Ronald DeFeo Jr. being lead away in handcuffs. Then, 23-year-old Butch went into the bedrooms where his siblings were sleeping and murdered 18-year-old Dawn, 13-year-old Allison, 12-year-old Marc, and 9-year-old John Matthew with the same weapon. Let us know in our comments section below First published on February 27, 2012 / 11:49 PM. In the meantime, many others still theorize about the possibility that a second killer was involved. Photo: Getty Images. note He and his father continued to fight frequently Butch once pulled a gun on Ronald Sr. and although Butch was technically employed at his familys dealership, he rarely showed up to work and left early when he did. Thirty-seven years later a claim that new evidence has been unearthed is raising new questions. It all unfolded on Nov. 13, 1974, when 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. used a high-powered rifle to shoot and kill his parents, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers, while his victims lay sleeping in their beds. "We firmly believe that there was indeed a second gun involved in the commission of the crime," Katzenbach said. The Horrific True Story Of Ronald DeFeo Jr. And The Amityville Murders. appears to be from a completely different crime scene. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the convicted killer whose 1974 murders spawned the "Amityville Horror" franchise, died last week while serving a 25 years-to-life prison term, officials said Monday . How it all began. Died" which seems to be included (in a later edition) as At his trial, DeFeo claimed that "voices" in the house commanded him to kill. The Amityville Murders focuses on the tragedy before the Lutz family of 1979's The Amityville Horror fame moved into 112 Ocean Avenue. Further changes were made to the house, including a sunroom at the back of the house. On November 13, 1974, the property at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, was the scene of a gruesome mass-murder. the woman in the photo is not in the same position as Dawn, or any of the other The parents were killed first, having both been shot twice, while all four children were killed with single shots. On November 13, 1974, the property at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, was the scene of a gruesome mass-murder. They found his hand gun holster but no gun. While the DeFeo parents were both shot twice, the children were only shot once, yet all were fatal. The house would later become entangled in the Amityville horror imbroglio which was featured in the Hollywood movie, The Amityville Horror. . In four parts, "The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders" covers the true history behind the scary stories told in the book and film series The Amityville Horror. In 1990, Ronald DeFeo Jr. filed a 440 motion, a proceeding to have his conviction vacated. I first read about the alleged seventh body found in the DeFeo Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Neighbors told CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan that they remain spooked by the infamous house. The middle third was empty, except for the A body of one DeFeo Jr.'s victims is removed from the house in Amityville, New York after police and investigators arrived on the scene. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. dryer vent flap. If (RED/AP Photo), A body of one DeFeo Jr.'s victims is removed from the house in Amityville, New York after police and investigators arrived on the scene. When from the same crime scene, but the woman in the photo It began with the 1977 novel The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson that was made into a film in 1979.. Official Films. While viewing the DeFeo crime scene negatives, Osuna noted that there were . In 1979, a movie by the same name was released to the delight of horror fans, some of whom actively sought out the real Amityville Horror House in search of paranormal activity. Soon after, George is awoken by a supernatural force. look at these pictures of baseboard heaters from the basement He's seen here leaving a hearing on Nov. 15, 1974 where he was ordered to be held without bail on one count of second-degree murder. The book is based on the claims of paranormal experiences by the Lutz family, [1] but has led to controversy and lawsuits over its truthfulness. He then went to work as usual. (laundry area) This photo Indeed, in 1979, Weber had written in People Magazine that he and the Lutzes created this horror story over many bottles of wine; he had also gone on a television program called A Current Affair in 1988 and claimed that he and the Lutzes took real-life incidents and transposed them to create a spooky tale sure to make a splash for example, turning a cat that lived in the neighborhood who had a habit of hanging out in the windows of the Lutzes house into the face of a green-eyed pig that menaced the family through a window. The bedroom of Ronald DeFeo as it looks today. On Nov. 13, 1974 Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family inside their Amityville home. In 1977, Jay Ansons book The Amityville Horror was released. DeFeos criminal trial in October 1975 captured attention for two reasons: the sheer brutality of his crime and the unusual details surrounding the defense. And Ronald DeFeo Sr. and Louise DeFeo had both been shot twice, and their children had been shot one time each. "THE DeFeo killed his parents . Then, he prepared for the discovery of his familys bodies. Dawn's body didn't show any such evidence. WATCH: Full episodes of .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}History's Greatest Mysteries online now. With John Robinson, Chelsea Ricketts, Paul Ben-Victor, Diane Franklin. The FBI definition of a serial murder is the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events but the DeFeo murders occurred during the same event, not separate ones. This So, I decided to look into this matter further. The grave of the DeFeo family at Saint Charles Cemetery. Furthermore, rigormortis sets in about two to three hours after death. The furniture from the previous owners is . Like the "Bloody Shoe Photo," the "Seventh Body Photo" is another picture in Ric Osuna's book "The Night the DeFeos Died" which seems to be included (in a later edition) as a means of spurring some interest (sales) in a book that, frankly, wasn't selling too well. Regardless, his requests for parole have all been denied. The original address of the home when the murders took place was 112 Ocean Ave . The stairwell now looks a lot brighter than it did in 1974. DeFeo confessed to the killings, telling police that "the voices from the house made him do it.". But for folks who believe its a ghost photo, its thought to show the spirit of John Matthew DeFeo, who was 9 years old at the time of his death. Though the crime has often been an afterthought throughout the years thanks in part to the popularity of The Amityville Horror its even more horrifying than anything that Hollywood could ever dream up. (Dan Godfrey/New York Daily News), Ronald also later admitted that he took a bath and got dressed after committing the crime before running to the local bar. All of whom had been shot dead with a .35 caliber rifle around 3 AM that very same day. It wasnt included in the $80,000 offer they made; an additional $400 was a comparatively small price to pay for it, though, so the Lutzes sprang for it. The sunroom was recently added to the back of the house. like at the time of the murders. The Amityville Murders. isnt much larger than an average home. While the infamous house was on the market for $850,000 in 2016 after last being sold for significantly more in 2010, it was sold for $605,000 - over $200,000 less than its initial asking price - in February 2017. the murders on poor Ronnie DeFeo. The first photo below is a crime scene photo from the basement of the DeFeo home and shows what the basement looked like at the time of the murders. The movies never tell the full story and it turns out that the whole thing is even more complicated than most people think. Over the years he has changed his account of the murders numerous times. A crime scene photo of Ronald DeFeo Sr. and Louise DeFeo, two victims of the Amityville Murders. They made some major changes to the design of the house, which included filling in the swimming pool. hence the black eye and bloody nose. Ronald also later admitted that he took a bath and got dressed after committing the crime before running to the local bar. Oct 15, 2016 at 11:23 am. Using a .35 Marlin rifle, 23-year-old Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family while they were asleep, which included his parents and four siblings. Then, he went about his day. With only these The Lutz family barely escapes 112 Ocean Ave. They lived in an affluent part of Long Island called Amityville. Shattered Hopes is a multi-part docudrama based on The Night the DeFeos Died and released in late 2011. 2000; High Hopes (book), 1981; Murder in Amityville (book), 1979; The Night the DeFeos Died (book), 2002 . Here, police remove one of the bodies from the home the following night. Watch all you want. of police misconduct, possibly as part of an attempt to frame this same piece of machinery. It was the middle of the night on Nov. 13, 1974, when 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed six of his relatives with a .35 caliber rifle while they were asleep: parents Louise and Ronald DeFeo Sr., siblings 18-year-old Dawn, 13-year-old Allison, 12-year-old Marc, and nine-year-old John Matthew. how the top of the baseboard heater bends outward, and also note Now "It's a very tragic story," said Amityville resident Peter Stein. On Oct. 14, 1975, the trial began for Ronald DeFeo Jr. after he committed the horrific killing of his six family members, which became known as the Amityville murders. At his trial, DeFeo claimed tha. Its iconic, even if you dont know what its from and regardless as to whether you believe in ghosts or demons if youre at all curious about this kind of stuff, odds are youll have seen the photo before. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that "voices" in the house commanded him to kill. Then, check out 55 of historys creepiest pictures and the disturbing backstories behind them. house. However, the psychiatrist testifying for the prosecution successfully argued that DeFeo actually had antisocial personality disorder, which meant he would have been perfectly aware of what he was doing; he just had no regard for what was right or wrong. The following year, Amityville builder Jesse Perdy constructed the five-bedroom, three-bathroom Dutch Colonial house that still stands there today. Incredibly, there have been over a dozen films based on the murders released since then, but the 1979 movie starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy Lutz remains perhaps the best known. The original 1979 film was an adaptation of Jay Anson's book The Amityville Horror, as was the 2005 remake. Murderer Ron, who's still alive and serving six 25-year-life sentences at a New York correctional facility, claimed he heard voices urging him to kill his family. "People are very creative and the Internet allows them to pull up items that they think are facts, when in fact, they're not facts," said Detective Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky, Homicide Chief for the Suffolk County Police Department. on our forum showing even more evidence that has been discovered The body of Ron's 12 year-old brother, Mark. When a priest came to bless the house, he allegedly heard a voice scream "Get out!" In 2017 the house was sold again, selling for $605,000. Husband and wife Ronald DeFeo, Sr. and Louise DeFeo had both been shot twice with a .35 caliber Marlin 336C rifle; the four children, meanwhile Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John Matthew were each shot once. Villisca Ax Murder House The Scene Of A Brutal Mass Murder In 1912. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and shes designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist. (Robert Rosamilio/New York Daily News), Hundreds attended the funeral for the DeFeo family as six caskets filled the aisel of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Amityville, during Mass of the Resurrection. He told the police, Once I started, I just couldnt stop. On Jan. 14, 1976, George, Kathleen (often called "Kathy"), their three kids (Kathys from a previous marriage), and the family dog, Harry, left the house, never to return. Would you like to make this site your homepage? When John and Catherine Moynahan died, their daughter, Eileen Fitzgerald, moved in with her own family. Still, though its impossible to talk about the alleged haunted house without talking about the murder, and vice versa. This gives a great insight to how the house looked in 1974, compared to today, which you will be able to see later in the article. The church was filled with 800 mourners, and 300 others stood outside during service. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A lot of controversies surrounded the DeFeo murders, the police investigation concluded that a suppressor had not been fitted to the rifle, this lead to speculation that someone should have been woken by the gunshots. is a RECENT picture, and that the mystery victim One of the men, Joe Yeswit, called the Suffolk County police with the awful news. In November of 1974, a 23-year-old man ran into a bar on Long Island and exclaimed to the patrons that his mother and father had been murdered, only for them to find that his entire family had been massacred in their picturesque colonial-style house. In 1974, Butch DeFeo murdered six members of his family. The newest revelations to emerge are those . Here Scroll down to view the Amityville House murder photos where the entire Defeo family was murdered by Ron Defeo (but be forewarned, it is quite gruesome. Aqua Survey's Mark Padover told CBS 2 that "Once we cleaned it off, you could see that there was a trigger and a handle." Other, less paranormal explanations include it being an accidentally captured image of a member of the investigation team, or just someone speedy enough to play a good trick. For example, DeFeo maintained that he had been at work all morning and with friends all afternoon therefore, he couldnt have killed his family. Still, no one expected that Ronald DeFeo Jr.s troubles would lead him to commit the Amityville Murders. According to deeds and information compiled by the Amityville Historical Society, the Ocean Avenue property had once been farmland belonging to the Irelands, one of Amityvilles most prominent and influential families. All six victims were found by police in their beds, lying on their stomachs. link at the bottom of the page, which will take you to a thread Inside the house, there were life-sized portraits of the family hung on the walls. Their Dutch Colonial home had a swimming pool and a nearby boat dock. On Nov. 13, 1974, 23-year-old Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. serious the shocking demonstration of killing his whole family as they rested in their home in Amityville, New York. The John Sowden House The Mystery Of The Black Amityville Horror House The Scene Of The 1974 D Jay Sebring House A House Packed With History! Posted in Off-Season Reviews with tags amityville murders, Defeo murders, Hans Holzer, the Amityville Horror on February 3, 2013 by shenanitim Readers of my blog must realize I watch a lot of DVDs. Its estimated that the whole thing took a mere 15 minutes from start to finish. comprised of concrete block walls that appear to include interior DeFoe is currently housed at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. Ronald DeFeo Jr. (1974) AP Photo/Richard Drew. The second photo is the "seventh body" photo that Ric Osuna claims is from the same crime scene. But they soon noticed details that didnt line up. Katzenbach said that this new evidence confirms a long-standing belief that DeFeo didn't act alone. On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. took a high-powered rifle and murdered his entire family as they slept. Allisons bedroom, she was murdered in her bed. They were George and Kathy Lutz and their children Daniel, 9, Christopher, 7 and Missy 5. Thank you Helix for sponsoring! The DeFeo children. DeFeo began trial on Oct. 14, 1975 where his lawyer mounted a case claiming that he was insane and killed his family in self-defense from the voices in his head. The Lutzes story is probably what most people think of when they hear the phrase The Amityville Horror the tale of a Long Island family who thought they were moving into their dream house, only to have it quickly turn into a nightmare. There have been 14 movies made based on the murders, with the first and most famous film, "The Amityville Horror," being released in 1979. Peter DeFeo was the granduncle of Ronald Defeo Jr. He was taken into the local police station for protection, where he told them he believed it was a mob hit. And after DeFeo mentioned a notorious mob hitman who could have killed his family, police soon found out that the hitman was out of state. The book is based on the 28-day period during December 1975 and January 1976 when George and Kathy Lutz and their three children lived at 112 Ocean Avenue. I think my mother and father are shot!. Yet, the CRI's findings regarding the location of this photo matching the DeFeo basement is a significant fact. It went so fast.. Here, police remove one of the bodies from the home the following night. 2OO3 AMITYVILLEHORRORTRUTH.COM, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Ultimately, DeFeo was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in November. 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