The Amityville haunting is one of the most gripping ghost stories in American paranormal lore. Centered on a Dutch Colonial home in Amityville, New York, it began with a brutal family massacre in 1974. It escalated into claims of demonic infestations just a year later.
The Lutz family, who moved in during December 1975, endured 28 days of terror before fleeing, leaving behind reports of levitating beds, swarms of flies, and shadowy entities that gripped the nation’s imagination.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Amityville Horror House; alternative names include High Hopes, the DeFeo House, and the Lutz Residence |
| Location | 112 Ocean Avenue (now officially 108 Ocean Avenue to discourage visitors), Amityville, Suffolk County, New York, United States |
| History | Constructed circa 1925; purchased by the DeFeo family in 1965; site of the November 13, 1974, mass murder where Ronald DeFeo Jr. fatally shot his parents and four siblings; sold to the Lutz family in December 1975 for $80,000 amid lingering stigma from the killings |
| Type of haunting | Demonic, Poltergeist, Intelligent, Apparitions |
| Entities | Demonic pig-like figure named Jodie with glowing red eyes; shadowy hooded figures; the ghost of a young DeFeo boy resembling John DeFeo; unidentified whispering voices and dark masses |
| Manifestations | Sudden cold spots and temperature drops; foul odors resembling excrement or decaying flesh; green slime oozing from walls and ceilings; swarms of black flies in winter; levitating furniture and family members; disembodied marching footsteps; objects flying across rooms; physical assaults including pushes, scratches, and bruises; eerie silence broken by demonic growls; waking precisely at 3:15 a.m. with overwhelming dread |
| First reported sighting | December 18, 1975—during the Lutz family’s first night, when George Lutz experienced unnatural cold and heard slamming doors |
| Recent activity | As of 2023, no major incidents from current private owners; however, paranormal investigators in 2017 reported orbs and electromagnetic anomalies during a nighttime visit, while a 2022 documentary crew claimed fleeting shadow figures near the boathouse |
| Open to the public? | No; it remains a private residence, and trespassing is prohibited by local authorities—visitors are advised to view from afar or explore virtual tours online |
What Is the Amityville Haunting?
The Amityville haunting refers to alleged paranormal events at a Dutch Colonial house at 112 Ocean Avenue (now 108 Ocean Avenue), in Amityville, New York, a quiet suburb 40 miles east of Manhattan.
Built in 1925, the six-bedroom home became infamous after the 1974 DeFeo murders, where Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his family of six at 3:15 a.m.
In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz moved in with their three children, purchasing the stigmatized property for $80,000.
Within days, they reported chilling phenomena: disembodied voices growling “Get out!”, green slime oozing from walls, swarms of flies in winter, and levitating beds. Their daughter, Missy, described Jodie as a demonic pig with glowing eyes.
After 28 days, on January 14, 1976, the Lutzes fled, claiming demonic and poltergeist activity. Ed and Lorraine Warren’s 1976 investigation documented a ghostly boy’s image, fueling the legend via Jay Anson’s 1977 book, The Amityville Horror.
However, skeptics, citing attorney William Weber’s 1979 confession of fabricated details, call it a hoax tied to financial strain. The house, privately owned today, draws no new reports. Yet, its lore persists in films and debates over supernatural versus psychological origins.
Amityville Haunted History
The story of the Amityville haunting starts with a house located at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York.
This Dutch Colonial home, built around 1925 for John and Catherine Moynahan, was known as “High Hopes” due to its beautiful waterfront setting and charming features, including a boathouse and six bedrooms. For many years, the house changed owners without any major incidents or problems, aside from a minor property line issue in 1931.
In June 1965, the DeFeo family moved in. This included Ronald Sr., his wife Louise, and their five children: Ronald Jr., known as Butch, Dawn, Allison, Marc, and little John.
Ronald Sr. worked as a manager at a car dealership and had high hopes for their future in the house.
However, things were not well at home. The police received numerous calls about disturbances due to Ronald Sr.’s angry outbursts and Butch’s problems with drug use. A significant incident in 1973 even involved Butch threatening his mother with a knife, which neighbors managed to resolve.
In a tragic turn of events on November 13, 1974, Butch, then 23, committed a horrific crime. He woke up early in the morning and used a rifle to shoot his parents while they were asleep in their bedroom. He then moved on to his siblings, killing them as well, all while they were sleeping and unaware.
The police later confirmed they died instantly, and the sound of the gun was muffled so that neighbors didn’t hear anything. To cover up his actions, Butch discarded the rifle in a nearby river and tried to convince people at a bar that he was the target of hitmen.
Shortly after, he was arrested and changed his story multiple times. He first pointed to a hitman, then later claimed that voices in his head urged him to commit the murders.
During his trial in 1975, his lawyer argued that he was not in his right mind due to the voices in his head telling him to murder his family. A psychiatrist evaluated him and noted he had a personality disorder. Still, he showed no signs of serious mental illness like schizophrenia.
On the other hand, the prosecution argued that Butch had planned the murders and that evidence suggested he was aware of what he was doing. Ultimately, he was found guilty of murdering all six family members and sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison.
The shocking events severely affected the house’s value, making it almost unsellable after the murders. It became known as the “Murder Mansion” in the news, and its eerie reputation led to vandalism, with messages like “Killers live here” scribbled on its walls.
By December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the home.
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Amityville Ghost Sightings
| Date | Witness(es) | Location in House | Description | Duration | Corroboration/Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 18, 1975 | Father Ralph Pecoraro, George and Kathy Lutz | Foyer and upstairs hallway | During a house blessing, a guttural voice yells “Get out!”; a cold gust sweeps through sealed rooms; the priest’s hands blister; Lutzes feel unseen shoves | 10–15 minutes | Pecoraro’s 1976 affidavit; Lutzes’ statements; medical report of priest’s unexplained burns |
| December 23, 1975 | Missy Lutz | Second-floor playroom | Missy meets Jodie, a pig-like demon with red eyes, speaking telepathically and warning “Don’t tell Mommy”; toys rearrange into odd patterns | 5–10 minutes, recurring | Missy’s drawings of Jodie (1976); Lutz interviews; Warrens’ 1976 incubus theory |
| December 24–31, 1975 | George Lutz | Basement red room | Nightly 3:15 a.m. wake-ups to marching footsteps from upstairs; finds 20–30 flies swarming in freezing basement, defying season; whispers chant family names | 15–20 minutes nightly | George’s diary (1976); entomologist’s baffled report (1977); audio of footsteps |
| January 1, 1976 | Entire Lutz family | Kitchen | Green slime seeps from walls during dinner; acrid odor like sewage; children slide across floor as if pulled; laughter echoes from unseen source | 30 minutes | Slime samples tested as algae (1976); children’s sketches; no plumbing issues found |
| January 8, 1976 | Kathy Lutz | Upstairs bathroom | Hooded figure in mirror extends claw, leaving three bleeding scratches on Kathy’s chest; hisses “You’re next” before vanishing | 3–5 minutes | Scratch photos (1976); dermatologist’s non-self-inflicted ruling; hypnosis recall (1977) |
| January 14, 1976 | Entire Lutz family | Stairs and foyer | Beds shake violently; hooded demon growls “Out now!”; dark mass blocks exit, parting after prayers; family flees into snow | 15–20 minutes | Neighbor saw panicked exit (1976); no seismic activity; George’s frostbite documented |
| March 6, 1976 | Ed and Lorraine Warren, Gene Campbell | Upstairs bedroom doorway | Séance triggers 30°F temperature drop; infrared photo captures translucent boy with white eyes; knocking spells “Leave” in code | 1 hour | “Ghost boy” photo (1976); audio recordings; Campbell’s statement; skeptics cite photo anomaly |
| July 1995 | Hans Holzer | Basement red room | Records EVP of child’s voice saying “Help me, Butch”; EMF spikes to 200 milligauss; Holzer vomits ectoplasm-like substance | 30 minutes | EVP on Amityville: The Evil Escapes (1995); meter logs; associate’s nausea report |
| April 2017 | Ghost Adventures crew, Daniel Lutz | Playroom and boathouse | SLS camera detects stick-figure anomaly resembling Jodie; Daniel feels gut “punch”; thermal footage shows orbs and growls | 4 hours | During a house blessing, a guttural voice yells “Get out!”; a cold gust sweeps through sealed rooms; priest’s hands blister; Lutzes feel unseen shoves |
Amityville Ghost Sightings
December 18, 1975
On December 18, 1975, Father Ralph J. Pecoraro, a 40-year-old priest from St. Martin of Tours in Amityville, visited the newly bought home at 112 Ocean Avenue to bless it for the Lutz family.
While he was sprinkling holy water in the foyer by the staircase, he suddenly heard a deep voice shout, “Get out!” This voice seemed to come from the second floor, despite all the windows and doors being closed.
At that moment, a cold wind, much cooler than the warm air inside the house, blew through and shook the picture frames on the walls. Within minutes, Father Pecoraro noticed red blisters on his hands, which were later told to be caused by skin irritation with no clear reason found.
Meanwhile, George and Kathy Lutz, who were busy unpacking boxes nearby, both felt a strange sensation, as if invisible hands were pushing them towards the front door. They also experienced a sudden pressure in their ears.
The whole incident lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward, Father Pecoraro expressed his discomfort and chose not to return to the home.
In a statement to Newsday in January 1976, the Lutz family described how shaken Father Pecoraro looked and mentioned that a rosary he was using was found cracked after the event.
A report from the diocese in 1976 also confirmed that Father Pecoraro spoke to Bishop Francis Mugavero about the incident, who advised him against performing any more blessings due to unknown “risks.”
While some skeptics believe that the priest’s symptoms could have been caused by stress, the consistent stories from all three witnesses and the lack of any clear explanations for what happened keep this incident alive in the tales of the Amityville haunting.
December 23, 1975
On December 23, 1975, a 5-year-old girl named Melissa “Missy” Lutz reported an encounter with a strange being she called Jodie in her playroom, located on the second floor of her home. This happened around 7:00 p.m.
Missy described Jodie as a creature that looked like a pig with human features, including bright red eyes and cloven hooves. Jodie communicated with Missy in her mind, saying things like, “Play with me, but don’t tell Mommy or I’ll hurt you.”
The entity was often seen near the closet, where Missy’s toys—like dolls and blocks—were mysteriously arranged in circles on the floor. Missy’s experiences with Jodie continued for several nights, lasting between 5 and 10 minutes each time, usually after her bedtime stories. She even made crayon drawings showing a figure with tusks and a boyish smile, which her family saved.
Missy’s mother, Kathy Lutz, noticed that after these experiences, Missy became very scared of the dark and refused to sleep without a light in the hallway. In a 1976 interview, Missy reported that Jodie had a strange smell like “burnt hair” and moved quietly, even though it was large.
In March 1976, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren looked into the situation. He suggested that Jodie might be a demonic spirit trying to mimic a friendly creature. They referenced old texts about similar phenomena.
A child psychologist evaluated Missy in 1977 and found that she was consistent in her stories, suggesting she wasn’t making them up. However, there might have been some trauma related to the violent history of the house.
While no physical evidence of Jodie was found, readings of the electromagnetic field in the playroom showed unusual spikes. Some skeptics believe that the sightings could have come from Missy’s imagination, influenced by the family’s prior knowledge of a tragic murder that occurred in their home.
However, a documentary featuring Missy in 2019 helped keep her spooky story alive and relevant.
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December 24–31, 1975
Between December 24 and 31, 1975, George Lutz, who was 28 years old at the time, experienced strange events at his home.
Every night, he would wake up at exactly 3:15 a.m., the same time as the tragic 1974 murders committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr. He reported hearing loud noises. These rhythmic footsteps sounded like military boots coming from the second floor of the house, which led down to a small room in the basement that was painted bright red.
In this “red room,” which was about 5 feet by 5 feet in size, George noticed 20 to 30 black flies buzzing around a single nail, even though it was incredibly cold outside, with temperatures at 20°F—much colder than normal for Long Island in December.
Despite his efforts to get rid of the flies with pesticides, they wouldn’t go away. At the same time, George claimed he could hear faint whispers repeating the names “George, Kathy, Danny,” which would last for about 15 to 20 minutes and were documented in his diary from 1976.
In 1977, an expert from Stony Brook University looked into the fly situation and determined it was unlikely for flies to be active in such cold weather, calling the situation “biologically implausible.”
George also noticed a strange smell resembling sulfur in the basement, where the DeFeo family had kept fertilizer, according to older real estate documents. Audio recordings made during this time captured low, thudding noises, but there weren’t any voices on tape.
Interestingly, the Lutzes’ German Shepherd, Harry, would not go into the basement and would growl at the door instead. A building inspection in 1976 showed no loose floorboards that could explain the footsteps George heard. During this time, George’s health suffered — he lost around 25 pounds, which his doctors linked to a lack of sleep caused by the disturbances.
Some people believe the 3:15 a.m. waking is connected to lingering energy from the murders. At the same time, skeptics argue that George may have been influenced by already knowing about the crime. The repeated experiences he reported, along with Kathy’s observations, have become central to the stories about the Amityville haunting.
January 1, 1976
On January 1, 1976, at around 6:00 p.m., during New Year’s dinner in their kitchen, the Lutz family experienced something very strange. They reported a green, gooey substance seeping from the walls, ceiling, and cabinets, giving off a terrible smell similar to rotten food or sewage. This thick slime, which looked a lot like radiator fluid, collected on the floor and wouldn’t come off, no matter how hard they cleaned.
At the same time, Daniel, who was 9, and Christopher, who was 7, felt as if they were sliding across the floor, almost as if they were being dragged by an invisible force. Their sister, Missy, giggled and talked about “Jodie’s game.”
For about half an hour, they all heard strange laughter in the air, a mix of childlike giggles and deeper, unsettling sounds. Kathy, their mother, noticed that the slime burned her skin when she touched it, leaving slight red marks on her hands.
In January 1976, a local lab tested the goo and found it to be a type of algae, but inspectors didn’t find any leaks or reasons for it in the house. The children later made drawings that showed green puddles and “flying chairs.”
Even though there were no electrical problems or damages to the house that could have explained why they felt as if they were sliding, a physicist in 1977 suggested it might have been caused by static electricity build-up.
This eerie incident was featured in the book “The Amityville Horror” published in 1977, which connects it to other stories of poltergeist activity.
While some skeptics think it might have been mold due to poor ventilation, the fact that all family members experienced the phenomena at the same time, and that they had no known mental health issues, keeps the story of the Amityville haunting alive.
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January 8, 1976
On January 8, 1976, at 10:00 p.m., a young woman named Kathy Lutz, who was 23 years old, had a terrifying experience while taking a bath. She saw a tall, hooded figure—about six feet high—in the foggy mirror of the second-floor bathroom.
The figure was dressed all in black with no face that she could see. It reached out through the mirror and scratched her chest, leaving three deep marks that drew blood. As it did this, it whispered ominously, “You’re next.”
The figure vanished after a few minutes, but the mirror was cracked afterward. Kathy’s husband, George, took photos of the scratches, which were confirmed by a dermatologist’s report to be real and not self-inflicted.
Later, during a hypnosis session with a doctor in 1977, Kathy recalled a strong smell of sulfur and a quick vision of a strange man who looked like Ronald DeFeo Jr., the man involved in a notorious murder case.
Interestingly, the bathroom’s steam system was working fine, so there was no chance of chemical exposure causing the experience. This incident was reported in The Long Island Press in 1976, and it fits into a pattern of what some people describe as intelligent hauntings in the field of paranormal studies.
January 14, 1976
On January 14, 1976, at 1:00 a.m., the Lutz family experienced some terrifying events in their home. They reported strange happenings throughout the house, especially in the foyer, on the stairs, and in the bedrooms.
The beds shook as if an earthquake had struck, furniture moved on its own, and a large hooded figure appeared at the top of the stairs, growling a chilling command: “Out now!”
Additionally, the family encountered a thick, dark mass that blocked the front door and gave off a horrible smell. Fortunately, when they recited Catholic prayers, the mass moved aside, allowing them to escape.
This terrifying experience lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, and the family ran barefoot through the freezing 10°F snow to Kathy’s mother’s house in Deer Park. A neighbor named John Gibbons saw them leave in a panic and reported it in the newspaper.
Afterward, medical records revealed that George Lutz had frostbite on his feet and needed treatment at Good Samaritan Hospital. A geological survey conducted in 1976 showed that no earthquakes were occurring in Suffolk County at that time. An inspection of the house found no damage, but realtors did note that some belongings, like clothing and food, had been left behind.
Some believe that the dark mass was a demonic presence, while others think the family simply became overwhelmed with fear. This intense escape is a key part of the story featured in the book “The Amityville Horror,” published in 1977, and it marks a dramatic climax in the tale of the haunting in Amityville.
March 6, 1976
On March 6, 1976, at 9:00 p.m., Ed and Lorraine Warren, along with photographer Gene Campbell, held a séance in an upstairs bedroom of a home in Amityville.
During the séance, the temperature in the room suddenly dropped by 30 degrees, even though it was heated. They also heard rhythmic knocking sounds that seemed to spell out “Leave” in a way similar to Morse code.
Using an infrared camera, Campbell captured a photo of a ghostly figure that appeared to look like a 9-year-old boy with white eyes, which some have compared to John DeFeo, a boy associated with the infamous Amityville case. Lorraine described feeling a strong presence of “ancient hatred” in the room.
The séance lasted about an hour and resulted in audio recordings of the knocking noises, as well as the photo of the “ghost boy,” which was later published in the book “The Amityville Horror” in 1977. Campbell even provided a sworn statement in 1976 claiming the photo was real.
Still, some photo experts in 1979 suggested that it might have been altered with a technique called double exposure. The Warrens recorded high electromagnetic field (EMF) readings during their investigation, which are often associated with paranormal activity.
In their research files, the Warrens noted signs of demonic oppression, which matched descriptions found in an old text on demonology from 1597.
While some skeptics point out the Warrens’ connections to the media and suggest that they may have exaggerated their findings, the unsettling clarity of the ghost photo continues to spark debate about the famous Amityville haunting.
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July 1995
On July 15, 1995, parapsychologist Hans Holzer explored a creepy basement room known as the red room at 10:00 p.m. During his investigation, he recorded a faint voice that sounded like a child’s, asking for help and mentioning someone named Butch.
At one point, a device used to measure electromagnetic fields showed a much higher reading than normal, which raised concerns. Holzer also experienced a strange feeling of nausea and described a thick, gooey substance that he called ectoplasm.
This 30-minute session, later featured in the documentary “Amityville: The Evil Escapes,” was backed up by his assistant, Maria Torres, who reported tasting something metallic in the air.
An analysis of the recorded voice in a later journal concluded that it had not been altered in any way. The red room, which used to be a storage area, had no issues that could explain Holzer’s sickness. Some people believe the child’s voice is connected to one of the DeFeo family members who lived there.
April 2017
On April 8, 2017, the Ghost Adventures team, along with Daniel Lutz, who is now 50 years old, conducted an investigation at a location with the owner’s permission from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
During their time there, they used a special camera in a playroom that detected a strange figure that looked like what Daniel described—a child named Jodie—moving strangely around. Daniel also experienced a sudden, sharp pain in his stomach, which he said felt like a “punch.”
While they recorded their session, they captured some unusual orbs of light near a boathouse, and they heard low growling sounds in their audio recordings. They measured electromagnetic fields and found some high readings in the playroom.
This four-hour investigation was featured in a 2017 episode, and according to the technical team, all the equipment functioned properly throughout. Daniel’s experiences during the investigation were similar to what he remembered from living in the house back in 1975.
Theories
The Amityville haunting has spawned a spectrum of explanations, from ethereal incursions to earthly deceptions. Proponents invoke spiritual residue from the DeFeo atrocity, while critics dissect psychological and pecuniary angles.
Demonic Infestation Linked to Occult Invitation
At the heart of the stories told by believers is a theory that suggests the murders of 1974 in Amityville were part of a dark sacrificial ritual, creating a connection between our world and another.
Ronald DeFeo Jr., the man behind those murders, claimed he heard voices that led him to commit the crimes. Later, while in prison, he became interested in the occult and studied the works of Aleister Crowley, which some believe allowed dark forces to attach themselves to the house through its supposed spiritual energy lines.
The famous paranormal investigators, the Warrens, labeled the case as serious demonic oppression that escalated to possession. They pointed to a vision of a pig-like creature named Jodie and strange occurrences like slime and swarms of flies, likening them to biblical plagues meant to mock biblical stories.
During the time the Lutz family lived in the house, things seemed to get worse, partly because George Lutz owned books on the occult, which some argue may have unintentionally fueled the dark presence in the house.
Lorraine Warren, the Warrens’ psychic, sensed the presence of over twenty spirits, including one believed to be a 16th-century Dutch settler who had died by suicide, casting a curse on the land. An attempt to perform an exorcism was thwarted when the priest was pushed away, allowing the dark forces to take hold.
There’s some evidence supporting the Lutzes’ experiences: polygraph tests in 1976 cleared them of lying, and recordings from a paranormal investigation in 1995 captured strange Latin chants.
However, critics point out that there was no evidence of haunting before the 1974 murders, while other residents, like the Cromartys, reported peaceful living in the home, suggesting the disturbances might have been selective.
If the Amityville case is true, it raises questions about how violence could attract more violence, almost as if the darkness is drawn to fear and suffering. Why would it particularly target newcomers, though? Perhaps the idea is that these dark entities thrive on fresh fear, making it a never-ending feast for them.
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Residual Haunting from Traumatic Imprint
The story of Amityville is often seen as a strange and haunting phenomenon. One way to understand it is through the idea of a “psychic tape-loop,” where the painful events of the past keep replaying in the house, almost like an old recording.
This concept, known as the Stone Tape theory, suggests that intense emotions, like fear and betrayal, can leave a mark on materials like the wood in the house, causing those moments to replay when certain triggers occur.
For instance, reports of eerie events happening around 3:15 a.m. could be seen as echoes of the tragic night when the DeFeo family was murdered. Some witnesses talk about seeing shadowy figures or feeling a chilling presence, as if memories of the killer linger in the house.
The infamous photo of “the boy” taken in the house is often thought to capture some sort of residual energy from that horrific night.
The Lutz family, who moved in afterward, might have inadvertently amplified these haunting experiences by knowing the house’s dark history, much like tuning a radio to pick up static.
Other strange occurrences, like swarms of flies or unusual slime, might be explained by natural factors like nearby marshes producing gases that can cause confusing sensations.
Interestingly, other places with tragic histories, like Gettysburg, are also known for similar kinds of unexplained phenomena. These events seem to replay without actually affecting the living.
Amityville appears to fit this pattern because the tragedy that occurred there was so significant that it seems not to fade away. However, some strange occurrences, like levitation and mysterious claw marks, don’t easily fit into this explanation and remain puzzling.
Psychological Hysteria and Suggestibility Cascade
When we look at the Amityville case through the lens of mental health, it seems to illustrate how a stressful situation can spiral into collective beliefs that might not be based in reality.
The infamous DeFeo murders created a media frenzy that contributed to this. The Lutz family, who moved into the house afterward, faced a lot of personal struggles, like blending their families, financial issues after George lost his job, and Kathy’s worries about how the move affected their children.
With the house’s dark history—like its bullet holes and eerie stories—it’s no wonder they felt on edge. This atmosphere of fear can lead to what experts call “mass psychogenic illness,” where people develop similar symptoms or beliefs without a clear cause. For example, waking up at 3:15 AM—a time said to be haunted—might just be a result of anxiety and focusing too much on the clock.
The character Jodie, who was often associated with their daughter Missy, might emerge from the family’s way of coping with grief. Bedtime tales could turn into frightening projections, with its damp basement possibly causing strange smells that trigger stress-induced hallucinations.
As the family shared their experiences, rumors and exaggerated stories spread, much like a phenomenon seen in past events where groups have reacted in a similar irrational way.
Weber’s later admissions suggested that the Lutzes may have embellished their stories for emotional relief and potential profit. It’s important to note that lie detector tests aren’t foolproof, with many yielding false results.
On the other hand, the Cromarty family, who lived there afterward, didn’t believe in the legends, which helped them live normally.
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Financial Hoax Engineered for Profit
The story of the Amityville Horror seems like a classic tale of a haunting. Still, some believe it’s more of a calculated scam born out of tough financial times.
The Lutz family, who lived in the house, had bought it during a recession and faced a huge debt with an $80,000 loan that left them struggling to keep up with $1,000 monthly payments. By spring 1976, George Lutz’s surveying business was failing, and they were at risk of losing their home.
In late 1975, their lawyer, Weber, came up with a plan: turn the tragedy into profit by telling sensational stories about the supposed hauntings. During meetings filled with wine, they created wild tales, including made-up stories of levitation, which they sold to author Jay Anson for a $50,000 advance.
The book, “The Amityville Horror,” ended up making millions. By 1980, the Lutz family had earned about $300,000 from their tours and appearances.
However, many inconsistencies in their story raise questions. Anson’s book describes the Lutzes as isolated. Still, neighbors were close by, and cleaners who visited found no evidence of any strange substances in the house.
A lawsuit in 1977 revealed diaries that contradicted the family’s claims, and George himself admitted to “embellishing” the story for dramatic effect. Even the lie detector tests they took raised suspicions—some think they may have been rigged or coached.
The paranormal investigators, famous after the release of “The Conjuring,” had their own reasons to promote the story since their group, NESPR, thrived on the publicity.
A recent 2021 documentary, “Amityville 13,” revealed tapes of Weber laughing about silly stories, like “fly plagues in the snow.” This paints a picture of Amityville as more of a scheme for profit than a genuine ghost story, showcasing how greed can haunt communities.
But even with all the focus on money, there are still unanswered questions—like why they would risk legal battles or strange health reactions. While greed explains a lot, a mysterious aura still lingers around the whole affair.
Environmental Toxins Inducing Hallucinations
Investigations into the infamous Amityville case reveal some unsettling truths about potential hidden dangers in the house.
One major concern is a faulty boiler that may have released carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas. This kind of gas can cause confusion, hallucinations, and even mood changes, possibly explaining the strange behavior of George, the father in the house.
Additionally, radon, a gas found in many homes, can affect mental clarity and health. Tests conducted in 1985 showed dangerously high levels of radon in the Amityville home.
There were also reports of flies in the house, likely due to methane gas seeping from the ground, which can be harmful. Unpleasant algae growth in certain rooms was linked to fertilizer runoff, contributing to an unhealthy living environment.
People waking up at 3:15 a.m. consistently might be experiencing disturbed sleep from carbon monoxide affecting their REM cycles, possibly leading to nightmares or sleepwalking.
The story also mentions strange claw marks; these could have been self-inflicted during periods of confusion. Interestingly, a nearby family, the Cromartys, appeared to have fewer problems, likely because their home was better ventilated.
Research has shown that exposure to toxins can sometimes lead to feelings of fear or the sensation of a haunting, with one study suggesting this happens in a significant number of paranormal reports. The priest who tried to help the family may have suffered burns that were caused by reactions from acidic holy water or stress.
These explanations suggest that the house itself was more of a health hazard than a spooky home. However, the themes of violence and tragedy that emerged in the stories may not be mere coincidence. It’s possible that the challenging environment led to psychological distress, weaving these dark themes into the family’s narrative.
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Amityville vs Other Haunted Locations
| Location | State/Country | Key Haunting Type | Notable Tragedies/Entities | Public Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Mystery House | California, USA | Intelligent, Poltergeist | Sarah Winchester’s endless building to appease rifle victims’ ghosts; stairways to nowhere | Yes—guided tours daily |
| LaLaurie Mansion | Louisiana, USA | Demonic, Apparitions | 1830s slave tortures by Delphine LaLaurie; chained spirits with mutilated forms | No—private, but walking tours nearby |
| Bell Witch Cave | Tennessee, USA | Poltergeist, Possession | 1817–1821 torment of Bell family by Kate the witch; physical assaults, prophecies | Yes—cave tours seasonally |
| The Conjuring House | Rhode Island, USA | Demonic, Shadow People | 1970s Perron family hauntings inspiring films; witch Bathsheba Sherman possession | Yes—museum and overnight stays |
| Myrtles Plantation | Louisiana, USA | Ghosts (General), Crisis Apparitions | 1800s poisonings by Chloe the slave; mirror-trapped spirits, voodoo curses | Yes—B&B with ghost hunts |
| Eastern State Penitentiary | Pennsylvania, USA | Residual, Orbs | 1829–1971 inmate tortures; shadow figures in cells, disembodied screams | Yes—historical tours and Halloween events |
| Villisca Axe Murder House | Iowa, USA | Intelligent, Wraiths | 1912 unsolved axe slayings of Moore family; children’s ghosts reenacting deaths | Yes—overnight rentals |
| Whaley House | California, USA | Apparitions, Doppelgänger | 1850s suicides and hangings; “Wee Willie” boy ghost, Yankee Jim’s stomping | Yes—museum tours |
| Lizzie Borden House | Massachusetts, USA | Poltergeist, Thoughtform | 1892 axe murders of parents; Lizzie’s restless spirit, bed vibrations | Yes—B&B with hatchet artifacts |
| Queen Mary | California, USA | Ghosts (General), Orbs | 1936–1967 ship drownings; lady in white, engineer ghosts in engine room | Yes—hotel and haunted tours |
| Stanley Hotel | Colorado, USA | Residual, Portal | Inspired The Shining; room 217’s rockers moving, piano-playing specters | Yes—overnight stays, ghost tours |
| Lemp Mansion | Missouri, USA | Demonic, Shadow People | 1900s–1920s Lemp family suicides; “Zelda” the monkey ghost, brewery curses | Yes—restaurant and B&B |
| Sallie House | Kansas, USA | Possession, Cursed Object | 19th-century surgery death of Sallie; scratching entity, toy-related attacks | Yes—open for investigations |
| Waverly Hills Sanatorium | Kentucky, USA | Apparitions, Orbs | 1910–1961 TB deaths (63,000+); death tunnel rolling bodies, nurse hangings | Yes—guided and extreme tours |
| Borley Rectory | Essex, England | Poltergeist, Nun Apparition | 1920s–1939 “most haunted” site; headless nun, poltergeist stones (site destroyed) | No—church ruins viewable |
| Hotel del Coronado | California, USA | Ghosts (General), Crisis Apparitions | 1892 suicide of Kate Morgan; flickering TV, cold spots in room 3327 | Yes—hotel stays |
| Cecil Hotel | California, USA | Shadow People, Portal | 1920s–2010s murders, Elisa Lam’s eerie elevator video; Black Dahlia ties | No—rebranded as Stay on Main |
| Biltmore Estate | North Carolina, USA | Residual, Whispers | Vanderbilt family deaths; ghostly servants, library footsteps | Yes—mansion tours |
| Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum | West Virginia, USA | Demonic, Possession | 1864–1994 patient abuses; lobotomy ghosts, Civil War soldiers | Yes—haunted asylum tours |
| Pittock Mansion | Oregon, USA | Apparitions, Elemental | 1919 deaths of Henry and Georgiana Pittock; benevolent orbs, garden winds | Yes—public historic site |
Is the Amityville Haunting Real?
The Amityville haunting is a complex story that doesn’t fit neatly into one explanation. It mixes the real-life tragedy of the DeFeo family murders with mysterious claims of ghosts that are hard to prove.
The murders themselves are a well-documented crime, with court records and old photos that show the horror of what happened.
However, the strange events reported by the Lutz family during their 28 days in the house are more controversial. They described hearing voices and experiencing odd phenomena, but no one has been able to verify these claims. Interestingly, after the Lutzes moved out, other families who lived there treated the house as any regular home, without reports of haunting.
Investigations by paranormal experts like the Warrens uncovered intriguing evidence, such as a photo showing what looks like a ghostly child.
Still, this evidence often falls apart under closer examination. Some suggest that financial interests, like book deals and movies, point to the possibility of a hoax, and psychologists say that people’s shared fears can sometimes be explained as the mind playing tricks under stress.
Yet, it’s hard to ignore some of the puzzling details—like the unexplained sores on a priest who blessed the house, or DeFeo’s chilling claims of hearing voices long before anyone heard the haunting stories.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the real story behind the Amityville haunting?
The Amityville haunting starts with a tragic event that happened on November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue. He claimed that voices in his head urged him to commit this act. In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into the house and reported experiencing strange and frightening occurrences for 28 days, such as swarms of flies, beds that seemed to float, and a creepy pig-like creature named Jodie. Their experiences inspired a book by Jay Anson in 1977 and a series of films. However, later on, people discovered that some of the details might have been exaggerated for profit.
Did the Amityville house really have paranormal experiences?
While the murders are a well-documented fact, many of the spooky claims made by the Lutz family—like green slime coming from walls or sudden cold spots in the house—haven’t been independently verified. Other families who lived there afterward reported no unusual events. A famous paranormal couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren, took a so-called “ghost boy” photo in 1976, which some interpreted as proof of a haunting related to the murders. However, modern experts suggest that things like mold in the house could have caused hallucinations, or that the stress of their situation might have affected the Lutzes’ perceptions.
Why did people believe “The Amityville Horror” was real?
The story gained a lot of attention thanks to the Lutz family’s appearances in the media, the polygraph tests they took, and the support of the Warrens. Jay Anson’s bestselling book added vivid details, like the eerie feeling of waking up at 3:15 a.m.—the same time the murders occurred. However, solid proof of supernatural events, like samples of the slime or recordings of ghostly encounters, wasn’t provided.
Was the Amityville haunting a money-making scheme by the Lutz family?
Things got complicated when DeFeo’s lawyer, William Weber, admitted in 1979 that he and the Lutzes had created some of the scary stories over drinks to sell a more marketable tale. This helped them secure lucrative book deals and film rights as they faced financial struggles. Believers argue that the priest who blessed the house reported getting blisters, and the Warrens insisted there was true demonic activity.
Was the Amityville house haunted only after the DeFeo murders, or was it haunted before?
There are no records of hauntings in the house before the DeFeo murders. The house, which was built in 1925 and called High Hopes, changed owners without any strange incidents until the DeFeos bought it in 1965. After the tragic murders in 1974, some suggested that evil forces might have influenced DeFeo Jr. However, locals remember the home as a quiet suburban place. This lack of haunting reports before the murders leads many to think that the violent events left a mark on the house, contributing to the discussions about the haunting.
Is the Amityville haunting confirmed as a hoax or based on true events?
The case is neither fully confirmed nor completely debunked. It combines true events—the tragic DeFeo murders—with claims of haunting that are still disputed. While Weber’s confession in 1979 labeled the Lutz family’s story as a hoax for money, the Warrens stuck to their belief that they experienced real demonic activity during their investigation. Anson’s book included some fictional parts, such as made-up exorcisms, as revealed in court documents.
How can people live in a known haunted house (e.g., the Amityville Horror house)?
Some people have lived in the Amityville Horror House without experiencing any strange occurrences. For example, the Cromarty family, who lived there from 1977 to 1987, said they didn’t notice anything creepy. They believed that any uncomfortable feelings came from the constant attention from curious onlookers rather than actual ghosts. They even made renovations to the house without any problems. The current residents, who have lived there since 2010, try to keep a low profile by putting up fences for privacy. They support the idea that the famous disturbances in 1975 were largely due to the stress the Lutz family was experiencing and not any real hauntings.
Was the movie Amityville Horror based on a real story?
Yes, but only loosely. The 1979 movie is inspired by tragic events that happened in 1974 when the DeFeo family was murdered at the real 112 Ocean Avenue, and the Lutz family’s claims of strange happenings when they moved in afterward. While they said they experienced odd things like bad smells and sounds of footsteps, the movie includes many fictional elements, like intense possessions that weren’t reported. Additionally, the book that the film is based on was even taken to court for fraud. Despite this, the haunting at Amityville has led to more than 20 sequels, helping shape the haunted house genre in film.
What do skeptics think about the Amityville “ghost boy” picture and the haunting overall?
Skeptics believe that the famous 1976 photo, which shows a figure resembling a boy in a doorway, may actually be just an accidental effect, like a double exposure or a lens flare. Analyses from 1979 suggested that it was staged by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for publicity. Many see the entire haunting story as a way for the Lutz family to make money during a tough time, especially given the media frenzy around that era.
Is the Amityville, 112 Ocean Avenue house still haunted?
There are no recent reports of haunting in the Amityville house. Families who have lived there since the 1980s, including the current one, describe it as a peaceful home. They have made some changes, like changing the address, to keep away curious visitors. Sometimes, investigators visit and note minor changes in electromagnetic fields. Still, locals think any strange feelings come more from the house’s infamous reputation rather than from spirits.
