On the surface, 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island looked like a dream. The Dutch Colonial home was large, elegant, and sat in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. But in 1974, the house became the scene of a horrific mass murder. And just one year later, it became a house of alleged horrors — where evil itself supposedly lingered.
This is the true story — or at least, as much of it as we know.
The DeFeo Murders
On November 13, 1974, 23-year-old Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr. shot and killed his entire family — his parents and four younger siblings — as they slept in their beds. All were found lying face down, undisturbed, as if they'd never heard the shots.
DeFeo initially claimed the murders were the work of a mob hitman. But he later confessed and was sentenced to life in prison. To this day, no one knows exactly why he did it — or how six people could be killed one by one without waking each other.
That alone would have been enough to mark the house forever.
But then came the Lutz family.
The Lutz Haunting
In December 1975, just 13 months after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz moved into 112 Ocean Avenue with their three children. They bought the home at a bargain price — fully aware of its dark history.
They lasted just 28 days.
According to the Lutzes, what happened in that month was nothing short of terrifying:
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Unseen forces slammed doors and knocked things off shelves.
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A mysterious green slime oozed from the walls.
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Cold spots appeared in rooms without explanation.
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George claimed to wake every night at 3:15 a.m. — the time of the murders.
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Kathy levitated off the bed.
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A pig-like demon with glowing red eyes was seen staring in through a window.
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The youngest daughter reportedly spoke to an invisible entity named “Jodie.”
The family fled the house one night in January 1976, leaving behind all their belongings.
Enter the Warrens
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were brought in soon after. Lorraine claimed the house was "infested by a demonic presence so strong, it had left its mark on the entire property."
During their investigation:
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Ed experienced a cold wave and sensed a powerful inhuman force.
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Lorraine claimed she felt overwhelmed by a deep sense of despair.
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A famous photo was later taken — allegedly showing the ghost of a small boy peering out from a room. Some say it's a hoax. Others insist it’s real.
The Book, the Movie, and the Backlash
The story exploded after the release of The Amityville Horror (1977), a book by Jay Anson based on the Lutzes’ accounts. It became a bestseller and led to a series of films — the first in 1979, and many remakes and spin-offs afterward.
But the haunting’s authenticity has been heavily disputed.
Real or Hoax?
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Critics note that the Lutz family never provided solid evidence.
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DeFeo’s own lawyer later claimed the haunting was fabricated by him and the Lutzes to sell a book — though he later recanted.
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The family that moved in after the Lutzes reported no supernatural activity.
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The Lutz children, as adults, gave mixed accounts: some backing the story, others denying it happened.
Yet, the story endures.
Conclusion
Was it a genuine case of paranormal terror? Or a well-crafted hoax wrapped in tragedy? The Amityville haunting remains one of the most divisive and enduring ghost stories of the modern era — tangled in murder, media, money, and mystery.
And like all good horror stories, the truth may never be fully known.
“Some houses are born bad,” the old saying goes. Whether 112 Ocean Avenue was one of them — or simply a reflection of human darkness — is something only the walls will ever know.
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