It was a quiet night on November 13, 1974, in the sleepy suburban town of Amityville, New York. The large Dutch Colonial house at 112 Ocean Avenue stood dark and silent, its residents nestled in their beds, unaware of the terror about to unfold. In the dead of night, Ronald DeFeo Jr. took a rifle and systematically murdered his entire family—his parents, two brothers, and two sisters—as they lay sleeping. The heinous act shocked the community and marked the beginning of a story that would haunt the imagination of millions.
Fast forward to December 1975. George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, moved into the house that had been the scene of such unimaginable horror. The house, still marked by the recent tragedy, was sold to the Lutz family at a remarkably low price. They knew about the murders, but the allure of the beautiful home on the water’s edge was too tempting to resist. They hoped to create a new beginning for their family, unaware that the house had other plans.
From the moment they stepped across the threshold, the Lutz family felt an eerie presence. The air seemed thick with an unseen force, watching, waiting. The first night passed uneventfully, but as the days turned into weeks, strange things began to happen.
It started with small, inexplicable events. George found himself waking up at exactly 3:15 AM every night, the time when Ronald DeFeo had committed the murders. The house would suddenly grow cold, even though the heating system was working perfectly. Odd smells, like that of rotting flesh and excrement, would waft through the rooms without any apparent source.
As the days went by, the occurrences grew more sinister. Green slime oozed from the walls and ceiling, and unseen forces seemed to move objects at will. The children began to change, becoming withdrawn and sullen. Their youngest daughter, Missy, spoke of an imaginary friend—a demonic, pig-like creature with glowing red eyes she called “Jodie.”
George became increasingly obsessed with the fireplace, feeling an uncontrollable urge to keep it burning at all times. He would stare into the flames for hours, lost in a trance. Kathy experienced terrifying visions and felt the sensation of being embraced by an unseen entity. At night, she would wake up screaming, her body covered in welts and bruises.
The terror reached a peak one night when George and Kathy both woke to find themselves levitating above their beds, unable to move or scream. The house seemed to come alive with malevolent energy, the walls throbbing and the air vibrating with a sinister hum. Fearing for their lives and sanity, the Lutz family fled the house, leaving all their belongings behind.
Their ordeal lasted only 28 days, but it left an indelible mark on them. They shared their story with writer Jay Anson, whose book “The Amityville Horror” became a bestseller and later a major motion picture. The chilling tale of the Lutz family’s experience captivated the world, blending the lines between reality and the supernatural.
The story of the Amityville Horror has since become a legend, spawning numerous books, movies, and debates. Skeptics question the veracity of the Lutzes’ claims, suggesting that it was a hoax designed for financial gain. Yet, the fear and horror they described felt all too real to those who have ever been alone in the dark, feeling the prickling sensation of being watched by unseen eyes.
The house at 112 Ocean Avenue still stands, though it has been renovated and its address changed to deter curious visitors. New owners have come and gone, many reporting no unusual activity, while others whisper of the lingering presence of something not quite right.
Whether one believes in the paranormal or not, the tale of the Amityville Horror endures—a story of a family haunted by the darkness of a house that seemed to hold onto its tragic past. It serves as a chilling reminder that sometimes, evil does not die; it merely waits, lurking in the shadows, ready to reach out and touch the unsuspecting once more.
Also check: Ancient Theories of Ghosts and Spirits
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