America's Most Haunted House

Ronald DeFeo Jr. shocked the nation when he brutally murdered his entire family in their Amityville, Long Island home. In the early hours of Nov. 13, 1974, DeFeo Jr. shot and killed his father Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, mother Louise DeFeo, 43, sisters Dawn, 18, and Allison, 13, and brothers Marc, 12, and John Matthew, 9. After initially seeking help at a nearby bar, Ronald claimed that his family had fallen victim to a mob hit. However, he eventually confessed to the murders. The horrific crime later became the foundation of a chilling and controversial story that captivated and terrified many.

The Trial and Defense

During his trial in the fall of 1975, DeFeo’s attorney, William Weber, argued that Ronald heard voices commanding him to kill his family, suggesting a defense based on insanity. Many who knew Ronald at the time dismissed these claims, attributing his actions to his struggles with drugs and alcohol instead. The jury was unconvinced by the insanity plea and found Ronald guilty of six counts of second-degree murder, sentencing him to life in prison.

Mugshot taken of Ronald DeFeo, taken following his arrest.

The Lutz Family and The Amityville Horror

The DeFeo murders were only the beginning of the Amityville Horror legend. In December 1975, George Lutz, his wife Kathy, and their three children moved into the same house. They fled in terror just 28 days later, claiming the home was haunted by malevolent spirits. The Lutzes reported numerous eerie phenomena, such as slime oozing from walls, strange odors, and doors slamming shut on their own.

A priest who attempted to bless the house claimed he was slapped by an invisible hand and heard a voice telling him to “get out.” These disturbing accounts were chronicled in Jay Anson’s 1977 book, “The Amityville Horror,” which later inspired a successful horror film.

A Hoax or Horrifying Truth?

In 1988, DeFeo’s defense attorney, William Weber, admitted in an interview that he and the Lutzes had discussed creating a book together before they teamed up with Anson. Weber suggested that the tales of hauntings were fabricated over numerous bottles of wine. Despite Weber’s claims, George Lutz always maintained that their stories were true, though he conceded that some details might have been embellished.

The house featured on the movie “The Amityville Horror”, built circa 1924, at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York, United States. By the time this photograph was taken, the address had been changed to discourage curiousity-seekers.

Subsequent residents of the Amityville house have reported no unusual occurrences, further casting doubt on the Lutzes’ accounts. Meanwhile, Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s version of events that night continued to evolve, at times implicating his mother and sister in the murders.

The End of the Amityville Horror

Ronald DeFeo Jr. passed away in March 2021 at the age of 69 while serving his sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. His death marked the end of a chapter in the long and sordid tale of the Amityville Horror, a story that remains one of America’s most infamous true crime legends.

Whether seen as a grim case of familial violence or a chilling tale of haunting, the legacy of the Amityville house endures, prompting questions about what truly lurks in the shadows of our imaginations.

Reference: Amityville Horror: Inside The DeFeo Family’s Brutal Murders