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Their terrifying experiences sparked a media frenzy, drawing the attention of paranormal investigators and the public. It also served as the basis for the 1977 book by Jay Anson, The Amityville Horror. Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr. told people that night at an Amityville bar that his parents had been shot inside his home, an upscale dwelling with a statue of the Virgin Mary and a sign declaring "High Hopes" in front. Several bar patrons accompanied him back to the now-famous house at 112 Ocean Avenue, where someone had called the Suffolk County police to report the murders. Ronald DeFeo, 23 at the time, initially blamed the familicide on the mob, but he confessed by the next day.
Lalo Schifrin’s Infectiously Great Score for ‘The Amityville Horror’ [Terror on the Turntable] - Dread Central
Lalo Schifrin’s Infectiously Great Score for ‘The Amityville Horror’ [Terror on the Turntable].
Posted: Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What happened at the Amityville horror house?
Regardless of whether or not the entire haunting was real or not, interest in the infamous property has certainly yet to waver over the years, with horrorhounds and regular civilians still thoroughly invested in the bone-chilling story behind the house. Today, the former DeFeo house, which has changed ownership several times, remains famous. Horror fans frequently drive by the three-story home, which has had its the iconic quarter-circle windows—which looked like a pair of eyes—changed to make it less recognizable. With Halloween approaching, let's dive into the story of the real life haunted house located in Amityville, New York. The story of what happened to the Lutz family over 28 harrowing days in December 1975 and January 1976 has been retold many times and has morphed slightly with every telling.
The real story behind the infamous Amityville Horror house
On August 30, 1976, the Lutz family returned the house to Columbia Savings and Loan. If you find yourself in Amityville, there will naturally be a temptation to visit the house on Ocean Avenue. It's still there, though it has been remodeled, removing its infamous rounded windows, and it has had its address changed to deter tourists. "No Parking" signs prevent visitors from even stopping their vehicle in front of the residence. There are, however, indigenous burial grounds in the area of North Amityville, within the town of Babylon.
The current state of the Amityville Horror House
Ron Sr. and Louise had each been shot twice, while four of their children—Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John—had each been shot once. Their bodies were discovered the following evening by the only surviving family member, Ronald Jr., who was eventually found guilty on six counts of second-degree murder. In December of 1975, he was sentenced with six consecutive terms of 25 years to life. When they purchased the house, the DeFeos had four children, Ronald Jr., Dawn, Allison, and Marc, and one on the way—their son John was born later that year.
Amityville Horror House – The Scene Of The 1974 DeFeo Murders
With 3,600 square feet of living space, the house’s windows open up to beautiful views of the Amityville river. And to make the most of its waterfront location, the property also has a renovated boat house. The ‘evil eyes’ of the home, which is how people used to refer to the two attic windows, were also redone to tone down the evil — a bit late for that, but things were starting to look positive for the infamous murder house. The home, now with a new address of 108 Ocean Avenue, features 5,000 square feet of living space and amenities like a modern kitchen, a redesigned basement, high-end security systems, a large boat house, swimming pool, and a two-car garage. In 1979, the film-adaptation of The Amityville Horror was released, it became the highest-grossing independent film of all time, holding the record until 1990.
The production for the 1979 movie The Amityville Horror wasn’t actually filmed at the real life Amityville house. The scenes of the home were actually shot at another residence located at 18 Brooks Rd, Toms River, NJ 08753. On the night of November 13, 1974, the DeFeo family met a tragic end within the walls of their own home.
Before Jay Anson wrote his bestselling "based on a true story" book The Amityville Horror, he told The New York Times, "I had never even tried a book before." What Anson had done was produce "making-of" featurettes for films like Klute and Deliverance. According to what he told The New York Times in 1978, Anson had no familiarity with the occult until he was commissioned to work on such a "making-of" featurette for The Exorcist. Despite its graphic content, and some condemnation from the clergy, The Exorcist was the #1 film at the 1973 box office, beating out the #2 film, The Sting, by nearly $10 million. "Our critics are people who've never been in the house, just people who read a book," Lutz told The Washington Post in 1979. In all versions, there is a local Catholic priest whom the Lutzes ask to bless the house, due to its earlier reputation. According to one story, the priest sensed a sinister presence in one of the upstairs bedrooms and warned the Lutzes not to sleep in that room.
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In the book, the priest felt a sharp slap on his face and heard a groaning voice scream, "Get out!" In the movie, the priest was also attacked by a swarm of flies. Listen to this week's episode of our haunted house podcast, Dark House, for exclusive ghost stories and insights into the home's twisted history. It was last listed in June 2016 and sold in March 2017 for $605,000, according to property records.
Murders, Movies, and Those Who Remain
On August 17, 1987, Peter and Jeanne O’Neil purchased the house from the Cromartys. They made some major changes to the design of the house, which included filling in the swimming pool. On June 10, 1997, Brian Wilson purchased the house for approximately $310,000.
DeFeo and his lawyer, William Weber, claimed that DeFeo was driven mad by a satanic presence in the house and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury didn't buy the "Devil made me do it" defense, and the judge sentenced DeFeo to six consecutive life sentences. The Lutzes later collaborated with author Jay Anson for his best-selling book. The family has said they never signed a contract with Anson, and that the tome and successful film spin-off netted them $300,000. Soon after, the couple said they began noticing odd things around the house, such as doors being ripped from hinges, cabinets slamming shut and slime oozing from the ceilings.
The Lutz family gets off with a warning, at least when it comes to accusations they played the drama up for quick cash. The documentary also includes video footage and audio interviews, on the original cassettes, with Lutz family, as well as DeFeo Jr, and Ed and Lorraine Warren. The special also features Jason Hawes from the paranormal investigative series, Ghost Hunters. Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were one of the first to actually investigate the Amityville hauntings. In a 2013 interview with Yahoo Movies, Lorraine found it difficult to speak on the events that took place there. After the story of the Amityville horror house went public, many questioned the validity of the Lutz’s claims.
The darker shingle siding was swapped for lighter colors, while the creepy little top windows were removed. The home on Ocean Ave that was the site of so much death looks quite different than it did years ago. In an attempt to distance it from the DeFeo murders, the home was given a different house number and extensive renovations. The Amityville Horror House serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of critical thinking and skepticism. While the events surrounding it are undeniably eerie, the influence of sensationalism and the media on the story cannot be ignored.
At one time, there were rumors of a 7th victim due to a strange crime scene photo found in the case files. This photo depicted a woman with similar fatal injuries sustained by the DeFeo family members. One issue, however, was that the bedroom where this victim was located didn’t match any room in the Amityville house. After doing so, however, Ronald says that he left the home to pursue their friend who had fled the scene.
Newlyweds and their three children move into a large house where a mass murder was committed. They start to experience strange, inexplicable manifestations which have strong effects on every... Read allNewlyweds and their three children move into a large house where a mass murder was committed. They start to experience strange, inexplicable manifestations which have strong effects on everyone living in or visiting the house.Newlyweds and their three children move into a large house where a mass murder was committed.
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