The story of the Glatzel family�s involvement wouldn't become public knowledge until February of 1981, when a young man named Arne Cheyenne Johnson attempted an unprecedented plea in American law of not guilty by reason of demonic possession to the charge of first degree murder in the stabbing death of his landlord and friend, forty-one year old Alan Bono. According to his attorney and some members of his family, Johnson was possessed by demons at the time of the murder and therefore could not be held responsible for the crime. His attorney, Martin J. Minella was prepared to demonstrate to the Danbury Superior Court and jury that Johnson became possessed as a direct result of challenging the demons who had taken possession of his girlfriend's youngest brother, eleven-year-old David Glatzel, a full eight months before. The evidence consisted of photographs and tape recordings of the child under �possession� as well as eye witness testimony from six Roman Catholic priests who were involved in trying to rid the boy of his demons in several rights of exorcism, and from demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were involved in the possession case since July of 1980.
The bizarre murder made headlines across the country and within weeks - the world. Johnson's plea was rejected by the court, and he was ultimately found guilty of first degree man slaughter and served five years in prison. The story was released as a book, The Devil in Connecticut (1983) (2006), and an ABC made-for-television movie The Demon Murder Case (1983) with Andy Griffith and a young Kevin Bacon which still receives late night airings. The story was recently featured in a Discovery Channel series The Haunting in an episode titled �Where Demons Dwell� and a new found interest was discovered in the story and many new questions arose among the curious, especially in Internet forums and radio. Most recently, Carl and David Glatzel have recently filed a major lawsuit against Lorraine Warren and author Gerald Brittle and others for invasion of privacy, libel, intent to cause emotional distress, and other charges for ignoring the Glatzel�s plea for the right to privacy and reprinting the book in 2006. A trial is currently set for spring of 2008.
What really happened between 1980 and 1983 in Brookfield, Connecticut? Was a young boy actually possessed by demons? Did a man actually commit murder under demonic possession? What happened to the family involved? What about the priests and the witnesses? Could any of it possibly be true, and if not, is there anything that can be done to help those who have already been victims and do something to prevent it from happening again?
Sitting silent for over twenty five years, Carl has watched the aftermath destroy his family and the lives of those involved. When he learned the book was reissued and a major motion picture was in the works without the knowledge or consent of his family, he decided to fight back using only the truth and the voice of reason as his allies. After the overwhelming positive response Carl received from stepping forward, he learned there are many others who have been victims of similar exploitation and he made a decision that the best way to spread the word of truth was to write about it. His story is a riveting and devastating exposure of greed, lies, corruption, and dysfunction that surrounds one of the country's most bizarre murder stories. In Alone Through the Valley, Carl and David give a fascinating and detailed account of one of the nation's biggest hoaxes in the past quarter century. Released for the first time are authentic photographs, documents, journals and personal interviews with family members, clergy, neighbors, Brookfield police, and other key witnesses who were actually there. Also speaking for the first time are several authors who have worked with the Warrens including Ray Garton and Joseph Citro. Most importantly, we speak with David Glatzel, who tells for the first time about the incidents and the claims made by others that he was possessed was demons. David, reluctant but diligent, unveils the intimate story of his �possession� and how and why it came to be. There is an important message in Carl and David�s story, and they are not alone. |
