The real history of 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, is far darker and more complex than the supernatural Hollywood franchise it spawned. While pop culture remembers the Dutch Colonial home for poltergeists, green slime, and glowing red windows, the actual tragedy rooted in the address involves a horrific mass murder and a subsequent hoax that captivated public imagination for decades. Understanding what really happened requires separating verified police investigations and legal records from commercialized campfire stories.
On the night of November 13, 1974, twenty-three-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. systematically murdered six members of his family inside the home. Using a .35 Marlin rifle, DeFeo shot his parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise, along with his four younger siblings—Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John—while they slept in their beds. DeFeo later changed his story multiple times during police interrogations, at one point claiming he heard voices telling him to commit the murders. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 1975 and sentenced to concurrent life terms, spending the remainder of his life in state custody until his death in May 2021.
The Birth of the Amityville Horror Hoax
The terrifying folklore surrounding 112 Ocean Avenue began shortly after the Lutz family purchased the home in December 1975 for $80,000. George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, fled the property after living there for only twenty-eight days. They claimed they were driven out by an escalating series of demonic paranormal phenomena, including swarms of flies, foul odors, cold spots, green slime dripping from walls, and a demonic entity with glowing red eyes that tormented George.
Their account became the basis for Jay Anson's 1977 bestselling book, The Amityville Horror, and the blockbuster 1979 film adaptation. However, skepticism arose almost immediately. William Weber, the defense attorney who represented Ronald DeFeo Jr. during his murder trial, later admitted that he, George Lutz, and Kathy Lutz fabricated the entire haunting over several bottles of wine. Their motivation was financial gain and an attempt to secure a new trial or book deal for DeFeo. Subsequent owners of the house reported no paranormal activity whatsoever, living peaceful lives in the residence without ever experiencing demonic disturbances. To explore the complete picture, we recommend the recent report by The New York Times.
Architectural Changes and Market Realities
To deter curious tourists, sightseers, and paranormal investigators, successive homeowners have gone to great lengths to alter the exterior and interior appearance of the property. The house's most famous architectural features—the two distinctive quarter-round Dutch attic windows that onlookers likened to menacing eyes—were completely removed and replaced with flat windows during extensive renovations in the late 1990s.
Despite its notorious reputation, real estate market data demonstrates that the property holds strong financial value due to its prime waterfront location on a canal leading to the Great South Bay. Over the decades, the house has changed hands multiple times:
- 1977 Sale: Sold to Jim and Barbara Cromarty, who lived in the home peacefully for nearly a decade and successfully sued the Lutzes and their publisher for fraud.
- 2010 Sale: Purchased by a private buyer for $950,000 after extensive interior updates and modernization.
- 2017 Sale: Sold again for $605,000, with the address officially changed by local authorities from 112 Ocean Avenue to 108 Ocean Avenue to throw off persistent tourists.
Investigating the Crime Scene and Evidence
The police response and forensic investigation following the 1974 murders revealed chilling details about how the crime was executed. Investigators found that none of the victims showed defensive wounds, and autopsies confirmed they were all shot while lying face down in their beds. Investigators like Newsday archives and local law enforcement noted that DeFeo managed to kill all six family members without waking the others, partly due to the heavy caliber rifle used and the isolated layout of the large home. No evidence of a second shooter was ever found, despite DeFeo's shifting courtroom narratives involving mafia hits and accomplices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public visit 112 Ocean Avenue today?
No. The house is a private residence located in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Amityville, New York. Current homeowners maintain strict privacy, and local police actively ticket or remove trespassers who attempt to approach the property.
What is the actual address of the house now?
To minimize harassment from tourists and true crime fans, the town officially changed the street address from 112 Ocean Avenue to 108 Ocean Avenue. The distinctive Dutch Colonial architecture has also been extensively remodeled.
Did any other families experience hauntings after the Lutzes?
None of the subsequent owners—including the Cromarty family in the 1980s or later buyers in the 2000s and 2010s—reported any paranormal occurrences. Every family that lived in the home after the murders described it as a normal, comfortable place to live.
How did Ronald DeFeo Jr. die?
Ronald DeFeo Jr. died while serving his prison sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York. He passed away on March 12, 2021, at the age of sixty-nine, after being transferred to an Albany hospital for undisclosed medical issues.
