The address 112 Ocean Ave Amityville NY 11701 United States evokes instant dread, pop-culture recognition, and decades of ghost stories. Long before Hollywood turned it into a cinematic franchise, this Dutch Colonial house on the South Shore of Long Island was the site of a brutal mass murder that shook suburban New York. Today, the real story behind the address involves a mix of genuine tragedy, aggressive marketing, architectural remodeling, and modern efforts by homeowners to escape morbid tourists.
Understanding the actual history requires separating the horrific 1974 crimes from the supernatural claims popularized by George and Kathy Lutz in 1975. While the horror movies focus on demonic forces, the real record points to family dysfunction, financial pressure, and a notorious legal hoax.
The Real Crime: The DeFeo Family Murders
On November 13, 1974, twenty-three-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. used a Marlin .35-caliber rifle to murder six members of his family inside the home. The victims included his parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise, along with his four younger siblings: John, Mark, Allison, and Dawn. All of them were found dead in their beds, lying face down without any signs of a struggle.
Investigators faced immediate confusion. None of the neighbors reported hearing gunshots, despite the weapon lacking a silencer. Furthermore, none of the victims showed signs of sedatives in their toxicology reports. DeFeo initially tried to blame a mob hit, but holes in his alibi quickly unraveled his story. He confessed to the shootings during police interrogation, stating, "Once I started, I just couldn't stop. It went so fast."
DeFeo received six concurrent sentences of 25 years to life at Sullivan Correctional Facility, where he remained until his death in 2021. The sheer brutality of the crime left the property stigmatized, plunging its market value and setting the stage for one of the most famous real estate sales in American history.
The Lutz Family and the Birth of the Haunting
In December 1975, just over a year after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the five-bedroom waterfront house for $80,000. Given the property's size and private canal access, the price was a bargain. They moved in with their three children, fully aware of the previous tragedy.
Their stay didn't last. Twenty-eight days later, the family fled the house in panic, leaving behind most of their personal belongings. They claimed they were driven out by a barrage of unexplainable paranormal phenomena. Their reported experiences formed the basis of Jay Anson's 1977 bestselling book, The Amityville Horror, and the subsequent film adaptations:
- Inexplicable Odors: The family reported foul smells that appeared and vanished without a source.
- Cold Spots and Slime: Green gelatinous slime allegedly leaked from walls and keyholes.
- Insects: Swarms of black flies gathered indoors during freezing winter months.
- The Witching Hour: George Lutz claimed he woke up at 3:15 AM every night—the estimated time of the DeFeo murders.
Skeptics and investigators quickly found holes in these claims. William Weber, Ronald DeFeo's defense attorney, later admitted that he and the Lutzes concocted the narrative over several bottles of wine to help secure a book deal and aid DeFeo's appeal. Subsequent owners who lived in the house for years reported zero paranormal activity.
Property Overview and Architectural Changes
The structure at what was originally 112 Ocean Avenue is a classic Dutch Colonial built in 1927. It sits on roughly a quarter-acre of land with direct boat access to the Amityville River canal. Key features of the original home included:
- Five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.
- A full basement and detached garage.
- A boathouse on the canal.
- Distinctive quarter-moon "eye" windows on the third-floor attic level.
Because tourists and ghost hunters constantly harassed residents over the decades, property owners took drastic measures to alter the home's appearance. The address itself was officially changed to 108 Ocean Avenue. Furthermore, the iconic quarter-moon windows were replaced with standard rectangular ones, and the exterior siding and color scheme were completely overhauled to deter sightseers.
Real Estate Value and Market History
Despite its dark past, prime waterfront property in Suffolk County commands high prices. The home has changed hands several times since the Lutzes left in 1976 through private, non-public listings.
| Year | Event / Sale Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | DeFeo Murders | Site of the six family homicides. |
| 1975 | Sold for $80,000 | Purchased by George and Kathy Lutz. |
| 1976 | Abandoned | The Lutz family flees after 28 days. |
| 2010 | Sold for $950,000 | Remodeled and updated by subsequent owners. |
| 2016 | Sold for $605,000 | Price dropped significantly due to market adjustments and persistent notoriety. |
Buyers on Long Island often weigh the stigma of a murder house against the appeal of waterfront living. While the house has lost some of its tourist-driven shock value, it remains an unavoidable landmark in American true crime lore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the house today?
No. The current owners maintain strict privacy. The house is clearly marked with private property signs, and police monitor the area to prevent trespassing. It is also blurred on digital mapping services like Google Maps to discourage curious sightseers.
Is anyone currently living in the house?
Yes. The home has been occupied by various families since the late 1970s. None of the subsequent owners have reported any paranormal events, and most have expressed frustration with media and tourists trying to peek at the property.
Did the murders really happen the way police reported?
Yes. The court records, autopsies, and Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s confession establish the timeline of the 1974 murders. However, all claims of demonic possession, flying objects, and floating figures were fabricated or heavily exaggerated for commercial gain.
Why was the address changed?
The town and local homeowners altered the street numbering to 108 Ocean Avenue specifically to throw off tourists, film crews, and morbid onlookers who crowded the block every Halloween and weekend.
