The Amityville murders by Ronald DeFeo Jr., who murdered his entire family in their house in Amityville, Long Island, New York, in 1974, served as some of the inspiration for the film The Amityville Horror. He also claimed them as victims, along with his parents, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers.
At the time of the murders, Ronald said he found his family members shot in their home. But later, he keeps changing his story. However, after finding all the evidence against DeFeo, the court declared him the murderer. He got a six sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
But even now, there is still a lot of speculation regarding what drove DeFeo to carry out the killings. And whether or not, as he once claimed, he had a hearing disorder. The Amityville Horror greatly increased the narrative’s suspense and supernatural elements. It’s much more than what some people think the original story may have been.
DeFeo’s story also changed a bit over time, just before his passing in March 2021. To know everything about the Amityville murders, read below!
Why Did Ronald DeFeo Jr. Kill His Family?
DeFeo initially ran into a neighborhood bar and claimed his family had been shot to death. DeFeo admits to killing all six of his family members himself the next day. He said that an alleged hitman named Louis Falini had committed the murders at the police station and hinted that he might be in danger himself.
Several facts and evidence claim the house is haunted. In his initial trial, DeFeo said he had overheard his family members scheming against him. So, some people thought that Ronald must be hearing voices in his brain. Others predicted that because of his LSD, which he admitted to using, he listened to these voices.
Another possible reason Ronald killed his family members was for a potentially hefty life insurance policy. At the time of their murders, law enforcement noted that DeFeo asked how to collect his father’s insurance policy. This theory that DeFeo will get his father’s money might influence him to commit the killings.
While all of these reasons seem logical, it is still not clear whether he did the murders or not.
What Happened to Ronald Defeo Jr. After His Conviction?
DeFeo tried several times to reverse his conviction. But the authorities never granted him bail. In a 1986 interview with Newsday, Ronald even alleged his sister, Dawn DeFeo, carried out the killings with an accomplice.
But no alterations in the case, actually able to confirm those claims. Ronald DeFeo Jr. passed away in jail at the age of 69 on 12 March 2021. However, we still don’t know the reason behind his death.
People Claim The Real ‘Amityville Horror’ House is Haunted
We have no actual evidence of why Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed his family. However, we can’t deny that he is the sole suspect in this crime. While his intentions may involve aspects of his drug use, mental health, and desire for money, some people and cops still assume that DeFeo murdered his family because of the haunted house. This was also depicted in The Amityville Horror.
Shortly after the killings, Kathy Lutz, George, and their 3 kids moved into the former DeFeo family home. They claimed to see some unusual things in the house. The family members encountered several demonic voices and evil spirits around them. The stories of devilish possession told by the family helped inspire the story of the DeFeo family, along with The Amityville Horror book and original movie.
On A Wrap
The Amityville murders fascinated audiences for decades. People sometimes forget the gruesome murders, probably known as the Amityville Murders, in confusion over the alleged haunting of the house. The Amityville Horror is a spooky film about a haunted house that drove a family to leave after just a month. This prompted many people to look for the actual Long Island property that inspired the chilling story.
Did evils surround the house or was it haunted? We don’t know! Whether or not it was, the Amityville murders set the stage for the residence to be a chilling home for years to come!
Also read: Wife Swap Murders: Jacob Stockdale Killed His Own Family
