Brookfield

So as a warning, I am going to be discussing some really scary, unsettling stuff.

And as you know, in the past, we've covered famous exorcism cases, like the 1980s case in Brookfield, Connecticut that ended in a murder trial.

And of course, we've talked about the boy who inspired the famous movie The Exorcist.

But before we dive into today's story, let's give a brief overview of what an exorcism entails.

Jesus.

Um, so September 2nd, 1980, in a church in Brookfield, Connecticut, David is seen for a minor exorcism.

So he doesn't get the full one.

They're like, "We'll just give him a little, a little-

February 16th, 1981, Brookfield, Connecticut.

Police arrive after a violent confrontation.

Nearby is 19-year-old Arne Johnson.

Yeah, yeah.

I have friends who's like, "I take my kids to Brookfield because they've got the fish pond," in our Brookfield, Connecticut, store.

But the whole premise was to create a fun environment, and one thing you'll notice in a Bob's store is at the prices are everyday low pricing.

Mm-hmm.

The case we're diving into today was the first ever homicide in the small town of Brookfield, Connecticut's 193-year history.

While the February 16, 1981 murder of 40-year-old Alan Bono was open and shut as far as who committed the murder and using what means, the year leading up to the murder is one of the most bizarre paranormal stories that we have on record.

This case earned national attention as the first and last time that demonic possession was used as a legal defense strategy in a United States court.

Okay, Cassidy, are you ready? I'm ready.

Okay.

In the year 1980, so that's 46 years ago, the town of Brookfield, Connecticut was a very small town and had a population of about 13,000 residents.

It was quiet, suburban, and it was somewhat rural with lots of, like, pastures and beautiful fields as you drive through the community.

And it would quickly transition into kind of a commuter city where people are going from this...

The designs were planned months before she died of cancer back on August 25th at the age of 80.

One is in Brookfield, Connecticut, not far away from here.

It shows her face surrounded by the words "Dolly, an American treasure." She sure was.

Okay, 'cause I wasn't sure, like, given her physique, if it would be a challenge to the-

It is expensive to do that so that I would love to see us band together as town.

So part of it is making sure that Newtown is talking with Bethel, with Brookfield, with Southbury with all the towns along I-84 to make sure that all of our representatives are all advocating for the same thing.

The other part of it is making sure that I-84 is safe.

So many of the accidents that happen on I-84 and bring traffic through Newtown that all stop at the flagpole and get all wrangled up in how you navigate the flagpole, all those accidents are what are causing the traffic that come through, a lot of the traffic that comes through Newtown.

Dolly Parton corn mazes crop up in fields nationwide.

Actually, more than that, Brookfield, Connecticut is where this story takes place.

Dolly Parton's personality and big wavy locks are grazing

fields

First, David, thank you very much first for having me on the show today.

How did I get involved with Lions Club? You know, I was in my local community in Brookfield, Connecticut, and I was involved in a lot of activities around town and statewide, but was looking for something different and just happened to meet a friend of mine on the golf course, someone I went to high school with I hadn't seen for at least 20 years.

And we got matched together, and as the round went on, I realized that he was – going to be the new incoming president for the Brookfield Lions Club.

And he asked me if I would consider coming to a meeting.

And I said, sure, you know, we've had a good talk today.

You know, that was to see the look on his eye and to understand that he was never expecting a gift like that.

And wasn't sure, I don't know how he would have gotten along in his daily life if it wasn't for something like that.

and he did ask the question before we left, he said, when I, when I'm not here anymore, what's going to happen to this? And, and we said, you know what? Um, When you're not here, people will understand that it was donated to you by the Brookfield Lions Club and we will get it back and we will find another person like you who will benefit from this kind of thing.

This is Crime House.

On the afternoon of February 16th, 1981, four people were drinking at a bar in Brookfield, Connecticut.

There was a 19-year-old arborist named Arnie Johnson who had called in sick to work that day.

There was his fiance, Debbie Glatzel, who was 26.

Police found him nearby a little while later.

Alan Bono died of his injuries that day.

It was the first killing ever recorded in Brookfield's 193 years of existence.

On its face, this was a tragedy, but not a mystery.