The victims were discovered face down in their beds, and the community was left in shock by the brutality of the crime. DeFeo initially attempted to blame a mob hitman, but inconsistencies in his story quickly led to a confession. During his trial, his defense attorney attempted to mount an insanity defense, claiming DeFeo heard voices plotting against him. The jury rejected this defense, and DeFeo was convicted of multiple counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he remained until his death. The Haunting Claims and the Lutz Family Late the following year, the house was purchased by George and Kathleen Lutz, a young couple who moved in with their three children. Because of the tragic history associated with the property, the home was sold at a significantly reduced price. The Lutz family lived in the house for only twenty-eight days before fleeing. They claimed to have experienced terrifying paranormal phenomena, including cold spots, swarms of flies, green slime oozing from the walls, levitating beds, and demonic entities. They eventually partnered with an author to write a book detailing their experiences, which became a massive commercial success and inspired a highly successful horror film franchise.
Separating Fact from Fiction In the decades following the publication of the story, researchers, journalists, and paranormal investigators thoroughly examined the claims made by the Lutz family. The consensus among researchers is that the haunting was a fabricated hoax designed for financial gain. The defense attorney for Ronald DeFeo Jr. later admitted that he, along with the Lutz family, created the scary stories over bottles of wine to generate publicity for a potential book and to help build a case for a new trial for DeFeo. Furthermore, subsequent owners of the home, who lived in the house for many years, reported experiencing absolutely no unusual or paranormal activity during their tenancy. Researching the Historical Records
For historians, genealogists, and researchers looking to verify the facts of the tragedy or locate information about the victims, online databases offer a starting point. The official All Obituaries page has a partial or full name search that can help locate historical records. When searching these databases, listings can be browsed by month or filtered by the first letter of the last name to narrow down the results. Individual pages within these archives can contain an obituary, service information, tribute options, and flower links. However, because the events occurred several decades ago, the availability of older records is not guaranteed, and researchers may need to consult local libraries or the Suffolk County historical archives for complete documentation. The House Today To deter curiosity seekers and tourists, the house has undergone several renovations over the years. The iconic quarter-round windows on the top floor, which resembled eyes in the original movies, were replaced with standard square windows.
Additionally, the street address was officially changed from 112 Ocean Avenue to a new number to protect the privacy of the homeowners. The property remains a private residence, and local authorities strictly enforce trespassing laws to prevent tourists from disturbing the neighborhood.
