The Brookfield Boarding Kennels

This is the former Brookfield Boarding Kennels.

It is located at 519 Federal Road in Brookfield, Connecticut.

The building became the scene of a notorious crime in February 1981 when Arne Cheyenne Johnson stabbed his landlord, Alan Bono, to death during a drunken altercation.

Johnson's story was later dramatized in the horror film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021).

At first, it seemed like Bono's death was an open-and-shut case involving alcohol, flaring tempers, and a pocket knife. However, things took an intriguing turn when Johnson's defense team argued that he wasn't responsible for the killing because he had been under the influence of a demonic spirit.

Johnson lived in the adjoining apartment building with his fiancée, Debbie Glatzel.

Bono was their landlord and Glatzel's boss.

On Monday, February 16th, 1981, Johnson called in sick to his job as a tree surgeon. Afterwards, he dropped in to talk to Glatzel. Also present were Johnson's younger sisters, Wanda (15) and Janice (13), and Glatzel's cousin, Mary (9).

At some point, Bono showed up and invited everyone out to lunch at a local bar called Mug 'N' Munch, where they had food and wine.

Following lunch, they returned to the kennels.

Bono reportedly became boisterous as the afternoon wore on. Sources differ on the exact nature of the fight.

Some accounts claim that Bono grabbed nine-year-old Mary and that Johnson intervened, while others say that Johnson and Bono had a disagreement over the cost of a stereo repair. There were also claims that tensions had been brewing between the pair due to Bono's reported interest in Glatzel.

Following the incident, Johnson wandered away from the kennels "in a trance." The police later found him two miles away.

The claim that Johnson was possessed captivated people's imaginations and attracted worldwide media attention.

Adding to the intrigue was the involvement of renowned paranormal detectives Ed and Lorraine Warren, who had investigated the infamous Amityville Horror House haunting in 1976.

The couple stated their belief that Johnson was host to a demon that had previously possessed his fiancée's younger brother, David Glatzel.

Glatzel's parents had contacted the Warrens for help a few months prior to the stabbing, as their son had been experiencing visions of a demonic entity. They also claimed that he was being regularly attacked by an invisible force.

The Warrens concluded that multiple evil spirits were possessing David. Although they sought an official exorcism from the Catholic Church, the bishop of Brookfield refused to authorize one.

Consequently, several "informal" exorcisms were held instead.

Johnson, who was present during one of the exorcisms, reportedly took such pity on David that he impetuously called on the demons to possess him instead.

The Warrens were of the opinion that one of the entities inside the boy reacted to this by attacking Johnson and possessing him.

Johnson's fiancée agreed with their assessment, saying that he began exhibiting odd behavior following the incident.

Johnson's "demonic defense" could not be tested in court, however, as the judge ruled that there was no scientific basis for allowing him to plead "not guilty by virtue of possession." During his ruling on the matter, he stated that unscientific testimony and evidence about demons had no place in a court of law.

As a result, Johnson's lawyers shifted their focus to self-defense.

The prosecution was successful in persuading the jury that the killing occurred during a drunken, jealousy-fueled argument over Glatzel.

On November 24th, 1981, Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Bono. The following month, he was sentenced to 10–20 years in prison. In 1986, he was released early due to good behavior after serving nearly five years.

Movie portrayal

The 2021 film "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" dramatized these events, though it was not completely accurate.

The movie omits the lunch and the fact that Johnson had consumed alcohol that day. Instead, it portrays him as someone who refuses to drink with Bono.

In one scene, Lorraine Warren calls the police and warns them that a tragedy is about to unfold at the Brookfield Boarding Kennels. However, this did not happen in real life.