The Devil Made Me Do It

Lore & Background

The situation spiraled when David's tormentor allegedly influenced Arne Johnson, the boyfriend of Debbie Glatzel. In a fit of alleged possession, Johnson killed his landlord, Alan Bono, under circumstances that suggested he was not in control of his own actions. The subsequent trial became a media sensation, forcing the Warrens to testify about the reality of evil spirits before a skeptical jury. The jury rejected the 'not guilty by reason of insanity' defense based on demonic possession, and Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, receiving a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered against the windowpane of the small Connecticut apartment, mirroring the storm raging inside Arne's mind. Shadows seemed to stretch longer than physics allowed, twisting into shapes that whispered promises of release from a pain he couldn't name. He remembered the boy, David, screaming in the night, and the heavy, suffocating presence that had followed him home. Now, standing over Alan Bono, Arne felt his hands move without his command, guided by a cold, ancient will that was not his own. The knife descended, not out of hate, but because something else was holding it.

Reader's Guide

The case originates with the Glatzel family moving into a home in Enfield, Connecticut, where their son David begins exhibiting violent symptoms and speaking in unknown tongues. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate, identifying a powerful entity linked to a previous coven that had used the property for dark rituals. Despite an attempted exorcism led by Father Frank O'Connell and assisted by the Warrens, the demon appears to transfer its influence to Arne Johnson, David's friend who had previously been treated by Lorraine. Tensions rise as David is hospitalized, and Arne becomes increasingly erratic, plagued by visions of a demonic figure. The tragedy culminates when Arne confronts his landlord, Alan Bono, in a parking lot. In the presence of witnesses, Arne stabs Bono to death while shouting about the devil's influence. The Warrens rush to support him during the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings. During the trial, the defense argues that Arne was possessed at the time of the murder. While the court rejects the supernatural defense, the prosecution's inability to prove premeditation or sanity leads to a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, leaving the true nature of the event shrouded in mystery.

Did You Know?

• This case is widely cited as the first murder trial in American history where the defense attempted to use demonic possession as the basis for a 'not guilty by reason of insanity' plea.
• Despite the defense's efforts, the jury rejected the 'not guilty by reason of insanity' argument, and Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, not acquitted.
• The film adaptation expands on the relationship between the Warrens and the Glatzel family to heighten the emotional stakes of the investigation.