The charming three-story home with black shutters and a wrought-iron fence on Ocean Avenue in Amityville may appear to be the epitome of the American Dream at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is the infamous house where one of New York’s most notorious mass murders took place.
The horrific events unfolded on the morning of November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr., a young man, used a .35-caliber Marlin rifle to shoot and kill all six members of his family as they slept in the house. DeFeo, also known as “Butch,” was a heavy drug user who later offered various explanations for the massacre, ranging from hearing voices in his head to blaming his sister.
After the killings, DeFeo was sentenced to six terms of 25 years to life for the murders of his parents, two sisters, and two brothers. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 69 while serving his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility.
The house gained further notoriety when newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz purchased it in 1975, just a year after the murders. The Lutzes claimed to have experienced a series of paranormal activities, including slime oozing from walls, temperature drops, and strange noises. Their story inspired the best-selling book “The Amityville Horror: A True Story” and a subsequent movie adaptation.
Over the years, the house has changed hands multiple times, with some owners making renovations and alterations to the property. Despite its dark history, the house continues to attract curious visitors and fans of the supernatural, with some even dubbing it “the most haunted house in the world.”
Despite efforts to downplay the house’s past, the legacy of the Amityville murders remains a significant part of the town’s history. The property’s value has fluctuated over the years, with the current estimated worth being over a million dollars.
While some neighbors have embraced the house’s infamous reputation by playfully referencing it in Halloween decorations, others prefer to keep the dark past buried. However, as paranormal investigator Alexandra Holzer notes, the enduring fascination with the Amityville house reflects our inherent human curiosity and the enduring allure of the mysterious and unknown.
