Arne Cheyenne Johnson: The Devil Made Me Do It

Born on February 26, 1952, Arne Cheyenne Johnson holds a somewhat strange claim to fame. He was the first person in the United States to claim demonic possession as a defense in a criminal trial.

After being arrested for the murder of his landlord, Alan Bono, in 1981 Johnson claimed, “the Devil made him do it”. Unsurprisingly, his trial became a media sensation at the time and Johnson became a household name.

Amazingly, two famous paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, came to his defense, arguing at trial that Johnson truly was possessed. For decades this has left some wondering if Johnson was guilty or if the claim could be offered as mitigation for such hideous acts.