Conjuring the Devil to the Witness Stand

In this bone-chilling episode of The Parallax Podcast, Karisa and Willow take you down the rabbit hole of one of the most infamous true crime cases tied to the supernatural: the story of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the man who claimed the Devil made him do it. Known as the first-ever "demonic defense" in U.S. legal history, this case inspired The Conjuring 3 and blurred the lines between crime, the occult, and the paranormal. Willow kicks things off by diving into the eerie case of David Glatzel, the young boy allegedly possessed by a demonic entity. She traces the chilling events that led to Arnie, David’s brother-in-law, taking on the demon himself—only to later commit a horrifying murder. Was Arnie truly possessed, or was this a desperate attempt to escape accountability? Karisa then shifts the focus across the pond, exploring cases in the UK where the "devil made me do it" defense has been invoked. She examines the cultural and historical context of demonic possession, tracing the evolution of exorcisms before and after the Catholic Church formalized its ritual. From medieval hysteria to modern-day portrayals in film and media, Karisa unpacks how society’s fascination with the Devil has shaped our understanding of crime, guilt, and the supernatural. Together, Karisa and Willow weave a haunting narrative that connects the dots between true crime, demonic possession, and the enduring allure of the Devil in popular culture. Was Arnie a victim of supernatural forces, or was his defense a clever ploy? And how has the fear of the Devil influenced both the legal system and our collective imagination? Keywords:True crime, demonic possession, Arne Cheyenne Johnson, The Conjuring 3, Devil made me do it, exorcism, Catholic Church, David Glatzel, paranormal, supernatural defense, UK crime, cultural history of the Devil, female hosts, Karisa and Willow, occult, legal defense, horror films. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about crime, possession, and the dark forces that may—or may not—be at work. This episode will leave you looking over your shoulder and wondering: Could the Devil really make you do it?