Podcast Summary: Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Episode: From Crime House: Crimes Of... with Sabrina Deana-Roga and Corinne Vien
Date: November 17, 2025
Special Feature: Crimes Of Paranormal: The “Devil Made Me Do It” Case (Arne Cheyenne Johnson)

Overview

This episode is a gripping look into one of the most infamous intersections between true crime and the paranormal: the 1981 murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, known as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case. Hosts Sabrina Deana-Roga and Corinne Vien explore whether Johnson’s claim of demonic possession during the fatal stabbing of his landlord, Alan Bono, holds water—or if it’s an extreme case of criminal defense. Through first-person storytelling, discussion of the family’s trauma, and debate over paranormal vs. psychological explanations, the episode invites listeners to question: Where do you draw the line between the unexplainable and the criminal?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Framing the Season

• The hosts introduce “Crimes Of Paranormal,” a season dedicated to true crime cases with unexplainable, supernatural elements. They set an open-minded but questioning tone.
• [02:14] “...we will be exploring the intersection of true crime and the paranormal.” (Sabrina)
• A preamble game of “Would you rather?” frames the horror of the case (possession vs. witnessing a loved one possessed).

The Murder: What Happened?

• [06:05] Arne Cheyenne Johnson, a 19-year-old in Brookfield, Connecticut, stabbed his landlord, Alan Bono, to death in 1981. Johnson would later claim he was not in control—"the devil made me do it."
• Hosts recognize the tragedy foremost: “40 year old Alan Bono had a full life to live and it was cut short in a cold blooded act of violence by someone he thought he could trust.” (Sabrina, [06:35])
• Initial evidence (knife at the scene, eyewitnesses) pointed to a crime of passion; only later would the claim of demonic possession arise.

Enter the Paranormal: David Glatzel’s Possession

• The real story began months earlier, when Debbie Glatzel’s younger brother, 12-year-old David, began experiencing terrifying supernatural phenomena after a strange encounter in a new house ([12:29] onwards).
• David reported being shoved by invisible hands and seeing a man with pure black eyes who told him to “Beware.” ([14:59])
• Family initially suspected imagination, but David’s fear was unwavering, leading to escalating phenomena: extreme night terrors, levitating objects, and physical attacks on David.
• The case quickly escalates to poltergeist activity, with the entire family bearing witness and feeling endangered by “something evil.”

The Warrens and the Exorcism

• The Glatzel family called Ed and Lorraine Warren (of Conjuring fame), who assessed David and claimed he was in active demonic possession.
• The Warrens documented his episodes and advised the family to do the same for potential approval of a church exorcism ([27:28]).
• [28:57] The recording session: After being challenged to knock three times, unseen knocks shook the house, terrifying all present.
• Lorraine Warren described seeing a “black cloud” around David and declared it demonic, not ghostly ([31:12]).
• The Warrens outlined their five-stage model of possession: invitation, infestation, oppression, possession, and death.

The Turning Point: Arne's Sacrifice

• Despite skepticism, boyfriend Arne Cheyenne Johnson was deeply affected and present for exorcism attempts.
• During a violent exorcism at St. Joseph’s Church, Arne, in desperation, reportedly invited the demon to take him: “I’m here. Take me on.” ([44:45])
• Lorraine Warren allegedly warned police her visions showed someone would die by knife and asked them to watch Arne ([49:52]).

The Murder and Trial

• In the following months, Arne exhibited odd behavior (blank staring, growling under his breath) but nothing alarming—until he killed Alan Bono on February 16, 1981, after a tense confrontation ([51:25]-[54:27]).
• Arne claimed amnesia regarding the murder. His defense, unprecedented in US courts, pled not guilty by reason of demonic possession.
• The judge ruled that such a defense was inadmissible. The defense pivoted to self-defense, citing Alan’s drunken behavior and aggression ([61:21]-[62:16]).
• Arne was convicted of manslaughter and served 5 years in prison.

Aftermath and Lingering Questions

• Arne re-entered society, married Debbie, and had a quiet life post-release, reportedly free of any further incidents or mental health crises—raising questions about schizophrenia as a cause ([62:47]-[63:36]).
• The Glatzel family remains divided; David and his mother believed in possession, while brother Carl and father Carl Sr. maintained it was a hoax, blaming the Warrens' suggestibility and possible motives for profit ([64:30]-[68:27]).
• The episode debates whether the presence of the Warrens (and their subsequent book deals) created suggestion or enabled dramatic embellishment.

The Pop Culture Legacy

• The case has inspired films (“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”), books, and documentaries, though the hosts critique the Hollywoodized version for losing the true emotional and ambiguous complexity ([71:51]-[72:34]).

Open-Ended Debate

• Both hosts, while open to the paranormal, end uncertain: Was it selfless intervention gone tragically wrong, mental illness, or a genuine case of demonic possession?
• “We don’t know. And I think that’s the hardest part about the paranormal. Also some of the most exciting parts...” (Sabrina, [71:03])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Possession vs. Witnessing:
  “I'd rather be possessed. Because the trauma of someone you love being possessed sounds so scary and I could use a break sometimes.”
  —Sabrina Deana-Roga ([02:53])
• Describing David’s Encounter:
  "There, staring right at him, was a man. His eyes were pure black, like two opaque stones...and then it spoke one single word: 'Beware.'"
  —Corinne Vien ([14:59])
• Exorcism Climax:
  “With the crucifix still pressed against David's forehead, Arnie cries out, 'Leave this little kid alone. I'm here. Take me on.' Suddenly, Arnie feels his body go ice cold.”
  —Corinne Vien ([44:45])
• Questioning the Paranormal:
  “I used to always be the biggest advocate that yes, 100% the devil made him do it in this case. But I started questioning...there’s a lot more...that I didn’t know previously.”
  —Sabrina Deana-Roga ([07:53])
• Addressing Mental Illness:
  “After he's released from prison...he moved on with his life...If it was schizophrenia, you don't just go to jail for five years, come out, and all of a sudden your schizophrenia is gone.”
  —Sabrina Deana-Roga ([62:47])
• Skeptical Perspective:
  “Carl, the brother, does say he very much believes...Ed and Lorraine Warren came in, basically described everything that will happen during a possession case, and then like clockwork, all of those things started happening and were being exhibited by David.”
  —Sabrina Deana-Roga ([64:53])
• On Uncertainty:
  “Even now, it's hard to know for sure what happened...Was Arne just a killer? Or was he the victim of a vengeful demon? And the answer to that question depends on who you ask.”
  —Corinne Vien ([72:56])

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | [01:45] | Episode Introduction – Setting up “Crimes Of Paranormal” | | [06:05] | The Murder: Arne Johnson, Alan Bono, and “The Devil Defense” | | [12:29] | David Glatzel’s Initial Possession in the New House | | [24:05] | Calling Ed and Lorraine Warren | | [28:57] | First Serious Paranormal Encounter (3 knocks) | | [39:09] | The Exorcism at St. Joseph’s Church | | [44:45] | Arne Invites the Demon; Turning Point | | [49:52] | Lorraine Warns Police about Arne | | [51:25] | Arne’s Behavior Post-Exorcism Leads to Murder | | [61:21] | The Trial and the Dismissal of the Demon Defense | | [64:30] | The Glatzel Family Splits on Explanations | | [71:51] | The Case in Popular Culture/Conjuring Movie Reference | | [72:56] | Concluding Reflections and Unanswered Questions |

Tone & Host Dynamics

• The hosts balance open-minded engagement with skepticism; they are self-aware “believers” but also dissect flaws, biases, and psychological/suggestive factors.
• They use humor and personal anecdotes, but are clear-eyed about the human tragedy and family trauma at the core of the case.

Conclusion

This episode vividly reenacts and critically examines one of America’s strangest, most controversial legal defenses: Could someone truly be driven to murder by supernatural forces? With dramatic narration, authentic debate, and plenty of cultural context, it invites listeners not only to question the existence of the paranormal—but to sympathize with real people wrestling with horror, loss, and the unknown.

Listener Takeaway:
You’ll come away knowing the full story of the "Devil Made Me Do It" case, armed with both chilling details and a nuanced understanding of the debate between the impossible and the explainable—plus a few good movie recommendations.