Shock Docs (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Devil Made Me Do It - full transcript

Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Over the course of their
extraordinary career, they documented

some of the most famous
paranormal events ever recorded.

For about 40 years now,

Ed and Lorraine Warren
had investigated cases

of haunted houses
and demonic possessions.

The Warrens' were called in

to investigate the famous
Amityville Horror.

Their pioneering work,

confronting demonic forces
has been featured

in a blockbuster
Hollywood movie franchise.



But none of their investigations

quite matches the sheer terror

of "The Devil
Made Me Do It" case.

This was the most
diabolical case

they had ever worked on.

This has all the earmarks
of the movie, The Exorcist.

And that this boy
would actually levitate.

It's the inspiration

for New Line Cinema's
horror film,

The Devil Made Me Do It.

But the real story is even more shocking.

As a family battles
unspeakable evil...

leaving one person dead.

And literally
putting the devil on trial.



The crux of this case is a claim

of demonic possession.

Now, for the first time,

never before seen interviews
with the people

who survived this untold horror.

This is the first time
in 40 years

that I've actually agreed
to talk about this.

And rare audio recordings

from inside the house
where demons raged.

When I heard the voice

that came out
of this 11-year-old boy,

I was terrified.

The whole family was getting
physically attacked.

You can see the body sink in

as if someone actually hit him.

I was dancing
with the devil here.

I knew that the devil existed.

I didn't think it could ever
manifest like that.

Brookfield, Connecticut

is your average hometown.

New England in a nutshell.

It's a calm,
beautiful community.

But every town
has a dark side to it.

On February 16th, 1981,

a violent murder rocks
this quiet town to its core.

Arne Johnson
knifed his landlord to death.

19-year-old,
Arne Cheyenne Johnson,

is charged with the knifing
murder of his landlord.

Stabbed Alan Bono to death.

Police referred to
it as an open-and-shut case.

Arne Johnson is in prison

on a $125,000 bail.

He is accused of murder.

But then comes
Arne Johnson's defense.

He will plead innocent

because he was
possessed by the devil

at the time
he committed the crime.

The unprecedented murder defense

makes headlines
around the world.

And at the center of it all
are Ed and Lorraine Warren.

"We're going
to take the devil to court."

The words of Ed and Lorraine
Warren, noted demonologists.

Ed and Lorraine Warren
see this as a huge opportunity

to put the devil on trial.

And so, they reach out

to an attorney
named Marty Minnella.

I had never heard
of Ed or Lorraine Warren.

And they told me
about this unusual case.

So, I had arranged a meeting
at the Warrens' house

in Monroe, Connecticut.

In this case,

the demonic definitely,
we feel, was to blame

because of what had
taken place in this home

and what Arne Johnson
had subjected himself to.

The Warrens' explained

that Arne Johnson
had recently participated

in a series
of harrowing exorcisms

involving his girlfriend's
11-year-old younger brother,

David Glatzel,

who was under attack
by demonic forces.

I was very skeptical,
but I was very interested

and I wanted to see
what evidence that they had

before I made
any kind of judgement

of whether I was gonna get
involved in this case.

To prove their claim,

Ed plays Marty
an audio recording

captured at the family's home
in Brookfield.

He explains
that young David Glatzel,

is under possession

as his mother, Judy,
sister, Debbie,

and Debbie's boyfriend, Arne

tried desperately to help him.

That was a voice
that I had never heard before.

And it certainly
wasn't the voice

of a 11-year-old boy.

I was terrified.

The tape convinced me
that we're dealing

with something
that was supernatural.

To understand
why the murder took place,

the Warrens' tell the attorney,

you have to go back seven months

to July of 1980.

The Arne Johnson...

that we met and that we knew,

was your typical
all-American kid.

A very good young man.

Arne Johnson's this
18-year-old kid.

He's hard-working.

He works as a tree surgeon.

And then Debbie Glatzel's
a dog groomer.

She's 26-years-old.

But they've known each other
since their childhood

and they've fallen in love.

And the plan
is to get married in the fall.

Our relationship was good.

I mean, we were friends...

and we became more involved.

We were looking to move
to better our life.

And that was
our whole intention.

They'd spent months
looking for a house

outside of Bridgeport

and finally they found
the perfect place.

We decided to
rent a house in Newtown, Connecticut.

The reason we picked this house

was because it was close
to my family

just over the Brookfield line.

It was private, in the country.

It had woods, yards.

We put every dime
into this house to get it.

Later that day,
Debbie's mother, Judy,

brings over Debbie's
two younger brothers,

Alan and David,
to help with the move.

My brother,
David's the youngest.

He was always happy.

He never had a frown
on his face.

He was a joy to be around.

Oh, I got along well with David.

He was a very outgoing kid.

I used to play with him a lot.

He always liked to hang out.

Everyone is excited
about the new house

except Debbie's mother.

Judy felt that the house
seemed dark.

No matter how many windows
they opened.

There's dust everywhere.

There's an old waterbed
that's left behind.

She felt just a heaviness
in the air.

It feels very negative
and very oppressive.

There's a feeling
of being watched.

She tried to talk
Debbie out of getting that place.

Debbie was excited though.
She didn't care.

She was ready to be
out on her own.

I assigned each of my brothers

a chore to help out
in the house.

I sent David
into the master bedroom,

handed him a broom

and asked him
if he could sweep up for me.

Beware!

David came running out
after a while,

and he sat under the tree.

He looked upset.

And I said, "Why aren't you
sweeping up in there?"

And, at first, right away
he wouldn't tell us.

All David will say,

is that he wants to go home.

That wasn't like
David to disobey

or, you know, disrespect.

I'm thinking, "I've gotta
get this work done.

I, I can't stop
and think about this now."

And so I just let it go.

With David too afraid

to go back in the house,

Debbie asks her brother Alan
to pick up the slack.

Alan and David can't wait

to leave the rental house
in Newtown

and return to their family home

in nearby Brookfield.

Later that night,

they decide to share
what happened to them

at the rental house.

David and Alan
came out of the bedroom

and came out to the kitchen.

Arne and Debbie
are staying in Brookfield

until they finish moving
into their new rental home.

Alan said,
the doors slammed shut

in the master bedroom.

Couldn't open it.

And then David started
to explain to us

how he had seen an old man...

who was transparent
and said, "Beware."

I'm thinking,
"Where is this coming from?"

I asked him a question. I said,

"David, did you see any
pills there and take them?

Maybe you're having an effect?"

And he swore to me, "No."

"Because I could see him.

If I put my hands over my eyes."

That's when
the boy tells his family

something even more frightening.

David explains that the old man

is still at the rental house.

And at night,

turns into what he describes
as a beast.

David said
the old man changes...

from day time to night time.

He would change to... the beast

with black hole eyes,

jagged teeth, pointed ears.

David said,
"I could close my eyes"

and see him right now,

"at the rental house
pacing back and forth."

I was thinking, this isn't
like David to talk like this.

He was into, you know,
looking at his comic books,

and watching cartoons.

At the time, we're just thinking

and we're listening to David

and he really wasn't
a story-teller,

so it was hard to take it.
A little bit.

He said the beast
was threatening to hurt him

because he told us what
had happened to him that day.

He said, "He's talking
to me right now."

I said, "You can hear him?"

He said, "Yes.

And he keeps telling me
to beware."

David reports that the beast
is telling him,

that Arne and Debbie
should not move into the house

or David will pay the price.

He begged me
not to move in there.

I was getting scared.

But I needed proof.

Because it was my house.

I gave up everything.
We put everything into it.

So, we had to go forward.

We're gonna be moving in there.

That's our home.

The next day,

Arne stops by the rental house
to drop off a few more boxes.

I felt two sharp taps
on my shoulder

and nobody was there.
It was just me.

I, sort of,
shrugged it off and...

then went back upstairs.

Later that day, Karen,
the previous owner shows up

to get her waterbed.

And Debbie can't resist,
but kinda press her for,

"Hey, something weird
is in this house, isn't it?"

Karen says, "Oh, I...
Yeah. Quite a few things.

Especially in this bedroom."

She's heard whisperings,

she's felt a cold body in bed
next to her.

And that she's seen

the apparition of this old man.

That information is way too much

for Debbie to handle

and she decides to talk to Arne.

I said to Arne,

"I'm not moving into that house.

David's telling the truth."

And I agreed with her.

I said, "Perhaps,
this is a bad choice."

We should just
get our money back

"and go back about our lives."

After giving up
the rental house,

the couple moves in with
Debbie's mother, Judy, in Brookfield,

while looking for a place
of their own.

But they will soon discover,

they can't escape
these dark forces so easily.

They ought
to make the day the time changes

the first day of summer.

And we
still got a three hour drive back...

David started saying,

"The beast is on its way.
It's coming here."

I saw David
who was really frightened

and it escalated from there.

And he started screaming
that he sees the beast

coming from the rental house.

That it was almost at the house.

He's coming
towards the front door.

There was nobody there.

My mother was very scared,
but she had to be strong too.

So she grabbed the only thing
that she had to protect herself.

Holy water from the church.

David said that it was
at the front window.

Finally, David says,
"He hates it! He hates it!"

David says
that the beast had left

and gone back
to the rental house.

That was quite a night.

You never think

something like this
would really exist.

So there's a little bit
of calm and peace again.

Maybe this is over.
Maybe this is the end of it.

The next day,

there's no mention of the beast.

It seems things
are back to normal.

It's July 4th.

It's a day for celebrations

and picnics
and things like that.

There's this peacefulness,
but then suddenly,

it starts again.

When we got home
from the 4th of July picnic,

David was very frightened.

He said that the beast
was in the house.

David warns the family

that the beast
has found a way in

through the attic.

Tried to convince him.
"Come on up, David,

You'll be fine. We're all there.

It's okay."

David reluctantly went.

Debbie wants to call the police,

but Arne decides, no.

He's gonna go up
into the attic himself

and investigate.

I turned around and looked.

There was nothing but boxes.

And I felt this ice cold
presence go through me.

But he shrugs it off,

tells Debbie
there's nobody up there.

I was frightened.
I couldn't move.

And then after a few minutes,
it stopped.

What I had witnessed was
something that couldn't be explained.

That was my first time I
ever experienced anything like that.

I didn't think anything really
existed like this.

And none of us got any sleep
whatsoever.

We didn't really know
what to do. I mean...

It was all new to us.

What we were thinking about is that we
need to find someone who could help us.

But you're also reluctant

because you don't know if they're
gonna just think you're crazy.

So at this point,

David is the only person
in the home

that can actually see the beast

and hear what he's saying.

And with each passing day,

Judy is becoming more alarmed
by her son.

David is reporting to Judy
that this particular entity

is letting him know that he's
more powerful than Jesus Christ.

The beast is telling David, "Take
down your Saint Michael's cards.

Take down your crucifixes, take
down any holy relics in the house.

Judy, being a devout Catholic,
refuses to take down any of that stuff.

And the fact that it would
even be requested is frightening.

The beast would
deliver him messages.

And the only thing that we could
think of doing was calling a priest.

When the beast hears that, he
sends a message through David...

"Don't do it, or there will be
consequences."

I was just, like, in awe about
actually seeing something like that.

We're seeing bruise
marks appear on David's body.

He's turning red and
black and blue with bruises.

And just see this happen,
and nobody is even there.

It was mind-boggling.

And I wanted to protect him,
and there was nothing I could do.

I knew then we're dealing with
something very powerful.

The situation is now dire. David's
life might literally be at stake.

And clearly the family
needs help.

Judy decides it's time to speak
with Father Dennis and explain to him

exactly what's going on.

Father Dennis decided that a
house blessing was in order.

He blessed every room.

And he gave David scapulars
to wear.

We felt like
we were being protected.

Beware.

His dinosaur became animated
and told him to beware.

Once David tells his mother

about what happened the
dinosaur and hearing the voice again,

she's just crushed

because she realizes
this blessing,

it just wasn't enough.

Whatever's there is still there

and it's gonna take more than
a blessing and some candles

to get rid of it

That night,
the Glatzels wait helplessly

to see what fresh horror
is in store for David.

Not that we had any more clues,

but we gotta tell the chief
something.

You could see the body sink in

as if someone actually
hit him with a blow.

David said
the beast stabbed him,

punched a knife into his chest.

There was a red line.
No blood or anything like that.

Thank God there wasn't.

But, um...

hey, it's pretty frightening...

to actually see someone
like this going through this,

I mean...
and you try to do so much,

and there's really not much
you can do.

The physical attacks on David

are just the beginning

of what will become
an all-out battle.

The beast was after him
and the beast wanted David's soul.

So the beast told him he will
make his life miserable for him

if he doesn't give up
his soul to him.

And David fought and said,
"I'll never give you my soul.

My soul belongs
to Jesus Christ."

To ensure
that David will surrender,

the beast brings in backup.

David reports that the beast
has brought additional entities.

For a total of 43.

He was frightened.

He didn't want to see
these grotesque figures.

They didn't have names,
they had numbers.

And that's how the beast
would call on them.

They were all assigned
to each and every one of us

to watch our every move.

By using numbers
instead of their Latin names,

it's believed the entities are
able to maintain their anonymity

and thus their power
over their victims.

They were always
multiple ones with David.

They would torment him and...

and thrash on him
and beat on him...

scream at him.

They wanted to break him down
so that he would become weak

and vulnerable and give in.

Judy calls Father Dennis
and explains that

it's gotten so much worse,

the blessing didn't help...

they're desperate for
something, some kind of action.

And that's when Father Dennis
gives them the number

for Ed and Lorraine Warren
of Monroe,

just two towns away.

Lorraine was a clairvoyant,

Ed was the demonologist.

And this married pair looked
into hauntings all over the world.

I would provoke
what was in that home

through using the name of
Jesus Christ, the blood of Christ.

The Warrens looked at everything

through a very
Roman Catholic lens.

That was their belief system,
that was their faith.

Considering the Glatzels
are also Catholic,

Father Dennis felt comfortable
referring Judy and her family

over to Ed and Lorraine Warren.

This just seemed
like the perfect match.

The call came
on a Sunday evening.

The strange thing was
that that Sunday afternoon,

Ed and I had gone for a ride.

And when we went through
Brookfield,

we made a right on 133.

I looked back. Ed said,
"What are you looking at?"

I said, "I don't know, honey.

I just have this funny feeling
something's gonna happen."

He says, "Where?" I says, "Here"

After Ed and Lorraine speak
to Judy on the phone

and hear about how intense
these attacks are,

they tell them,
"We're on our way."

The Warrens arrive at the
Glatzel house later that same night.

The couple is accompanied by their
colleague Dr. Anthony John Gressel.

Ed and Lorraine brought over
a physician

to have David checked out
to make sure that

this wasn't something
physical or mental.

The doctor checks over David

and he doesn't see
any sign of abuse,

any sign of anything that
seems off.

He seems to be with it mentally,
emotionally, and in all other ways,

and so at that point, this
investigation turns more paranormal.

In the beginning,
you don't know.

All you're there...
is observing what is going on.

I have the ability to see auras.

And so where an individual would
afflicted in the way that David was,

you would definitely see that
in the aura.

While Lorraine is
interviewing David,

David says, "The beast is
in the living room."

Something just
lurked in the shadows,

it wasn't good. It was dark,

and it's just lurked
in that area.

He was aware of it,
and I was aware of it.

And now Ed has his full
attention focused here

because if it's been verified
by Lorraine,

he knows from his own
experience that something is present.

Ed was trying to provoke
this entity

to see what it really was.

Three loud bangs came
on the table.

Knocking three times is sign
that the demonic has arrived.

It uses threes to mock
the Holy Trinity,

the Father, Son,
and the Holy Spirit.

3:00 p.m. when Jesus died
on the cross.

3:00 a.m. is when the devil
is at his strongest.

It's the opposite
of everything holy.

If it scratches someone,
it's usually three scratches.

Ed and Lorraine
inform the Glatzels

that they're not dealing with
a typical haunting.

The Warrens are convinced

these are the workings
of evil forces.

But one question remains.

Ed then asked David,
"Who does he say he is?"

"He says his name is Satan."

Now Ed realizes what
this family is dealing with

is a demon.

But what he doesn't know yet

is that this could be
the single most profound case,

an evil case of their lives.

Based on Lorraine's
sightings and David's recall,

the Warrens confirm
to the Glatzels

that an army of demons
has infested their home,

lead by Satan
and 42 demonic helpers.

It's talking through him,
talking to him,

and he's, like, repeating it.

In other words, not going into
the full possession at that time

'cause he's talking to us.

It's a long stage before the
possession actually takes place.

In the Warrens'
professional judgement,

an exorcism is urgently needed.

If not, David is in danger
of becoming fully possessed

and losing his soul.

Satan doesn't
have a soul. He's a spirit.

We have souls.
It's gift that God gave us.

Our body encases our soul.

Satan wants to take that soul
that belongs to God,

but he can't have it
unless you give it to him.

He doesn't want you to be
able to live with God

when you die.

He wants you to be with him
in hell.

And the devil threatened David
and beat him

and made him feel like he
was being stabbed and tortured.

And yet David resisted
the temptation to say,

"Fine, here, take it.

If you're gonna leave
me alone, take it."

But the more David resists,

the greater his agony.

He could die
from the relentless assault.

To free him from this torment,

the Catholic church
must approve an exorcism.

If you believed
someone needed an exorcism,

one of the problems is that...
the process is involved,

there's long formal
investigation by the diocese

and the archdiocese
and the Vatican.

There's so much evidence
that has to be collected.

You can't just phone this afternoon
and get one by five o' clock.

We were very, very fearful
for them.

I remember Ed told them things
to do for their own protection.

Until the exorcism
can be performed,

the Warrens give the family
holy candles and salts

to keep the devil and demons
at bay.

Ed said, "At this point, never,
never leave this boy alone."

Never.

Lorraine told my mother,
"If you need us, call us,

and we'll be back."

I felt some hope.
I felt confident.

Um, 'cause they really seemed
to know what they were doing.

They could provide some answers.

But will the
Warrens' protections be enough

to ward off
another demonic attack.

Got a strange one here.

He had the knife. I was
scared for my brother Alan.

Don't throw
that piss water at me. I'll kill him.

Arne starts reciting
the 23rd Psalm,

"The Lord is my shepherd..."

Something is drastically
wrong with David.

Judy says, "Call the Warrens."

Just as Ed and Lorraine
get home,

they receive a phone call
from the Glatzels in a panic,

begging them to come back
right now.

"The beast is back."

David turned blue.
He isn't breathing.

We lost him.

As David lies
lifeless on the ground,

the Warrens rush back in.

David came back.

The presence of the Warrens

has driven the demons
from David.

We posed a threat
because of our knowledge.

I remember telling them
about how careful they had to be

because realize...

that is not your
11-year-old son... at times.

Judy asked, "Is he possessed?"

And I said, "Not right now.
He comes under and then out.

And comes under. You're
never possessed 24 hours a day."

They're going to pick
n the most vulnerable.

They're not going to pick
on the strongest members.

Debbie and Judy,
they're strong women.

David would be the vulnerable.

Over the next two weeks,

David has more than a
dozen episodes of possession...

which leave him

and his family exhausted.

And it was just battle
pretty much night after night.

The same thing
over and over again...

with the physical attacks...

the poundings...

objects levitating.

While the family
waits for the Catholic Church

to approve an exorcism,

they fight back...

with the only weapons
they have...

holy water, religious amulets,

and prayer.

We had to try and outwit
something that we couldn't even see.

It would only show itself
when it wanted to.

They were fearful. They would
take shifts in being with him.

Arne and Debbie.

He was our family.
He was my brother.

That... family,
you have to stick together.

I was able to record every time
David went under possession.

We'd have to hold him down.

And I would record his
voice... And it was changing.

Because they have to have
proof to go to the bishop.

They needed tangible proof

for getting on their way
with the exorcism.

We were there to protect him.

As the summer continues,

the Warrens return
to the Glatzel's home

several times
to support the family

in their terrifying ordeal.

You see a family,

so torn apart

it's awful.

Yeah, that bothers you.

Believe me, that bothers you.

They're a decent family.

They didn't need to go through

something like this.

They told us to keep vigil
our prayers

and they also told me
to start a journal.

One morning,
when Alan is home alone...

he suddenly hears
strange noises in the house.

Alan hears a hissing sound

coming from the bedroom.

The hissing of a snake.

Foreshadows the attacks

on other members of the family.

That night, Debbie records
in her journal...

"I like to sleep
with my hand under the pillow,"

that's when this thing

"attacked my hand."

It's like living a nightmare

over and over and over

and over again.

You have no idea

what it's like
not to be able to walk

from one room to another room

and want somebody
to walk with you

because you don't want
to be touched by anything.

Now, the whole family

was getting physically attacked.

The day after
Alan hears the hissing snake,

Arne has his own
demonic encounter

in the Glatzel house.

I saw a physical body

of a man, but in a...

Just a black mass form,

and the eyes were just

deep pits, like to another realm

that will just
draw you right in.

That was a scary experience

so I discussed it
with the family.

This is the first time

anyone in the family,
other than David,

has seen the demon.

The entity has now
taken it up a notch,

it's amped it up
and it's using all of the fear

from Alan, from Judy

and Debbie, and Arnie,
to be able to manifest.

For several weeks,

Debbie's journal entries

depict David's
diabolical attacks

at the hands of demonic spirits.

July 31, 1980,

3:20 a.m.

This figure came back
just as David was sleeping

and was going to stab him
with a machete.

We blessed him

and brought him out of it.

August 1st, 1980,

this figure spoke to David,

if anyone gets
in his way to stop him,

he'll kill them.

This includes the Warrens
if they try to help.

Later, that same day,

Judy leaves her son alone
for a moment.

When she returns,

she hears the most terrifying
pronouncement yet.

David's not here.

His soul is mine.

Someone will die.

Judy immediately
summons the Warrens

and Father Graso,
a priest from St. Joseph's.

David is gone.

Just to look

at that child
when his head rose,

oh, man alive.

You're not seeing David.

That is terrifying.

I knew that the devil existed,

I didn't think it could
ever manifest like that.

When it goes
under a full possession,

David's not there any longer.

That's very frightening.

When Father Graso
sees the levitation,

when he hears, "David is gone,"

Father Graso knows

he's got to escalate
this case quickly.

And that's when he brings it
to Father Virgulak.

Father Virgulak understands

that the Glatzels can't wait

for the Archdiocese
in the Vatican

to conduct
a formal investigation.

So he urgently
authorizes an informal

or minor rite of exorcism
at the local Catholic church.

Because it hasn't been
authorized by the Bishop,

he doesn't have the right
to do the full exorcism.

The minor rite of exorcism.
It's a series of prayers,

it's still intensive,
it's the very first step

in trying to vanquish
the demon out of this boy.

When David is brought
to the church,

he's so violently striking out

they have to actually
wrap him in a sheet.

They would be commanding

in Christ's name
for it to leave.

He started talking
in foreign tongue

to the priest...

and talking blasphemies.

He's speaking in Latin,

to try to intimidate the priest.

But nothing's gonna stop
these folks

from performing this rite.

Hymn books went flying all over.

It's a battle.

That's what it is.

And Ed said,
"Father, be careful.

Remember, that isn't David."

He broke loose

and he went right
after that priest.

He scared the life
out of the priest.

David, he had stopped breathing.

So I pushed the priest away,

I said, "You're killing
my brother."

I lost it, I started crying.

Father Virgulak
ends the exorcism

for fear
of risking David's life.

When they stopped it,

it was not the right thing
to do.

Because then you have to start
at square one again.

If the ceremony
had been finished,

maybe we could've got rid
of all of them.

The second exorcism

is arranged
for the following week

on September 8th.

This time, the Warrens
persuade Debbie

that it must proceed

no matter what David says.

That date was picked
specifically

because it is
Virgin Mary's birthday.

That would be the best day

to have a non-violent reaction

to an exorcism at the church.

And so, the exorcism
takes place in the church

and this one's rather calm.

And they think,
"Well, maybe this worked."

David felt good,

we felt that something
was done, accomplished,

my mother and I just
looked at each other

and we said we hope it works.

And Lorraine points out,

that the only way
to know for sure

is to wait and see
what happens after midnight.

They all go back
to their home in Brookfield

and they wait.

It's just after midnight

and, all hell is breaking loose.

David moved so incredibly fast.

The screaming, the yelling,

the lunging, the gyrations,

that his body was going through.

Movement of objects...

In the room.

It was awful.

It was just terrible,
just a hideous thing.

I took a belt,

and I put it around his waist

to tie it around
the back of the chair,

to hold him down.

I felt upset

to see this.

Looked like he was dying.

Unable to endure David's agony,

Arne makes a fateful decision.

And that's when I challenged

the demon,
I told him to take me on,

leave David alone,

he's just a child
and come take me on.

Come in to me.

Oh, that was outrageous.

It was a very bad idea.

I told him to stop.

It was not the right thing
to do.

But I was just
trying to help the little boy,

to protect him.

He was doing it
to save my brother.

He's not challenging a child,

he's not challenging
a human being,

he's challenging
a very powerful force.

Now it has the invitation

to try and take over
another soul in the family.

And that's an invitation

that he would definitely
come to regret.

This supernatural battle

continues throughout the night.

Everybody is exhausted,

there's prayer,
there's Holy water,

there's this process
over and over again.

Finally, when it was dawn,

it was like some kind
of a dark veil was lifted.

You just sensed it
and you just knew it

that it had happened.

The demon is exorcised.

David has finally been
returned to his family.

Everybody's just feeling this
different energy in the house,

a peacefulness.

David is seeming
more like himself,

than he has in the longest time.

But the Warrens believe

that peacefulness
will be short-lived.

We said it was inevitable

there was going to be
a tragedy in that home.

We knew there was gonna
be a tragedy.

The Warrens tell Arne,

"You have to be careful,
you have to stay on your toes.

You invited a demon
into your body.

You have to watch yourself,
there could be retribution."

Two months after
David's final exorcism,

it's the start of a new
chapter for the family.

David has turned 12
and is once again

a healthy and active boy,

no longer plagued
by demonic possession.

Arne has not experienced
any negative effects

from challenging the devil.

With everything calmed down

at the Glatzel's house,

Arne and Debbie

are really ready to move on
with their lives.

Debbie has started working

for a new Brookfield resident,

Alan Bono,

who manages
the local dog kennel.

I'm a dog groomer

and the apartment
came with the job.

Debbie and Arne's apartment

is on the kennel grounds.

Alan Bono,

who is both Debbie's boss
and landlord

lives in an apartment
directly above the kennel.

Alan is more than
just their boss

and their landlord,
I mean, he's a friend.

I can tell you,
they were drinking buddies.

He was originally
from Australia.

They're all
hanging out together,

they've just put this really
dark chapter behind them,

and now they're finally
starting this great new life.

I was on patrol...

when dispatch
gave us out the call...

that there had been some
sort of physical altercation

at the dog kennel
on Federal road.

I was actually
the first responder.

And when I got there

there was quite a bit
of commotion outside.

Alan Bono came stumbling out

and I could see he had been
wounded in some fashion.

Debbie Glatzel yelled out,

"Help him, help him,
he's been stabbed."

And I felt the pulse,

I knew he was alive at the time

and then the medical people
just kinda took over from there.

Peg Ellis, whose husband Norman

is a special officer
on the police force,

and a member
of the ambulance crew

is home that night.

Following the action
on the police scanner.

I was listening and I heard
when the ambulance got there

to the scene and then
they moved very quickly.

They packaged him up

and took him down to the
Danbury Hospital emergency room.

It wasn't really
looking very good.

Things like that just
don't happen in Brookfield,

they didn't in 1981.

Debbie Glatzel had
actually stated that it was Arne,

and he's just not right

and he may go anywhere
and do anything.

And when I arrived
it was a bit chaotic.

The patrol officer

who was on the scene,
Joe Lemperolli

told me that there had
been an argument

between two men,
one of the men was stabbed.

Arne Johnson,

who had done the stabbing
had fled the scene.

After dropping off
Alan Bono at the hospital,

the ambulance crew
is on its way back into town

when Norman Ellis
spots something.

I crossed the bridge
over the railroad tracks.

I saw somebody down here.

They gave me the description

and I said,
I've got him right here.

And sure enough,
it was Arne Johnson.

He was right where
the Glatzel family house was.

Apparently he was heading
back there.

And I'm listening to this,

I knew they were looking
for a knife.

Norman got out of the ambulance,

I was absolutely terrified

because my husband had nothing,

he didn't have a weapon
with him.

This was my husband.

To me, it was life and death.
I was really scared.

And I had my badge and I said,

"I don't think so."

So I just held on to him.

A few minutes later,

a Brookfield squad car
pulls up to the scene.

When we came upon Arne,

I didn't feel threatened by him.

He wasn't Charles Manson,
let me put it that way.

And he says,
"Something happened,

I just can't remember."

He didn't give me
this impression

that he could do
something like this.

He just had this look
on his face

like, "What happened?"

We Miranda rights,
and placed him under arrest

and proceeded to take him
to the police department.

With Arne Johnson in custody,

there is news
on Alan Bono's condition.

Within an hour,
we had gotten word

from Danbury Hospital
that he had expired.

Now, we had a murder
on our hands.

An hour and half
after Alan Bono was murdered,

Detective Lucas
meets with his alleged killer,

Arne Johnson.

He appeared dazed, as if he
was confused as to why he was in a cell.

At that point in time, I told him
that he was under arrest for murder.

Which I said, there is no way.

I could not do it.
You got the wrong person.

I told him Alan was
dead. He said, "Are you sure?"

And I said that I'm sure
that Alan is dead.

Arne was very quiet.

Hearing those words
from me, shocked him.

I think reality was setting in to
him that he was in serious trouble.

Based on evidence,
discovered at the scene

and Debbie's statement,

the officers
begin piecing together

what happened between
Arne Johnson and Alan Bono,

on the day of the murder.

Arne had stayed home
from work that day.

He had s sore throat
and he wasn't feeling good.

So I had given him some
penicillin or some antibiotic.

And I said, "Well, come on.
Let's go have lunch."

I didn't feel like going,
but I went.

So we had pizza that day.
Glass of wine.

The bartender,
at some point in time,

said, "Look, folks, I think
you've had enough."

And they returned back
to the kennel.

So they went to Alan's apartment
and they were just having a party.

Maybe they were drinking
too much. Who knows?

At one point, the music got
a little too loud

for Debbie's liking,
in particular.

He was starting to get a little
belligerent, my boss was...

'cause Arne wanted to leave.

And my boss
didn't want us to leave.

And, so, he grabbed me,

and Arne told him to let go.

Alan Bono had put his hands
up to fight.

And then all of a sudden,
when I looked at Arne,

and I said, "That's not Arne."

He had black, cold eyes.

And I knew exactly who it was.

She knew he wasn't himself.
She's petrified.

Did the devil finally
take Arne up on his challenge?

His facial features changed.

His teeth changed.

And they started to struggle.

Arne went right at him.

And he had the knife
in his hand.

And then Alan
just stumbled to the ground.

And Arne took off.

I called, "Alan, Alan."
And he looked like a fish out of water,

trying to gasp for air.

I didn't know what to do.
I was scared.

And I called 911.

They did find a knife,

which was nearby the body
of the victim.

The knife was on the ground

and it was glowing.

There is something
about this knife,

that's different.

I mean, not only did it
just kill a person

but, there's some power to it.

I actually photographed
it, took it into custody.

It was a five inch

folding knife
similar to a buck knife.

Arne Johnson, as we learned was

involved working
as a tree surgeon, so,

his claim was that he
used this knife in his work.

With Arne behind bars,

the Glatzels reach out
to the couple

who have supported them

through out
this terrifying ordeal.

We were away at a university,

when we were made aware

that it had happened.

And I contacted all the priests.

Every one of them.

Because I didn't want them

to read it in the papers.

Not one was surprised.

Those who bore witness
to David's months of demonic torture,

are certain that the devil
entered Arne

during the harrowing events
of that evening,

and had been biding his time

for the right moment,

to reveal himself.

When tempers flared
at Alan Bono's apartment,

Satan seized the moment

to take temporary possession
of Arne.

This demon wanted
to punish Arne.

It was very angry

that Arne thought
that he could challenge it.

That's why it jumped into Arne

and caused this death.

He came for a soul.
He took one.

He got what he wanted.

And he made Arne suffer.

And I suffered.

The devil,

has made Arne pay
for his mistake.

For the police however,

this looks like
a straightforward case.

Whether it was alcohol,

or just an altercation.

There's no question it was
a domestic that went bad.

But that is quickly
about to change.

When I got
to the police station,

the Chief grabbed me and he said,
"Have you seen the newspaper articles,"

from all over the country?"

And I said, "No."

That was the first knowledge
that we had of anything,

like demonic possession.

It was probably the first time,

especially as a police officer,

that I heard this as being
a possible motive.

Chief Anderson received a call
from Ed and Lorraine Warren

and they wanted to come in
and speak with us.

So the Chief agreed to it

and he said,
"Look, I want you there."

We have to go to the police.

And we shared what was going on

with the Chief of police.

I remember Lorraine,

specifically stating that
Arne Johnson had challenged

the demon that they refer to
as the beast,

"to," Take me on,

leave the little kid alone."

She was alleging that there
was a transfer of this entity

from the little boy to Arne.

And that resulted in the
behavior that caused the stabbing.

We got to a point where the
Chief was very blunt with them

and he said, "Look, you folks
have a vested interest in this.

How are you expecting us
to believe what you're saying."

It was at that point, Ed Warren

started talking about,

that the young boy had
been overtaken by 43 demons.

And it really took me aback.
I was just quiet.

And you're almost tempted
to pull out a notebook and say,

"Okay, give me the names
of these people."

It's just educational,
It's just entertainment.

I was very, very skeptical
with what I was hearing.

But many do not share
the police officer's skepticism.

For the police, this is a
cut and dry murder case.

But pretty soon,
the world is gonna learn

what the Glatzel family
has known for months.

The devil is a real force
in Brookfield.

In the state capital
city of Hartford, Connecticut,

a young reporter for The
Hartford Courant newspaper,

John Harris is assigned
to the Arne Johnson story,

within a week of the murder.

I got a call from
our state desk in Hartford,

telling me that
there had been a murder

in Brookfield, Connecticut,

which was unusual in itself.

A very small town,
but that the rub here,

was that there was allegations
of demonic possession.

I learned about the involvement

of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

When the initial
press reports go public,

word about the case
spreads like wildfire

through Brookfield
and neighboring communities.

There was a lot of
hushed talk about this young man

who was possessed by the devil.

That there had been
this exorcism

and it was, like, news
to everybody.

Rumors were flying big time now,

with all the publicity and all.

I was like everybody else,
you know.

Is this really happening in
this sleepy little town of ours?

It wasn't like we had a serial killer
on our hands or anything like that

where the people are alarmed
and concerned, but,

are we dancing
with the devil here?

It was the topic
of conversation everywhere.

I made no comment at all.

Whether I believed it
or didn't believe it.

I just felt, personally,
it wasn't my place

to make any comment on this and I
went for months and months and months,

not doing that. In fact,
this is the first time

in 40 years
that I've actually...

agreed to talk about this.

Everybody was abuzz.

You hear about the devil.

It was a few years
after The Exorcist,

which had been a major movie.

The notion that it could exist
in real life,

that that was
theoretically possible,

there were reporters that I knew at
the Courant and I would say to them,

"Arne Johnson had challenged
the demons

to take on somebody
their own size."

And they said,

"Oh, he shouldn't have
done that."

If you are truly
a devout Catholic,

and this is a very Roman
Catholic community of Brookfield

and Newtown
and all the surrounding towns.

You're not allowed to pick
and choose

which parts of the faith you
wanna believe and disbelieve.

If you believe in God
and Jesus and the Holy Trinity

and the saints
and all that other stuff,

then don't you also have
to believe

in demons and the devil?

The community
is of course split.

There are people that say this guy
committed a crime, he committed murder.

He needs to be punished.

And there are others who say,

"Maybe he needs our prayers."

Maybe he was possessed.

Leading the charge
in getting the word out,

regarding the devil's role
in Arne's murder case,

are Ed and Lorraine Warren.

We do have very outstanding,
definite evidence,

concerning the fact
that Arne Johnson,

during the period of time
that he lived with that family

in Brookfield, Connecticut,

where the child was under
demonic attack,

was subjected to what was there.

For the Warrens,

this was a chance to put
the devil on trial.

To actually prove their
life's work in a court of law,

before a jury of your peers.

People were more than willing

to accept the possibility

that this was genuine.

That in fact, demons
had caused this murder.

You think it's possible?

It's possible according
to my teachers.

To my knowledge.

I hope it never happen
to anyone.

That in some ways
presented a fertile ground,

for defense attorney,
Marty Minnella,

in preparing this case
and going to trial.

January 16th.

Marty Minnella's
first order of business,

is to meet with Arne Johnson,

in his jail cell at the New
Haven Correctional Center.

Arne Johnson

was a mellow, quiet,

peaceful individual,

who acted in this manner,

not to be explained by anything,

but demonic possession.

He wasn't trying to excuse
what he did

or say, "Well, I didn't do it."

He just said, "I don't remember
anything that happened,

at the time of the murder."

Most people do not remember
what they do

when they're under possession.

Because they are
not really there.

The possessing entity
has taken over completely.

It wasn't Arne.

I know it wasn't Arne.

Positively, it was not Arne.

It was something that used Arne.

Martin Minnella, so
believes in Arne Johnson's innocence,

that he agrees to take
on his defense, pro bono.

This kid really needs help.

And he really needs someone
that will go out

and put themselves on a limb,

to defend him.

It was on the front page of
every newspaper in the country.

I was contacted by people
from all over the world.

People magazine.

The Enquirer.

They all characterized it

as the "Devil made me
do it" case.

I also appeared on CNN.

They had great interest.

Could have been
the demonic force or spirit.

These were acting through
Mr. Johnson

or through its own power?

We're gonna have to prove
possession to a jury,

that there is such a thing
as demonic possession.

Arne's girlfriend,
Debbie Glatzel,

also proclaims his innocence.

What did you see take place?

Um, just a lot of pushing
and shoving.

And then?

And then all hell broke loose.

- What do you mean?
- With the growling and...

it sounded
like the Incredible Hulk.

As in?

Uh, Arne when he went
under demonic attack.

A trial date
is set for late October,

at nearby Danbury Superior
Court House.

The question now is,

will the devil get his due?

By the time the trial starts
at the Danbury Court House...

What has come to be dubbed
the devil trial.

The trial of Arne Johnson

is part of the whole
national landscape.

Jim Van Sickle,
News Four, Danbury.

Everyone is discussing,
is demonic possession,

a possible defense for a murder?

The trial turned out
to be a media circus.

We had reporters
from all over the country.

Danbury Court House
was jam packed.

Will the devil be
present in this ancient court house,

in Danbury, Connecticut?

Might he take the stand
at some point?

As the trial gets underway,

the devil seems determined
to make his presence felt.

There was multiple
times the first day,

when the lights would kept
going flickering on and off.

The Judge tried
to have a custodian

find out what's going on
and no one could explain it.

I do recall
Lorraine Warren advising me,

where the devil
might be manifested,

by these paranormal things
happening in the courtroom.

She would tell me that things
were happening to the jurors.

Somebody's son got hit by a car

and all part of the evil forces

surrounding this
particular situation.

But the flickering lights

aren't the only unexpected
event that first day.

As Marty Minnella rises
to present his case,

Judge Robert Callahan,

immediately stops
the proceedings.

Judge Callahan said,

that demonic possession

is not gonna be allowed
in this case.

It was an injustice.

The Judge was totally wrong.

"He said," I'm not willing to say

that demonic possession
does not exist.

But I am prepared to say,

"you can't prove that."

Once the Judge didn't allow

the defense
of demonic possession,

I had to pivot to give Arne
at least a shot at a fair trial.

Marty Minnella, changes
Arne Johnson's plea to self defense

and argues that Alan Bono
was the aggressor.

His client, a quiet teenager,

was forced to protect himself.

On November 24th, 1981,

after 17 hours of
deliberation, over three days,

the jury finds Arne Johnson...

not guilty of murder.

I've always said it
from the beginning,

Arne's innocent.

He's been to hell and back.

But the celebration
is short lived.

Arne Johnson is convicted of
manslaughter in the first degree.

I was surprised.

No way whatsoever,

could he have ever, ever,
ever done anything like that.

He's just not the type.

I can only tell you
what the Judge said,

"There's a body there,

and somebody has to pay for it."

Arne Johnson receives a
sentence of 10 to 20 years behind bars.

While in prison,
he marries Debbie Glatzel.

And after serving
less than five years,

Arne is released
for good behavior.

I look back at it as a victory.

This was an individual
charged with murder,

and instead,

served less than five years
on a manslaughter.

I feel I was innocent.

And I didn't do it.

Not me personally.

Not knowingly.

I don't believe Arne got
a fair defense.

Because the facts and the
truth of what really happened,

was never presented to anybody.

Was justice meted out?

I don't believe so.

To this day,

those whose lives were almost
destroyed by these horrific events,

remain convinced

that they were the handiwork
of the devil.

I believe by...

threatening these demons and challenging
them and telling them come into me,

and they took control.

'Cause I opened the door.

How can you believe

that there is all light, and
goodness and love and God.

But not believe
that there is any darkness

and the personification of evil?

A real human being died,

tied to this case.

And when it combines
evil and hauntings

and ultimately a murder,

and then trying to put

the paranormal on trial.

I mean, that's something
we're gonna keep talking about.

Something like this
could happen again.

It probably will happen again.

And maybe the devil
is gonna get his day in court.