It was a quiet November night in 1974 in Amityville, New York, when the DeFeo family’s stately Dutch Colonial house, nestled at 112 Ocean Avenue, became a scene of unimaginable horror. The neighbourhood, known for its serenity, was suddenly engulfed in a wave of tragedy. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the eldest son of the family, frantically ran into a local bar, crying for help, claiming someone had shot his parents and siblings. When police arrived at the iconic waterfront home, they discovered a massacre—six members of the DeFeo family, murdered as they slept.
The house would gain further notoriety a year later when the Lutz family moved in. Just 28 days later, they fled in terror, claiming to have experienced paranormal events that would inspire one of the most famous haunted house stories in modern American folklore: The Amityville Horror. The events within the house captured the nation’s attention and raised debates about the line between fact and fiction in the supernatural world. With claims of levitating beds, ghostly apparitions, and strange voices, the Amityville Horror House became a chilling touchstone in paranormal lore. However, what is the truth behind the legends?
The Murders That Set the Stage
The story of the Amityville Horror House begins with an honest and tragic event: the murders of six members of the DeFeo family on the night of November 13, 1974. Ronald DeFeo Jr., 23 at the time, shot his parents and four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—while they were sleeping in their beds. The weapon used was a .35 calibre Marlin rifle, and the killings occurred with such speed and efficiency that no neighbours heard gunshots, and there were no signs of struggle from the victims.
The sheer brutality of the crime shocked the small, peaceful community of Amityville. During his trial, DeFeo claimed he heard voices that told him to kill his family, a detail that would later play into the supernatural explanations connected to the house. However, the court dismissed his defence of insanity, and in 1975, DeFeo was sentenced to six consecutive life terms in prison (D’Antonio, 2015).
Statistics:
- Number of victims: 6 (Ronald et al.)
- The weapon used: .35 calibre Marlin rifle
- Sentencing: Six consecutive life sentences
Reference:
- D’Antonio, M. (2015). The Truth About the Amityville Horror. Atria Books.
The Lutz Family and the Paranormal Claims
One year after the DeFeo murders, in December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, moved into 112 Ocean Avenue. They purchased the house for the bargain price of $80,000, a significant discount, due to the murders that had taken place. The Lutzes were aware of the DeFeo murders, but they claimed it did not bother them—until the paranormal activity allegedly began.
According to the Lutz family, the first sign that something was wrong appeared shortly after they moved in. George, a former Marine and businessman, claimed he became increasingly angry and lazy, as though a dark energy was controlling him. He reported waking up every night at precisely 3:15 AM—the time DeFeo had allegedly committed the murders. Strange odours filled the house, and cold spots appeared in rooms. Crucifixes hung upside down, mysterious green slime oozed from the walls, and phantom noises echoed through the hallways. At one point, the family claimed to see a demonic pig-like creature with glowing red eyes staring into their windows (Anson, 1977).
Their most terrifying experience came when Kathy reported levitating off her bed and being attacked by unseen forces. At the same time, George claimed to have heard voices commanding him to harm his family. After 28 days, the Lutz family abandoned the house, leaving most of their belongings behind. They would later claim they had no choice but to flee, fearing for their lives.
Statistics:
- Duration of Lutz family residency: 28 days
- Purchase price of house: $80,000 (1975)
- Paranormal phenomena reported: Voices, cold spots, levitation, phantom smells, ghostly apparitions
Reference:
- Anson, J. (1977). The Amityville Horror. Prentice Hall.
The Book and the Movie: Fact or Fiction?
The Lutz family’s harrowing ordeal became the basis for The Amityville Horror, a book by Jay Anson in 1977. The book was a massive commercial success, selling over 10 million copies, and it was followed by the now-famous 1979 movie adaptation, which sparked a franchise of sequels, remakes, and documentaries. The book and the film both painted the house as a demonic entity filled with evil spirits.
However, the credibility of the Lutz family’s claims has been heavily scrutinized. Sceptics, including investigative journalists and paranormal researchers, have noted inconsistencies in their stories. For example, during interviews with reporters and under oath in court, George Lutz’s accounts of the events sometimes contradicted earlier statements. Furthermore, subsequent house owners have reported no paranormal activity, questioning whether the events were exaggerated or fabricated for financial gain (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1995).
Even William Weber, Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s defence attorney, claimed that he and the Lutzes “created this horror story over many bottles of wine” (Kaplan, 1995). However, the Lutzes denied these accusations, maintaining that their experience was real and terrifying.
Statistics:
- Book sales: Over 10 million copies worldwide
- Film gross (1979): $86.4 million in the U.S. (approx. $323 million in 2024 dollars)
Reference:
- Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1995). The Amityville Horror Conspiracy. Toad Hall.
Paranormal Investigations: Hoax or Haunting?
The Amityville house has been the subject of extensive paranormal investigations. One of the most famous investigations was carried out by Ed and Lorraine Warren, a well-known pair of paranormal investigators who would later become renowned for their work on cases such as the Annabelle doll and the Enfield Poltergeist. The Warrens claimed the house was the site of intense demonic activity, linking it to ancient Native American burial grounds and occult rituals (Warren, 1980).
However, many other investigators have found no evidence of paranormal activity at 112 Ocean Avenue. Prominent sceptics, such as Stephen and Roxanne Kaplan, who examined the house after the Lutz family fled, found no physical evidence to support the family’s claims. They believed it was a deliberate hoax to profit off the DeFeo tragedy.
Statistics:
- Number of investigations: Dozens over the years
- Findings by sceptics: No paranormal evidence found
Reference:
- Warren, E. & L. (1980). The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren. St. Martin’s Press.
The Legacy of the Amityville Horror House
Today, the Amityville Horror House remains an object of fascination. Although the house has since been renovated and its address changed to avoid curious tourists, it still attracts attention from paranormal enthusiasts and sceptics alike. The debate over whether the Lutz family experienced genuine paranormal phenomena or perpetrated an elaborate hoax continues to divide opinions.
What is undeniable is the lasting impact of the Amityville Horror story on popular culture. The house has inspired countless books, films, and television shows, and it remains a pivotal point in discussions about haunted houses and the paranormal.
Conclusion: The Thin Line Between Fact and Fiction
The story of the Amityville Horror House is one where the lines between fact and fiction blur. The tragic murders of the DeFeo family were all too real, but whether or not the Lutz family’s ordeal was a paranormal nightmare or a carefully crafted hoax remains a matter of debate. As long as people remain fascinated by the supernatural, the legend of the Amityville Horror House will continue to endure, leaving the rest of us to wonder: Was it truly haunted, or was it simply the stuff of nightmares?
