Ever watched a horror movie and thought, "Wow, that's totally unbelievable"? Well, buckle up, because we're diving into a case so wild, it made its way from a small town to the big screen in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Possession in the Suburbs: A Summer Gone Sideways
Picture this: It’s 1981, and the Glatzel family is dealing with something far worse than noisy neighbors – a suspected demonic possession. Twelve-year-old David Glatzel starts acting...off. Real off. We're talking growling, speaking in tongues, the whole shebang.
Desperate, they called in the big guns: Ed and Lorraine Warren. Yes, those Warrens, the paranormal investigators who were basically the rock stars of the ghost-hunting world.
The Warrens, bless their hearts, declared it a legit demonic infestation. After multiple exorcisms, things take a seriously strange turn.
The Shift: From Boy to Boyfriend
During one of the exorcisms, David's sister's boyfriend, Arne Cheyenne Johnson, decided to play hero. He allegedly taunted the demon, telling it to leave David alone and take him instead. Cue the spooky music.
Fast forward a few months, and Arne commits a murder. Not exactly the kind of romantic gesture you'd expect, right?
"The Devil Made Me Do It": A Legal First
Here's where things get truly bonkers. Arne's defense attorney, Martin Minnella, decided to go for broke. He argued that Arne wasn't responsible for his actions because…wait for it…the Devil made him do it!
It was the first time this defense was used in an American court. Can you imagine being on that jury?
The courtroom drama was intense. Expert witnesses were called, and details of the alleged possession were presented. It was like a real-life horror movie playing out in front of the judge and jury.
Of course, the judge wasn't exactly thrilled with the "Devil made me do it" plea. He ultimately ruled it inadmissible as a defense. Sorry, Satan, you're not getting off that easily.
The Verdict and the Aftermath
Despite the otherworldly claims, Arne was found guilty of manslaughter. He served five years in prison and, surprisingly, married David's sister, Debbie, while incarcerated.
Talk about sticking by your man! Even after he claimed a demon made him commit a crime. That's some serious commitment right there.
The whole case remains controversial. Was it demonic possession? Mental illness? Or just a tragic series of events? It's a case that continues to spark debate and fuel our fascination with the supernatural.
Regardless of what you believe, you have to admit, this story is wild! From a possessed kid to a "Devil made me do it" defense, it's a rollercoaster of the bizarre and unbelievable. And it all started in a seemingly normal town, proving that sometimes, the scariest stories are the ones that hit closest to home.
