5 takeaways from Netflix’s newest true crime documentary, ‘The Devil on Trial’

Arne Cheyenne Johnson killed his landlord, Alan Bono, in Brookfield, Connecticut, on Feb. 16, 1981. While Johnson’s guilt appeared to be obvious, Johnson and those close to him argued he was not responsible because he had been possessed by the devil.

A new Netflix documentary on Bono’s death and the events leading up to it reveals new information about the alleged possession.

Here are some of the main takeaways from the documentary:

1. The story does not begin with Arne — it begins with an allegedly possessed 11-year-old boy

David Glatzel, the younger brother of Johnson’s then-girlfriend, Debbie, claims he was possessed by the devil when he was 11. The documentary begins with him sharing his experience.

“I’d like to set the record straight,” he says at the beginning of the film.

Glatzel alleges that he was possessed by an ominous entity when he was left alone to sweep a room in his sister and Johnson’s new house on July 2, 1980. He says he later experienced several visitations from the entity, which he believes was the devil, and reported them to his family.

2. Multiple witnesses corroborate David’s story

Is ‘The Devil on Trial’ a true story?

Glatzel’s mother, Judy, older brother Alan, sister Debbie and Arne Johnson himself have shared similar accounts of what happened to David.

In the documentary, Alan and Johnson recount in detail their memories of David’s behavior during the time of his alleged possession. Both recall David’s strange behavior and inexplicable occurrences in the Glatzel home, such as feeling the house shake and hearing strange noises.

In addition to these testimonials, the documentary includes audio recordings and photographs the Glatzel family took of David during his alleged possessions in August and September 1980.

3. A psychic told police she saw death in Arne’s future

Judy Glatzel enlisted the help of ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren when David was struggling. The Warrens have contributed stories to several popular horror films, according to Netflix, including “The Amityville Horror” and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” which is based on the Glatzels.

The Warrens told the Glatzels that a “demonic entity” had attached itself to David and encouraged him to receive an exorcism from their local priest.

When David took part in an exorcism ceremony on Sept. 2, 1980, Arne Johnson, who was present, allegedly told the entity to leave him alone and take him on instead. Johnson says in the documentary that he then felt a coldness come over him, but tried to ignore it because it seemed that David had been successfully freed of the devil.

According to Glenn Cooper, a former Connecticut detective, Lorraine Warren went to the local police station shortly after the event to report her concern for Johnson. She told police she foresaw “serious injury or death with a knife,” and that Johnson should not have directly challenged the devil.

4. Debbie stuck by Arne for the rest of her life

How long was Arne Johnson in jail? Did he get released?

Johnson says he does not recall stabbing Alan Bono, but his girlfriend Debbie was present and witnessed their altercation. But Debbie was adamant that Johnson was not to blame, according to the documentary.

Johnson’s lawyer attempted to use demonic possession as a defense, but the local judge denied it. Johnson then claimed self-defense and was sentenced to 10–20 years in prison for manslaughter.

In the documentary, Johnson states that he told Debbie to move on and live her life without him after he was sentenced. However, Debbie refused and continued her relationship with Johnson. The two were married in 1985, while Johnson was still in prison.

Johnson was released from prison in 1986 after serving nearly five years of his sentence. He and Debbie remained married until her death in 2021.

5. Not everyone in the family agrees

Was David Glatzel really possessed?

Carl Glatzel, David’s oldest brother, doesn’t believe any possessions took place.

“An innocent man got killed,” he says in the documentary. “And they wanna play it off that ‘the devil made me do it’? It’s just far from the truth. I know because I lived it.”

Carl alleges that Lorraine and Ed Warren were profiting off of the family’s experiences and wanted to defend Johnson because it would make David’s possession seem more plausible, per the documentary.

Carl also believes his mother was drugging the family with Sominex, a common sleep aid, and says the long-term effects can include mood swings and hallucinations. He says this was what likely happened to David, although David denies any allegations that his mother drugged anyone.

“He did see things, or at least he thought he saw things,” Carl says. “Between David, Arne, my brother Alan ... they were all victims at the end of the day.”

What is ‘The Devil on Trial’ rated and why?

“The Devil on Trial” is not intended for children under 14, per Common Sense Media. It is rated TV-MA for language, tobacco use and more.