The Amityville Horror: Inside America's Most Haunted House - The True Story Behind 112 Ocean Avenue
The Amityville house at 112 Ocean Avenue became one of America's most infamous locations following a series of tragic events in the mid-1970s. In 1965, Ronald DeFeo Sr. moved his family into this spacious Dutch colonial home in the quiet waterfront community of Amityville, New York. For nine years, the DeFeos appeared to be living the American dream—a beautiful six-bedroom house with a boat slip, children thriving in school, and Ronald Jr. working alongside his father at a car dealership.
Beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic Catholic family life lay disturbing undercurrents. On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings as they slept in their beds, using a .35 caliber Marlin rifle. Despite initially claiming a mob hit, DeFeo soon confessed to the killings. His insanity defense failed, resulting in six consecutive 25-to-life sentences. The house stood empty for 13 months until George and Kathy Lutz purchased it at a bargain price, beginning the brief 28-day occupation that would inspire the famous "Amityville Horror" stories and multiple films.
Key Takeaways
The DeFeo family murders in 1974 transformed a peaceful Long Island home into the site of one of America's most notorious mass killings.
Ronald DeFeo Jr. was sentenced to six consecutive life terms after murdering his entire family while they slept in their beds.
The subsequent 28-day Lutz family occupation sparked decades of paranormal claims and controversies that continue to fascinate the public.
The DeFeo Family Background
Ronald DeFeo Sr. and his family settled into 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York in 1965. The impressive three-story Dutch colonial house boasted six bedrooms and a boat slip on the river, just a short distance from the marina. As the sales manager at Brigante Car Dealership, Ronald Sr. earned enough to provide his wife and five children with this upscale Long Island residence.
For nine years, the DeFeos appeared to be a well-adjusted family. The children performed well academically, and Ronald Jr., the eldest son, eventually joined his father at the dealership. Though Ronald Jr. struggled with substance abuse issues involving heroin and LSD, as well as antisocial personality disorder, these problems didn't immediately disrupt family harmony.
The DeFeos presented themselves as devout Catholics. Religious iconography adorned their property, including a Virgin Mary statue and other religious figures in their front yard. However, beneath this respectable facade, the family maintained connections to organized crime. Their ties to the Genovese crime family through the Brigante dealership partially explained their affluent lifestyle.
Everything changed on November 13, 1974. Ronald DeFeo Jr., then 23, entered Henry's Bar on Merrick Road and announced his parents had been murdered. Friends accompanied him back home where they discovered a horrific scene - his entire family had been killed. Suffolk County Police were immediately called to investigate.
The crime scene revealed a methodical killing. Both parents and all four younger siblings had been shot while lying face-down in their beds. The parents each received two gunshots, while each child was shot once. All six murders were committed with the same .35 caliber Marlin lever-action rifle, which was missing from the scene.
Initially, Ronald Jr. suggested the murders were a mob hit. However, when this theory fell apart, he confessed to the killings. Despite his attorney's attempt at an insanity defense citing voices in his head, the jury remained unconvinced. Ronald DeFeo Jr. received six consecutive sentences of 25 years to life. He died in prison in March 2021.
The house remained empty for 13 months until December 18, 1975, when George Lutz moved in with his new wife Kathy and her three children. Their brief 28-day stay would later become the basis for "The Amityville Horror."
The Amityville House
The infamous Dutch Colonial at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York became a household name in American horror folklore. Ronald DeFeo Sr. purchased this spacious waterfront property in 1965, moving in with his wife and five children. The six-bedroom house, complete with a boat slip and river access, reflected the family's comfortable lifestyle.
For nine years, the DeFeos appeared to live normally in their beautiful Long Island home. The children attended school, the family maintained friendships, and Ronald Jr. eventually joined his father at the Brigante-Carl car dealership. Despite Ronald Jr.'s struggles with drug use and antisocial personality disorder, the family projected an image of devout Catholicism with religious statues adorning their yard.
Behind this facade, the family had connections to the Genovese crime family through the Brigante business relationship, which explained their financial circumstances. This seemingly idyllic life shattered on November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. entered Henry's Bar and announced his parents had been murdered.
The crime scene revealed a methodical massacre: six family members shot in their beds with a .35 caliber Marlin rifle. The parents each suffered two gunshot wounds, while each child was shot once. Suffolk County police initially investigated various theories before Ronald Jr. confessed to the killings.
Despite his attorney's insanity defense strategy, the jury rejected claims that voices had compelled DeFeo to commit the murders. He received six consecutive sentences of 25-to-life and died in prison in March 2021.
The property remained vacant for 13 months until George and Kathy Lutz purchased it in December 1975. The newlyweds moved in with Kathy's three children (whom George had adopted) after securing the house for $80,000—roughly $440,000 in today's money, significantly below market value due to its notorious history.
George arranged for a priest to bless the house, though controversy surrounds this event. Father Pecoraro's involvement became disputed, with conflicting accounts about whether he visited in person or only spoke with the family by telephone. One version claims the priest experienced cold spots and felt an unseen force strike him.
The Lutz family only managed to stay in the house for 28 days, allegedly experiencing numerous paranormal disturbances during their brief occupancy. Their accounts of supernatural activity formed the basis for the popular "Amityville Horror" franchise that would captivate audiences for decades.
Life in Amityville
Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s Dark Past
In 1965, the DeFeo family moved into a spacious three-story Dutch Colonial home at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island. The property featured six bedrooms and even included a boat slip along the river, just a short distance from the local marina. Ronald DeFeo Sr., who worked as a sales manager at Brigante Car Dealership, provided well for his wife and five children.
The family presented themselves as devout Catholics, displaying religious statues in their front yard. Behind this veneer of normalcy, however, connections to the Genovese crime family existed through the Brigantes, which partially explained their comfortable lifestyle.
By 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr., then 23, had begun working at the same dealership as his father. He struggled with significant personal issues:
Heroin and LSD addiction
Anti-social personality disorder
Increasingly troubled relationship with family members
Everything changed dramatically on November 13, 1974. DeFeo Jr. entered Henry's Bar on Merrick Road and announced his parents had been killed. When police investigated, they discovered a horrific scene: both parents and four children had been shot while lying face down in their beds. The crime showed methodical execution:
Victim Shots Position Parents Two each Face down in bed Four siblings One each Face down in bed
Initially claiming it was a mob hit, DeFeo's story quickly fell apart when his alleged suspect had a solid alibi. He subsequently confessed, providing details about the weapon—a .35 caliber Marlin lever action rifle—and where he had hidden evidence.
Despite his attorney's attempt at an insanity defense, claiming DeFeo heard voices commanding him to kill, the jury remained unconvinced. The prosecution's psychiatrist acknowledged DeFeo's drug use and mental health issues but maintained he was aware of his actions. The court sentenced him to six consecutive terms of 25 years to life. DeFeo died in prison in March 2021 of undisclosed causes.
This tragedy would later inspire the famous "Amityville Horror" stories after George Lutz and his family moved into the house in December 1975, approximately 13 months after the murders.
The Murder Incident
In November 1974, a horrific crime shook the quiet community of Amityville, New York. The Dutch colonial house at 112 Ocean Avenue became the site of one of Suffolk County's most devastating family tragedies.
On November 13, Ronald DeFeo Jr., 23, entered Henry's Bar approximately half a mile from his home and announced that his parents had been murdered. Several patrons accompanied him back to the residence, where they discovered a gruesome scene. One friend, Joe Yeswit, immediately contacted Suffolk County Police to begin an investigation.
The crime scene revealed a methodical and chilling sequence of events. Six family members were found dead:
Ronald DeFeo Sr. and his wife (each shot twice)
Four of their five children (each shot once)
All victims were discovered face down in their beds. Forensic evidence indicated the mother and younger daughter were likely still alive when they were shot. Investigators determined all murders were committed with the same weapon—a .35 caliber Marlin lever-action rifle that was missing from the premises.
Initially, DeFeo Jr. suggested the killings were a mob hit, possibly connected to his family's alleged ties to the Genovese crime family. This theory collapsed when the supposed hitman provided a solid alibi, prompting DeFeo Jr. to confess to the murders himself. He provided detailed information about the crime, including the locations where he had hidden evidence.
Despite his confession, DeFeo's attorney William Weber pursued an insanity defense. While DeFeo had a history of substance abuse involving heroin and LSD, as well as antisocial personality disorder, the prosecution's psychiatric evaluation determined he was fully aware of his actions. His claim of hearing voices commanding him to kill his family failed to convince the jury.
The court delivered a decisive verdict: Ronald DeFeo Jr. received six consecutive sentences of 25 years to life. He remained incarcerated until March 2021, when he died in prison of undisclosed causes.
The Discovery and Legal Proceedings
Early Suspicions
On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. entered Henry's Bar, located approximately half a mile from his family home at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville. He frantically announced to everyone present that his parents had been murdered. Several concerned friends accompanied him back to the residence, where they made the horrifying discovery that his entire family had indeed been killed. Joe Yeswit immediately contacted the Suffolk County Police Department, who promptly arrived to begin their investigation.
Initially, investigators considered multiple possibilities for the crime. Was this a robbery gone wrong? Could it have been domestic violence? However, examination of the crime scene quickly revealed something far more calculated and sinister.
The crime scene presented a methodical pattern. Six family members were found face down in their beds, shot with the same .35 caliber Marlin lever action rifle, which was notably missing from the scene. The parents had each received two gunshot wounds, while the four children had been shot once each. Evidence suggested that Ronald's mother and younger sister were still alive when they were shot, indicating a systematic execution.
The Admission and Legal Defense
When questioned by authorities, Ronald DeFeo Jr. first suggested the murders were a mob hit, claiming a rival crime family had targeted his family as an act of vengeance. The DeFeos reportedly had connections to the Genovese crime family through Ronald Sr.'s employment at the Brigante car dealership. However, this theory quickly fell apart when the alleged hitman produced a solid alibi placing him out of state during the murders.
Faced with this contradiction, DeFeo broke down and confessed to killing his entire family. He provided detailed information about the murders, including where he had hidden his clothes, the rifle, and the spent cartridges. His confession was comprehensive and left little doubt about his culpability.
Despite this straightforward confession, DeFeo's attorney, William Weber, pursued an insanity defense. While the defense psychiatrist supported this strategy, the prosecution's expert countered that despite DeFeo's history of heroin and LSD use, as well as his antisocial personality disorder, he remained fully aware of his actions. The killings weren't committed during a psychotic episode but appeared deliberately planned and executed.
DeFeo claimed he heard voices telling him to kill his family before they could kill him, but this defense failed to convince the jury. In the end, he was convicted and received six consecutive sentences of 25 years to life. Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison in March 2021 of undisclosed causes, having served nearly 47 years of his sentence.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
Legal Defense Approach
William Weber, Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s attorney, employed an insanity defense strategy despite the clear confession his client had already provided to police. Weber's psychiatric expert supported this approach, claiming DeFeo was not responsible for his actions due to his mental state. The defense painted a picture of a man driven by voices in his head that convinced him he needed to kill his family before they killed him.
DeFeo's documented history of substance abuse, particularly with heroin and LSD, became central to the defense argument. The defense also highlighted DeFeo's diagnosed antisocial personality disorder as further evidence of his compromised mental state at the time of the killings.
Verdict and Sentencing
The jury remained unconvinced by the insanity defense. The prosecution's psychiatric expert successfully argued that despite DeFeo's drug use and personality disorder, he maintained awareness of his actions during the murders. The systematic nature of the killings—with each victim shot in their beds—undermined claims that these were impulsive acts committed during psychosis.
After deliberation, the jury rejected the defense's arguments and found Ronald DeFeo Jr. guilty on all counts. The court sentenced him to six consecutive terms of 25 years to life imprisonment—one for each family member he murdered. This effectively ensured DeFeo would remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life.
DeFeo served his sentence until March 2021, when he died in prison of undisclosed causes at the age of 69, having spent nearly five decades behind bars for the murders that would later inspire the "Amityville Horror" franchise.
Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s Fate
Ronald DeFeo Jr. faced severe consequences for his horrific actions against his family. After confessing to the murders of his parents and four siblings at their home on 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, he was brought to trial. Despite his attorney William Weber's attempts to mount an insanity defense, the strategy ultimately failed.
The prosecution successfully argued that DeFeo was fully aware of his actions when he systematically killed his family members as they lay in their beds. While DeFeo claimed to hear voices telling him his family would kill him if he didn't act first, the jury remained unconvinced.
DeFeo was found guilty and received six consecutive sentences of 25 years to life in prison—one for each family member he murdered. This sentencing structure meant he would need to serve approximately 150 years before any possibility of release.
His life ended behind bars when he died in March 2021 of undisclosed causes. At the time of his death, DeFeo had spent nearly five decades in prison for the murders that would later inspire the infamous "Amityville Horror" franchise.
The house where the murders took place remained vacant for 13 months following the crimes before George and Kathy Lutz purchased it in December 1975, beginning another chapter in the property's dark history.
The Amityville Residence and Paranormal Allegations
The Lutz Couple Experience
George and Kathy Lutz purchased the house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York in December 1975, approximately 13 months after the DeFeo murders occurred there. The property, which should have commanded a much higher price, was sold to them for $80,000 (equivalent to $440,000 in today's currency). George, a land surveyor by profession, had recently married Kathy who brought three children from her previous marriage. He legally adopted these children and gave them his surname.
George presented himself as rational despite the home's notorious history. Though formerly Methodist, his decisions appeared influenced by his Catholic faith rather than any apparent interest in the supernatural or desire for fame.
House Blessing Controversy
The blessing of the Amityville house represents one of the most contested elements of the Lutz story. According to the family's account, they invited a priest (referred to as "Father Mancuso" in books and films) to bless their new home due to its dark history. This is where inconsistencies emerge in the narrative.
Conflicting Priest Testimonies:
Father Pecoraro, allegedly the real priest involved, provided contradictory statements about his involvement
In one account, he claimed never to have entered the house, only speaking to the family by telephone
In a silhouetted interview, someone identifying as Father Pecoraro stated he did visit the house and experienced:
Cold spots in the sewing room
Being struck by an unseen force
A voice commanding him to leave
The priest disputed certain dramatic elements portrayed in media adaptations, such as being "swarmed by flies" - acknowledging flies were present but rejecting the exaggerated depiction.
28 Days of Haunting
The Lutz family resided in the Amityville house for merely 28 days, during which they reportedly experienced numerous paranormal occurrences. Despite the attempted blessing, the supernatural activity allegedly continued unabated throughout their brief stay.
One persistent issue involved telephone interference - they reported experiencing static on the line whenever they attempted to make calls. This communication disruption was just one among the many unexplained phenomena that ultimately led the family to abandon the property.
The Lutz family's experiences formed the basis for "The Amityville Horror," which spawned numerous films and books, becoming one of America's most recognized haunted house stories despite ongoing debates about its authenticity.
