Amityville: Real life Horror or Hoax?

Exterior of the Amityville House - courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

 

The Amityville House is a horror staple. Few paranormal cases have gripped the public quite like the haunting of Amityville. It had all the hallmarks of a classic ghost story, blending true crime, alleged supernatural activity and the fear and paranoia of the unseen. 

But what really happened in the house on 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville New York?

A Real Life Tragedy

In the early morning hours of November 13th 1974, a 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jnr. murdered all six members of his family while they slept in their beds. 

Initially DeFeo blamed it on a mob hit but eventually he would confess, but pleaded insanity. Claiming that voices had urged him to kill his whole family. Throughout the years Ronald DeFeo Jnr. has changed his story multiple times, even going as far as blaming his sister for the murders. While courts dismissed all of his pleas, this planted the first seeds in the minds of the public. 

Was this all in the mind of a mad man? Or was there really an evil force lingering inside the large house in Amityville?

The Lutz family moves in:

In December of 1975, barely a year after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz move into the sprawling house with their three children. Though, they would only manage to stay for 28 days, before fleeing in terror in the middle of the night. 

Their account of the supernatural activity they had experienced was truly harrowing. They would report frequent cold spots and foul odors. Slime oozing from walls and keyholes and dark shadowy entities roaming the house. The family also claimed there was a mysterious hidden ‘red room’ in the basement, which was the source of the demonic activity. They also claimed the house was infested with flies, even though they had moved in in the middle of winter.

The children also claimed to have encountered a demonic pig-like entity, with glowing red eyes. Kathy Lutz experienced visions of dark figures and the sensation of being embraced. While George Lutz was by far the worst affected. Waking up at 3:15 am every morning, the same time Ronald DeFeo Jnr. murdered his whole family. They would eventually flee the house in the middle of the night, after a particularly bad experience. Their claims would eventually make their way to the media, where they garnered the attention of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Further pushing the house and its horrible tale into the public eye.

Their account of the haunting was so dramatic and detailed that they captivated the media and the public almost immediately. Skeptics would later question the validity of these claims but the Lutz’s narrative cemented the house in horror history.

A book is born

The haunting became even more widely known after the release of the 1977 novel, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson. The book claimed to be a true account of the Lutz family’s experience. It was an instant hit, leading to the 1979 film of the same name, which introduced it to an international audience. 

Since then, the name Amityville has become synonymous with haunted houses in general. It has become its own brand in a way, with 20 films and numerous sequels.

Skepticism and controversy

Despite how popular Amityville became, it has faced significant speculation and skepticism throughout the years. with many doubting its authenticity. One of the primary reasons, being the inconsistency in the Lutz family’s testimony. Different interviews and publications have reported contradictory details.

Descriptions of the entities, timing and certain events have varied and changed over the years and varied depending on who told it. Eyewitness accounts have also been inconsistent, with many successive owners claiming no paranormal activity at all

Potential financial motivations

Many have suggested that the Amityville haunting may have at least been partially motivated by money. The family had close ties to author Jay Anson and the book was an instant bestseller. William Weber, the defense lawyer for Ronald DeFeo Jnr. has even stated that the book was a hoax created with the help of the Lutz Family. Even the Lutz family themselves would go on to admit that some of the events described in the book had been made up or exaggerated. 

Lack of independent verification

Famous duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren were one of the first to visit Amityville. While they themselves would describe the house as infested with demonic presences. Many subsequent investigators didn't find anything extraordinary in the house itself. There were also no reliable eye witness accounts or recordings from outside the family.

Was it true horror or just a hoax? 

While there are definitely some signs that point towards it being a hoax. There are many signs and facts that point towards it being made up and I myself even lean toward it being a big hoax.

But there are still a great number of people who believe in the mystery of Amityville.