Amityville House History

There is no more infamous house on Long Island than the one formerly at 112 Ocean Avenue in the town of Amityville. It has a reputation for being haunted, cemented by a bestselling book by Jay Anson and a number of highly successful horror movies based around the events of the case. In truth, its supernatural trappings are likely bogus. That doesn't erase the very real tragedy which took place there, however, or the subsequent notoriety the house has attained in popular culture.

The Tragedy

The events at the heart of the Amityville story are beyond question, and they need no fictitious elaboration to accentuate their brutality. On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo murdered his parents, his two brothers and his two sisters while they slept. DeFeo was apparently a deeply troubled man, with a penchant for lying and a murderous temper. He and his father argued over numerous issues and often came to blows. When charged with the crimes, DeFeo's attorney, William Weber, presented an insanity defense. It didn't work: DeFeo was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The Lutzes

The history veers from a family tragedy to a supernatural tale with the arrival of the Lutz family--George, Kathy and Kathy's three children from a previous marriage--to the Amityville house in December of 1975. 28 days later, they fled the house--leaving most of their possessions behind and claiming that it was haunted. They recounted stories of ghostly apparitions, clouds of flies and a glowing red-eyed pig named "Jodie" which appeared outside their youngest daughter's window.

The Book and Movies

Following the Lutz's departure from the house, Jay Anston collaborated with them on a book entitled "The Amityville Horror." The book recounted their experiences. Presented as nonfiction, it became an instant sensation. A film version starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder was released in 1979, and it became equally successful. It spawned a number of sequels and a remake in 2005. Thanks to the impact they made, the "haunting" of the Amityville house gained more traction in the popular zeitgeist than any lingering tragedy concerning the DeFeo case.

The Hoax

Despite the reputation surrounding the house, most evidence points clearly to the fact that the Lutzes engaged in a hoax. Many of their assertions fail to hold water. For example, the day after fleeing the house, the Lutzes returned to hold a yard sale. There is no evidence that they ever called the police to report any problems during their 28-day ordeal. George Lutz had serious financial difficulties--which selling a sensationalist story might alleviate.

In an interview with radio host Joel Martin, DeFeo's attorney William Weber claimed that he and Lutz had made the whole thing up--Lutz for the money, Weber as part of a new insanity defense for his client. Perhaps most damning is the fact that the Amityville house has been regularly occupied since the Lutzes left, and none of the other tenants have reported any supernatural occurrences.

The Legacy

As the saying goes, a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has put its boots on. Despite the evidence of a hoax, the house has continued to attract curious visitors interested in the "haunted house." The town of Amityville attempts to discourage such visitors, whom it views as disruptive. The house itself has been considerably altered since 1975, and it now looks very different from the popular image. Its address has been changed as well to hide its location from rubberneckers.