention, Arne chose a secret life with his wife Debbie. The couple went on to have two children together.
Lorraine Warren stated that Arne worked for a landscaper after his release. Arne and Debbie also helped produce The Spell: The Devil Made Me Do It. Sadly, Debbie passed away before the film’s release. Director Michael Chaves said digital spy:
“This is the story of Arne and also his girlfriend who became his wife, Debbie Glatzel. She was there during the exorcism, she was there at the murder and testified for him and believed. She was adamant about that and they’ve been married for the rest of her life, she actually just passed away from cancer.”
Some members of the Glatzel family claim that the Warrens made up the possession story to gain attention.
The Glatzel family sought the help of paranormal investigators Ed and Loraine Warren after they were unable to diagnose David Glatzel’s erratic behaviors. Ed and Lorraine helped put together an exorcism that supposedly freed David from his demons. Unfortunately, the demons found refuge in Arne.
Then-Brookfield Police Chief John Anderson said Washington Post that, initially, he saw nothing unusual in the murder. “Someone got angry, an argument ensued,” she said. Everything changed when the world found out about Arne’s supposed defense. “We couldn’t have a simple, uncomplicated murder, oh no,” John added.
At that point, the Glatzel family and the Warrens formed a united front. However, in 2007, Carl Glatzel, David’s brother, claimed that the Warrens had made up the story to gain publicity. He claimed the Warrens promised the family millions for their part in Lorraine’s book, The Devil in Connecticut, but the Glatzels only got $2,000.
Carl said that “the Warrens made up a false story about demons in an attempt to get rich and famous at our expense.” He claimed that David was not possessed, but suffered from mental health problems, from which he simply recovered. In 2007, David and Carl sued the Warrens for unspecified financial damages.
Arne and Debbie have always backed up the Warrens’ story of demonic possession. However, David’s father denies that his son was possessed. Some claim that the alleged exorcisms that preceded the murder did not take place. Director Michael Chaves believes in the Warrens’ story. “I think the Warrens definitely believe that he was possessed,” Michael said. digital spy.
“They put their careers on the line for it.” Ed Warren opines that Arne learned his lesson and wouldn’t dare face the demons again. He said digital spy:
“Possession does not last 24 hours a day. It comes fast and it goes fast. Arne understands what happened to him. He now knows how to avoid it if something happens and he won’t be stupid enough to face the devil again.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn