The Amityville Horror

112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York became synonymous with haunted houses after the Lutz family’s terrifying 28-day ordeal in December 1975. But the horror that made the house famous began over a year earlier, with a brutal mass murder that shocked the nation.

The DeFeo Family Massacre

The Night of November 13, 1974

In the early hours of November 13, 1974, something unspeakable occurred inside the Dutch Colonial house at 112 Ocean Avenue. Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as “Butch,” methodically moved through his family home with a .35-caliber Marlin rifle.

The victims were:

• Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43 — father, a successful car dealership executive at Brigante-Karl Buick
• Louise DeFeo, 42 — mother
• Dawn DeFeo, 18 — eldest daughter
• Allison DeFeo, 13 — younger daughter
• Mark DeFeo, 12 — older son
• John Matthew DeFeo, 9 — youngest son

All six family members were found in their beds, face down, hands raised above their heads, as if they had been shot while sleeping. Despite the high-caliber rifle being used, no neighbors reported hearing gunshots—a detail that has puzzled investigators for decades.

The Killer’s Story

Ronald Jr., 23 years old at the time, initially attempted to blame the murders on a mob hitman. He rushed into a local bar screaming, “You gotta help me! Someone shot my mother and father!” But his story quickly unraveled, and he confessed within 24 hours.

During his trial, DeFeo offered various explanations for the killings:

• He claimed to have heard voices from the house compelling him to kill
• He alleged his sister Dawn was the actual killer
• He blamed it on mafia connections
• He suggested demonic possession

DeFeo was a known LSD and heroin user, which prosecutors argued explained his volatile behavior. On November 21, 1975, he was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six consecutive terms of 25 years to life.

Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison on March 12, 2021, at age 69, never having been released.

The Lutz Family Arrives

December 18, 1975

The house at 112 Ocean Avenue remained empty for 13 months following the murders. Then George and Kathleen Lutz saw an opportunity. The 4,000-square-foot Dutch Colonial, with its distinctive quarter-round “eye” windows, was listed at just $80,000—significantly below market value due to its dark history.

George Lutz was 28, a land surveyor with a modest income. Kathleen, 29, had three children from a previous marriage:

• Daniel, age 9
• Christopher, age 7
• Melissa (Missy), age 5

Despite knowing the house’s history, the Lutzes moved in on December 18, 1975, bringing the children and their dog, Harry.

The Priest’s Warning

Before the family even settled in, George arranged for the house to be blessed. Father Ralph Pecoraro (identified as “Father Mancuso” in later accounts) arrived to perform the blessing.

According to the Lutzes, while the priest sprinkled holy water in a second-floor bedroom, he heard a deep, masculine voice command: “GET OUT!”

Father Pecoraro reportedly:

• Developed severe blistering on his hands afterward
• Became seriously ill
• Called the Lutzes to warn them never to use that particular room
• The phone connection mysteriously failed during the call
• He refused to return to the house

28 Days of Terror

What followed, according to George and Kathy Lutz, was a nightmare that escalated from unsettling to unbearable.

Physical Phenomena

The house seemed to develop a hostile consciousness:

Swarms of Flies — Despite the freezing December temperatures, hundreds of black flies appeared in the sewing room on the second floor. No matter how many times they were killed, more appeared.

Green Slime — A gelatinous green substance began oozing from walls, keyholes, and the ceiling—particularly in the former sewing room.

Temperature Anomalies — Intense cold spots appeared throughout the house, even with the heating system running constantly. George became obsessed with maintaining a roaring fire in the fireplace.

Windows and Doors — Heavy windows and doors slammed open and closed on their own. Locks would not hold.

Cloven Hoof Prints — After a snowfall, the family discovered cloven hoof prints in the snow leading up to the garage—and then simply stopping.

The Hidden Room

In the basement, the Lutzes discovered a small room—approximately 4 feet by 5 feet—painted entirely in red. It wasn’t shown on any house plans and had been concealed behind shelving.

Their dog, Harry, refused to go near it, cowering and whimpering whenever brought close. The room filled the family with inexplicable dread.

George’s Transformation

George Lutz began exhibiting disturbing behavioral changes:

• He woke at exactly 3:15 AM every night—the estimated time of the DeFeo murders
• He became obsessed with chopping firewood and tending the fireplace
• His appearance deteriorated; he stopped shaving and bathing
• He grew increasingly irritable and sometimes violent
• He felt compelled to check the boathouse at the same time each night

Kathy’s Nightmares

Kathy Lutz experienced:

• Vivid, detailed dreams about the DeFeo murders—crimes she knew almost nothing about
• The sensation of being embraced by an unseen presence
• Welts and marks appearing on her body
• Episodes of levitating off the bed witnessed by George

The Children

The Lutz children were not spared:

Missy — The five-year-old began talking about an invisible friend named “Jodie”—described as a pig with glowing red eyes. She claimed Jodie said the family would live there forever.

One night, George saw glowing red eyes staring at him from Missy’s window. When he rushed outside, he found cloven hoof prints in the snow below.

Daniel and Christopher — Both boys reportedly levitated together in their shared bedroom. They became increasingly withdrawn and fearful.

The Priest’s Continued Suffering

Father Pecoraro, miles away from the house, continued to experience:

• High fevers
• A mysterious flu-like illness
• His car malfunctioning whenever he tried to visit the family
• Phone calls to the Lutzes being mysteriously disconnected

The Escape: January 14, 1976

After just 28 days, the Lutz family fled 112 Ocean Avenue. They left in the night, abandoning most of their possessions.

George Lutz later stated: “We didn’t wait to pack. We just got in the van with the kids and left. We never went back inside.”

The family moved in with Kathy’s mother, leaving behind furniture, clothes, and personal belongings worth thousands of dollars.

The Controversy Begins

The Book and Media Sensation

The Lutzes’ story caught the attention of writer Jay Anson. The family provided 45 hours of audio recordings describing their experiences, which Anson used to write The Amityville Horror: A True Story, published in September 1977.

The book became a phenomenon:

• Over 10 million copies sold
• Spent months on the New York Times bestseller list
• Spawned a major motion picture in 1979
• Generated numerous sequels, remakes, and spinoffs

The Skeptics Emerge

Almost immediately, serious questions arose about the Lutzes’ account:

William Weber’s Claim — In 1979, William Weber, the attorney who had defended Ronald DeFeo Jr., made a stunning allegation. He claimed that he, George, and Kathy Lutz had invented the haunting story together “over many bottles of wine.”

Weber stated the original plan was to use the haunting narrative to secure a new trial for DeFeo on grounds of demonic influence. When that plan fell through, the Lutzes pursued the book deal instead.

Subsequent Owners — The Cromarty family purchased 112 Ocean Avenue from the Lutzes in 1977 for $55,000—$25,000 less than the Lutzes had paid. They lived there for ten years and reported:

• No paranormal activity whatsoever
• No flies, slime, or cold spots
• The “hidden red room” was simply a storage space under a stairway
• No damage to the house consistent with the Lutzes’ claims

Investigator Stephen Kaplan, director of the Parapsychology Institute of America, conducted his own investigation and publicly declared the case a hoax.

Factual Inconsistencies

Investigations revealed numerous problems with the Lutzes’ account:

• Weather records showed no snow on dates when the Lutzes claimed to have found hoof prints
• The “quarter-round” eye windows that became iconic were actually semi-lunar windows, changed by later owners
• Father Pecoraro denied some aspects of the story attributed to him
• The timeline of certain events was demonstrably impossible
• The Lutzes had significant financial problems before moving in

The Lutzes’ Response

The Lutzes maintained until their deaths that the core of their story was true. George Lutz died in 2006; Kathleen died in 2004. Both insisted:

• They may have gotten some details wrong due to trauma
• The essential events occurred as described
• Weber’s “wine bottles” story was revenge for a failed business deal

Scientific Perspective

Paranormal researchers who investigated the case suggested various explanations:

Mass Hysteria — The family, primed by knowledge of the murders and financial stress, may have interpreted normal house sounds and events as supernatural.

Carbon Monoxide — Some theorized the heating system may have caused CO exposure, known to produce hallucinations and paranoia.

Suggested Memories — Under the pressure of interviews and book preparation, the family may have unconsciously elaborated their memories.

Genuine Hoax — The most straightforward explanation: the family invented the story for financial gain.

The House Today

112 Ocean Avenue still stands in Amityville, though it has been significantly modified:

• The address was changed to 108 Ocean Avenue to deter tourists
• The distinctive “eye” windows were replaced with ordinary rectangular ones
• The façade has been altered to make it unrecognizable from photos
• Multiple families have lived there since, reporting no unusual activity
• The house was last sold in 2017 for $605,000

The DeFeo murders remain historically factual. Whether any supernatural events followed is a question that may never be definitively answered.

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Hoax or haunting? 112 Ocean Avenue keeps its secrets. The Amityville Horror remains the most famous—and most debated—haunted house case in American history.