Amityville "Horror" House by Lisa Schreiner w/ contribution by Thelma of LIPRI

Amityville “Horror” House

*Disclaimer: Although the supposed events that occurred at the Amityville house are very much of interest, we at LIPRI ask that you respect the current residents of the home and their privacy and refrain from going to the house itself.

When people hear the name Amityville, a quaint town along the shore isn’t quite what comes to mind.  Instead, the horrible tragedy of a family murdered and later, another family’s story of paranormal torment comes to mind.  However, the history of Amityville goes back way before November 14th 1974;  when a drug-addled man took a shotgun to his parents, two brothers and two sisters as they lay sleeping.  This article isn’t to prove or disprove claims of hauntings or possession, but rather an informative piece that leaves you, the reader, to decide what you believe to be true and what you believe to be a hoax.

To understand the entire sensation of the “Amityville Horror,” you have to delve deep into the history of the town itself.  Because this is merely an article to give you a sense of the story behind one of Long Island’s most famous paranormal tales, we will not go into the complete and total history, as this would then become a mini-book. Instead, here are some highlights of what has been researched thus far. We also suggest that you visit various websites to inform yourself of Amityville’s rich history. It is said that John Ketcham, an English settler who made a name for himself in Amityville, would capture and torment Native Americans. This was said to have occurred on the land that the Amityville house sits on today.  None of these claims have proven to be true, yet, seems to be almost a logical explanation for events that have been said to have occurred. While most skeptics will tell you nothing ever happened in the house and it was all a tall-tale concocted by George and Kathy Lutz for monetary gain and public notoriety, the public view still remains in favor of the belief that paranormal activity and even demonic possession did indeed exist at 112 Ocean Avenue.

When Ronald DeFeo, Sr. purchased the home, a sign hung outside on the lawn stating “High Hopes,” A sign that proclaimed Ronnie Sr.’s accomplishments as a successful car dealer and his move into the suburbs.  “High Hopes” soon turned out to be a façade; a mask of what really hid behind the doors.  It is known that Sr. was an angry man, often abusing his wife and their children.  Ronnie “Butch” DeFeo, Jr. took the brunt of the abuse.  Eventually, Butch became old enough and big enough to start fighting back.  Ronnie, Sr. soon backed off and to keep his son content, often gave Butch whatever he wanted, monetarily.  This caused Ronnie, Jr. to get involved in drugs and alcohol.  On November 14th, 1974 at the rumored time of 3:15am, Butch took a shotgun from his growing gun collection and headed upstairs from the basement.  He continued to the second floor where he walked into his parent’s bedroom and fired three shots into his father and one into his mother, killing them instantly.  He headed to his brother’s shared room, again firing one shot into each, killing them. His one sister, closest to his age, was also shot and killed. And finally, the youngest sister, shot and killed. Many have raised the question of how no one in the house heard such a loud backfire from the shotgun.  Was it the terrible storm that night, drowning out the noise? Did Ronnie act alone? Or was the seemingly over-powering demonic force holding each member down, paralyzing them?

The Amityville Crime Scene

Ronnie “Butch” DeFeo Jr

After contradicting statements and final admission, Butch was eventually charged with the murders.  Whether it was his claims of hearing voices within the house telling him to murder his family, or the hallucinations brought on by extensive drug use, Ronnie DeFeo, Jr. was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for all six counts on November 19th, 1975; a year, almost to the day of the horrific tragedy.  It’s what happened after the house had been sold to a new family that put Amityville on the map, on a worldwide scale.

George and Kathy Lutz along with their three children (Kathy’s from a previous marriage) moved into the old Dutch colonial on December 18th, 1975.  It was supposed to be their American dream, their “High Hopes.”  What is rumored to have occurred in the first 28 days of them living there is nothing short of either truly extraordinary or a great hoax on a gullible public.

We’ve all heard the rumors of occurrences at the home.  A priest attacked by a demonic force, the front door flying open the opposite way, voices, shadow figures, walls oozing sludge, a demonic pig named Jody are just a few of the unbelievable claims.  The family seemed to be in such despair, seemed to be tormented every day, yet with the houses so close together, no neighbors ever heard screams.  Never had Kathy, George or any of their children knocked on their doors for help.  The kids didn’t go to their teachers seeking sanctuary.  No police were ever contacted to help them with the happenings. It seems the only people witnessing these “experiences” were the Lutz’s.  Yet nothing has ever been proven. 

Several paranormal investigators were contacted to look into these extraordinary claims that drove the Lutz’s out of their dream home after only 28 days. Ed and Lorraine Warren, a well respected and well known husband and wife demonologists, were called in to find evidence of supernatural phenomena shortly after George and Kathy left their house. During their investigation, a snapshot was taken that had left a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering. It appeared that a little boy, resembling one of the murdered DeFeo boys, was peeking out from a doorway.

Famous “Ghost Boy” taken at the Amityville House

Based on their findings, they came to the conclusion that there were, in fact, demonic forces at work. "Whatever is here is, in my estimation, most definitely of a negative nature. It has nothing to do with anyone who had once walked the Earth in human form. It is right from the bowels of the Earth." insists Lorraine Warren. To this day, Lorraine will tell you with conviction that there is/was certainly something in that house and it is indeed evil.

Investigation with the Warrens

In January of 1977, Ghost hunter and professor, Hanz Holzer entered the home with trance-medium Ethel Meyers. While in a trance state, Ethel proceeded to make contacts with the spirit of an angry Shinnecock Indian Chief named “Rolling Thunder.”  The spirit claimed that the property was once sacred Indian burial ground and he was the one that possessed DeFeo and caused him to murder his family. Unfortunately, Amityville records show that Montaukett Indians were once settled in that area, not the Shinnecock. No records can confirm, or deny that the property sits on a sacred burial ground or that an Indian Chief was buried in the area.

Through the years, stories began to surface of the incidents that occurred had been fabricated by the Lutz’s to gain monetary compensation. They were grilled and scrutinized frequently about what really took place, if anything. George and Kathy stood by their claims until the day they passed away, Kathy in 2004 and George in 2006. The Amityville house has changed ownership several times and none of their previous or current owners have ever experienced any kind of paranormal phenomena. The house has since been remodeled and the famous windows that were called “the eyes” have also been changed.

To this day, what truly happened at 112 Ocean Avenue, remains a controversy and a mystery. There are the hardcore believers who think that other worldly forced drove out a happy family and there are the skeptics that believe that it was all a hoax and take all the facts and information that were laid out to expose the fraudulent claims. Was Ronnie DeFeo possessed by the spirit of an angry Indian Chief when he murdered his family? Were the Lutz’s driven out of their home in 28 days because of supernatural phenomena? Anything is possible.