Amityville Horror

The Amityville Horror case emerged from the tragic November 1974 murder of six members of the DeFeo family at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his parents and four siblings while they slept, claiming voices in the house commanded the killings. Thirteen months later, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the property at a reduced price, aware of its violent history.

The Lutz family claimed to experience paranormal phenomena during their brief 28-day residence, including cold spots, strange odors, mysterious sounds, and apparitions. They fled the house in January 1976, claiming supernatural forces made it uninhabitable. Their story was popularized through Jay Anson’s 1977 book “The Amityville Horror” and numerous film adaptations, generating substantial commercial success.

Subsequent investigations revealed the haunting claims were fabricated. William Weber, DeFeo’s defense attorney, later stated that he and the Lutzes concocted the ghost story over several bottles of wine to generate income. Weber sued the Lutzes for breach of contract when they proceeded with book and film deals without him. Police investigations found no evidence supporting paranormal claims, and later residents of the house reported no unusual phenomena. The case represents a notable example of commercially motivated paranormal fraud exploiting a genuine tragedy.