The Amityville Horror: The True Story Behind America’s Most Haunted House
The Amityville Horror is one of the most well-known and controversial hauntings in American history. The events that unfolded at 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house in Amityville, New York, have captivated public imagination for decades. It all started in 1974, when the DeFeo family was brutally murdered in their home. A year later, the Lutz family moved into the house but fled after just 28 days, claiming they had been terrorized by malevolent paranormal forces. The story has since inspired a book, several movies, and ongoing debates about the truth behind the haunting.
1. The DeFeo Murders: A Dark Beginning
The chilling story of the Amityville Horror begins with the DeFeo family. On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. brutally murdered his parents and four siblings as they slept in their beds. The DeFeos lived in the house at 112 Ocean Avenue, and Ronald, the eldest son, confessed to the murders shortly afterward. He claimed he had been hearing voices urging him to kill his family, though his defense also argued that he was mentally unstable.
The murders shocked the quiet town of Amityville, and the house was left vacant for over a year, its grisly history casting a long shadow over the property.
2. The Lutz Family Moves In
In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, moved into the Amityville house. Despite being aware of the horrific murders that had taken place there, the Lutz family purchased the home at a significantly reduced price, thinking it was a great deal. However, they would soon come to regret their decision.
From the moment they moved in, the Lutz family began experiencing strange and terrifying occurrences. George Lutz, the father, was the first to notice unusual phenomena. He would wake up every night at 3:15 a.m., the exact time the DeFeo murders had occurred. He also became obsessed with chopping wood and complained of constantly feeling cold, despite the house being heated.
Kathy Lutz experienced disturbing incidents as well. She claimed that she was levitated from her bed by an unseen force and had vivid nightmares about the murders that had taken place in the house. She also reported seeing strange marks on her body, which appeared overnight.
3. Paranormal Phenomena Intensify
As the days went on, the paranormal activity in the house increased. The Lutz children began to experience terrifying encounters. One of their daughters reported seeing a demonic pig-like creature with glowing red eyes. Strange noises echoed throughout the house, doors slammed on their own, and foul odors filled the rooms without any apparent source.
Perhaps the most terrifying event was when the Lutz family found green slime oozing from the walls and keyholes. The family also reported cold spots in different parts of the house, along with mysterious, shadowy figures moving through the halls.
George Lutz’s behavior became increasingly erratic, and the family felt an oppressive presence throughout the house. The situation became so unbearable that, after just 28 days, the Lutz family fled the home, leaving all their belongings behind.
4. The Investigation and Media Frenzy
After the Lutz family fled the house, the story quickly gained widespread media attention. Paranormal investigators and mediums were brought in to study the house. One of the most famous investigations was conducted by Ed and Lorraine Warren, the well-known demonologists who had also investigated the Perron family haunting (which inspired The Conjuring). Lorraine Warren, a clairvoyant, claimed that the house was infested with a demonic presence. During their investigation, she allegedly sensed an overwhelming evil in the home and warned that it could only grow stronger over time.
The Warrens, along with a local priest, performed a blessing and an exorcism on the house. However, reports suggest that the phenomena continued even after the rituals were performed. Photos taken during the investigation revealed mysterious shadows and unexplained figures, including an image that appeared to show the ghostly figure of a small boy peering out from one of the rooms.
The case quickly became a media sensation, and Jay Anson’s 1977 book, The Amityville Horror: A True Story, helped propel the story into the public consciousness. The book was adapted into a movie in 1979, and the Amityville Horror franchise was born. Over the years, countless films, documentaries, and books have been produced about the haunting, solidifying its place in paranormal lore.
5. Skepticism and Controversy
While the Amityville Horror has become a cultural phenomenon, the story has also been met with considerable skepticism. Many have questioned the authenticity of the Lutz family’s claims, arguing that the story was fabricated for profit. In 1979, William Weber, the attorney who represented Ronald DeFeo Jr., claimed that he, along with the Lutz family, had concocted the story over a few bottles of wine as a way to make money.
In addition, several paranormal investigators who visited the house after the Lutz family left reported that they found no evidence of supernatural activity. The subsequent owners of the house, including Jim and Barbara Cromarty, who lived there in the late 1970s, reported no strange occurrences and dismissed the Lutzes' story as a hoax.
Despite these claims, George and Kathy Lutz stood by their story until their deaths. They insisted that they had experienced genuine paranormal activity during their time in the house and that the events had deeply traumatized their family. In the years since, their children have given mixed accounts, with some acknowledging that certain details may have been exaggerated but maintaining that something unusual did happen during their stay.
6. The Legacy of The Amityville Horror
Regardless of whether one believes in the paranormal aspects of the Amityville Horror, the story’s impact on popular culture is undeniable. The house at 112 Ocean Avenue has become one of the most infamous haunted locations in the world. People still flock to Amityville to catch a glimpse of the notorious house, though it has since undergone renovations, including a change in its distinctive windows, to discourage tourists.
The Amityville Horror has inspired not only movies and books but also ongoing debates about the nature of hauntings, the power of suggestion, and the role that tragedy plays in paranormal phenomena. Skeptics and believers alike continue to analyze the events at 112 Ocean Avenue, searching for answers about what really happened.
The Amityville Horror remains one of the most debated and discussed paranormal cases in history. Whether viewed as a genuine haunting or a clever fabrication, the story has left an indelible mark on the world of supernatural folklore. The tragic murders of the DeFeo family and the Lutzes’ terrifying experiences have woven a complex tapestry of mystery, fear, and intrigue that continues to captivate the imagination of those who dare to explore the unknown. Whatever the truth may be, the legend of Amityville endures, haunting us with the question: What really happened at 112 Ocean Avenue?