The Real Story Behind The Infamous Amityville Horror House
It’s been more than 45 years since George and Kathy Lutz fled their house in Amityville, Long Island, claiming it was haunted by evil spirits.
The couple’s terrifying tale of demonic possession inspired the 1977 book “The Amityville Horror,” a hit 1979 movie of the same name and several sequels, including a 2005 remake.
Though their story is now widely thought of as a hoax, the Lutz’s so-called horror house continues to fascinate the public.
The three-story colonial — its original address was 112 Ocean Ave. but was changed to 108 to deter tourists — was the site of a brutal slaughter.
Ronald DeFeo Jr. then 23, gunned down his parents and four siblings there on November 13, 1974. The notorious killer died behind bars on March 12 at 69.
In December 1975, a month after DeFeo was convicted of the murders, the Lutz couple and their three young kids moved into the house, which they had reportedly snatched for $80,000.
The day they moved, the couple had a priest bless the house. But George claimed the holy man felt an unseen hand slap him in the sewing room and heard a voice say “Get out.”
Soon after, the couple said they began noticing odd things around the house, such as doors being ripped from hinges, cabinets slamming shut and slime oozing from the ceilings.
(photo credit: Bettmann Archive)
