The “Amityville Horror” is a captivating case that mixes true crime with paranormal claims, centered on a house in Amityville, Long Island. The story involves the gruesome DeFeo murders and the subsequent alleged haunting experienced by the Lutz family. This article delves into the true story behind the Amityville house, separating fact from fiction and exploring the various claims, controversies, and cultural impact of this infamous case.

The DeFeo Murders
On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings with a .35 Marlin rifle. The motive behind the murders remains unclear, with theories ranging from life insurance to tensions between DeFeo and his father. DeFeo’s defense included claims of hearing voices that told him to commit the killings, but the jury was unconvinced, and he was convicted of mass murder. He later changed his story multiple times, even claiming his sister was the initial killer or that demonic voices drove him. DeFeo died in prison in 2021.

The Lutz Family’s Claims
Thirteen months after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz bought the house at a reduced price. They moved in with Kathy’s three children and claimed to have experienced a series of paranormal events. After only 28 days, the Lutzes left the house, abandoning their possessions.

The paranormal activities reported by the Lutz family included:

• Unexplained chills and foul odors.
• Green slime oozing from the walls and keyholes.
• Kathleen aging rapidly and levitating.
• George waking up at 3:15 am every morning, around the time of the murders.
• A priest hearing a voice saying “Get out!” when blessing the house.
• A garage door opening and closing on its own.
• An invisible spirit knocking a knife down in the kitchen.
• A pig-like creature with red eyes staring at George and his son.
• Sons Daniel and Christopher levitating in their beds.

Investigations and Skepticism
Paranormal investigators, including Ed and Lorraine Warren, visited the Amityville house. Ed claimed to be shoved, and Lorraine said she saw visions of the DeFeo murders. The Warrens also claimed to have captured a demonic entity on camera. However, many are skeptical of the haunting claims. Subsequent owners, the Cromartys, lived in the house for a decade and reported no strange occurrences, debunking some of the myths.

The Book and Movies
The Lutz family’s story gained widespread attention after the book “The Amityville Horror” by Jay Anson was published in 1977. The book, billed as a true story, became a bestseller and was adapted into a movie in 1979, which spawned a series of sequels and adaptations.

Controversies and Doubts
The truthfulness of “The Amityville Horror” story has been heavily debated. Some sources suggest the story was conceived “over many bottles of wine” between the Lutzes and their attorney, William Weber. George Lutz had a history of dabbling in the occult, which may have influenced his experiences. The Lutz family was also in debt and had legal issues, raising questions about their motives for selling the story. Despite the skepticism, the Lutzes maintained that their experiences were real.

The Amityville House Today
The Amityville house has had multiple owners since the Lutz family. To deter unwanted attention, the address was changed and removed from Google Maps. Subsequent owners have not reported any paranormal activity.

The “Amityville Horror” remains a cultural phenomenon, blending true crime with elements of the supernatural. While the DeFeo murders are a documented tragedy, the haunting claims of the Lutz family are disputed. Whether a genuine paranormal event or a fabrication, the Amityville story continues to fascinate and terrify.

Who lives in the Amityville house today?

As of the most recent information available, the Amityville house at 112 Ocean Avenue is privately owned and occupied by a family who purchased it in 2017. The current owners have expressed a desire to live a normal life and have made efforts to distance themselves from the infamous history of the house. They have even made some changes to the exterior, such as altering the iconic “eye” windows, to reduce its association with The Amityville Horror story. The house remains a point of curiosity for fans of the paranormal, but the residents prefer to keep their lives private.

Who lived in the Amityville house before the DeFeos?

The Amityville house, located at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, was built in 1924. Before the DeFeo family moved in, the house was owned by a few different families. However, the most notable residents prior to the DeFeos were the O’Neill family. They lived in the house during the 1960s and early 1970s before selling it to Ronald DeFeo Sr. and his family in 1965.

The DeFeo family became infamous due to the tragic events that occurred on November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family in the house. This event later inspired the book and subsequent movie adaptations of “The Amityville Horror,” which added a layer of supernatural lore to the house’s history.

112 Ocean Avenue

112 Ocean Avenue is the address of multiple properties.

Deal, NJ
112 Ocean Avenue, Deal, NJ 07723 is a residential ranch-style house with ocean views located across the street from a casino. The property has 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and the lot size is 140 x 200 feet. It was sold on 10/23/2018 for $3,898,500. The house was built around 1943. The walk score is 30 out of 100, so most errands require a car.

Amityville, NY
112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY is an office for sale.

Brooklyn, NY
There is an apartment building located at 1521 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210.

Neuchâtel, Switzerland
112 Ocean Avenue is the name of an escape room.

The amityville horror (1977)

The “Amityville Horror” is a story rooted in the real-life murders committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr. in 1974, who shot and killed six members of his family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York.

Key facts about the Amityville Horror:

• Based on True Events: The story is based on the crimes of Ronald DeFeo Jr., who murdered his family in 1974.
• The Lutz Family: A year after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the house with their three children. After 28 days, the Lutzes left the house, claiming paranormal phenomena terrorized them.
• Jay Anson’s Book: The Lutz’s experiences served as the basis for Jay Anson’s 1977 novel, The Amityville Horror. The book is a heavily embellished account of the Lutz family’s claims, which turned the story into a now infamous haunted house saga.
• 1979 Film: Anson’s book was adapted into a successful film of the same name in 1979.
• Numerous Sequels: The success of the first film led to a series of sequels released throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2005, a remake of the original film was released.
• Haunted House Story: The story revolves around a young couple who purchase a home haunted by supernatural forces.
• Parable: Some film scholars view the film as a parable about the anxieties of homeownership and financial ruin.
• Musical Score: Lalo Schifrin’s musical score for the 1979 film received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

The Lutz family

The Lutz family, George and Kathy, along with their three children, moved into the house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, in December 1975. The house had been the scene of the DeFeo murders a little over a year prior. Despite this, the Lutzes purchased the house for a reduced price of $80,000.

The Lutz Family’s Claims:

• Paranormal Activity Within days of moving in, the Lutz family claimed to have experienced strange phenomena. George Lutz reported strange odors, sounds, and an inability to get warm in the house.
• Priest’s Warning On the day the family moved in, they had a priest, Father Ray Pecoraro, bless the house. According to George Lutz, the priest said he felt an unseen hand slap him and heard a voice say “Get out”. The priest then became ill with flu-like symptoms and his hands began to bleed.
• Disturbing Events George Lutz claimed he would wake up at 3:15 a.m. almost every day, around the same time the DeFeo murders were believed to have happened. He also stated that his wife was physically transformed into an old woman at times.
• Levitation Lutz claimed he saw his wife levitating and moving across the bed one night. The Lutz children also claimed to have levitated in their beds.
• Departure After 28 days, the Lutz family fled the house, leaving their possessions behind. George Lutz said that he believed something horrible would have happened if they had not left. They claimed that the phenomena followed them to Kathy’s mother’s house.

The Lutz’s account formed the basis for Jay Anson’s 1977 book, The Amityville Horror. The book sold an estimated 10 million copies. George (January 1, 1947 – May 8, 2006) and Kathleen (October 13, 1946 – August 17, 2004) later divorced but remained on good terms.

Amityville Horror 1977 cast

The 1979 film The Amityville Horror stars James Brolin as George Lutz, Margot Kidder as Kathy Lutz, and Rod Steiger as Father Francis ‘Frank’ Delaney. The movie, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, is based on Jay Anson’s 1977 book of the same name, which recounts the alleged paranormal experiences of the Lutz family in their Amityville, New York, home. The house was the site of a mass murder committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr. in 1974.

Other members of the cast include:

• Don Stroud as Father Bolen
• Murray Hamilton as Father Ryan
• John Larch as Father Nuncio
• Natasha Ryan as Amy Lutz
• K. C. Martel as Greg Lutz
• Meeno Peluce as Matt Lutz

Amityville: The Awakening

Amityville: The Awakening is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Franck Khalfoun, starring Bella Thorne, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Cameron Monaghan, and Mckenna Grace. It is the tenth installment in the Amityville film series and acts as a direct sequel/metafilm, taking place in a “real world” outside the continuity of the previous films. The film establishes The Amityville Horror (1979), its sequels from 1982 to 1996, and the 2005 remake as fiction.

In the film, a single mother moves her family into the infamous Amityville house, hoping to use its dark powers to cure her comatose son. Strange events occur, including the miraculous recovery of her son, leading Belle to suspect her mother isn’t revealing everything. She soon realizes they’ve moved into the Amityville house.

The plot involves:

• A family moving into the Amityville house.
• The hope of curing a brain-dead son using the house’s dark powers.
• Supernatural events and a possession.

Who owns the Amityville house?

As of 2023, the Amityville house is owned by an anonymous buyer who purchased it in 2017. The previous owners were Caroline and David D’Antonio, who bought the house in 2010 for $950,000. David D’Antonio passed away in 2015, which led to Caroline putting the house back on the market. In June 2016, the house was listed for $850,000 and sold in February 2017 for $605,000.

Was the Amityville house built on a burial ground?

While some claim the Amityville house was built on a Shinnecock burial ground, this has largely been debunked. The Shinnecock tribe didn’t live in that area, and there’s no archeological evidence or oral history to support the burial ground claim. The claim originated from Jay Anson’s book, Amityville Horror: A True Story, where he stated the house was built on an old Shinnecock “enclosure for the sick, mad, and dying”.

Who lived in the amityville house before the defeos 2022?

The search results do not contain information about who lived in the Amityville house before the DeFeos in 2022. However, the house located at 112 Ocean Ave. in Amityville, New York was originally built around 1924 for John and Catherine Moynahan.

Who lives in the amityville house today pictures

The Amityville house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, is a private residence. The current owners have chosen to maintain their privacy, and there are no publicly available pictures or details about them. The house gained notoriety due to the 1974 DeFeo family murders and the subsequent claims of paranormal activity, which inspired The Amityville Horror book and films.

If you’re looking for recent photos or information, I recommend checking reputable news sources or real estate listings, but please respect the privacy of the current occupants. Let me know if you’d like more historical context about the house!

Was the Amityville house built on a burial ground?

The claim that the Amityville house was built on a burial ground is part of the lore surrounding the property, but there is no concrete evidence to support it. The story stems from the paranormal claims made by the Lutz family, who moved into the house after the DeFeo murders in 1974. They alleged that the house was haunted and that it had been built on a site previously used by the Shinnecock Native American tribe for burial or other purposes.

However, historians and researchers have found no evidence to confirm that the land was used as a burial ground. The story of the burial ground appears to be more of a sensationalized element added to the Amityville legend, likely inspired by the popularity of similar tropes in horror stories.

The Amityville house remains a subject of fascination due to its tragic history and the supernatural claims associated with it, but the burial ground story is generally considered part of the myth rather than fact. Let me know if you’d like more details!

Are the Lutz family still alive?

The status of the Lutz family members varies:

• George Lutz, the father of the family, passed away on May 8, 2006, at the age of 59.
• Kathy Lutz, George’s wife, passed away on August 17, 2004, at the age of 57.
• Their children, Daniel, Christopher, and Missy Lutz, have largely stayed out of the public eye. There is limited information about their current lives, as they have chosen to maintain their privacy.

The Lutz family’s story of their alleged paranormal experiences in the Amityville house became the basis for The Amityville Horror book and subsequent films, but the family has been the subject of much skepticism and controversy over the years. If you’d like more details about their story or the history of the house, feel free to ask!