Terrifying Facts About the 'Amityville House'

The Real 'Amityville Horror': Chilling Facts About the Crime and Haunted House

Five people were murdered at the Long Island residence in 1974 and frightening tales about the home continue to spook.

Thirteen months later, the Lutz family purchased the home at a drastically reduced price of $80,000 (due to the murders) but they left 28 days after moving in. Their spine-tingling tales of paranormal activity are what propelled the legend of the Amityville Horror and spawned a torrent of books, documentaries, and films.

Here are some of the terrifying facts claimed by the Lutz family, as well as other interesting ones about the infamous house whose horror has yet to die:

The Lutz family experienced supernatural activity

Stepfather George Lutz had a history of dabbling in the occult.

Lutz was said to wake up at 3:15 am every morning, which was around the time Ron Defoe Jr. carried out the murders.

The Lutz family claimed to smell strange odors, see green slime oozing out of the walls and keyholes and experience cold spots in certain areas of the house.

When a priest came to bless the house, he heard a voice scream "Get out!" He told the Lutz's to never sleep in that particular room in the house.

Other paranormal activity: A nearby garage door opening and closing; an invisible spirit knocking a knife down in the kitchen; a pig-like creature with red eyes staring down at George and his son Daniel from a window; George waking up to wife Kathy levitating off their bed; sons Daniel and Christopher also levitating together in their beds.

Many question the validity of the Lutz's story

After telling their story, George and Kathy took a lie detector test to prove their innocence. They passed.

The couple was bogged down in legal and financial issues, which prompted skeptics to believe they had the motive to create a fantastical story to sell to the public.

The Lutz's former lawyer William Weber — who fell out with them over money issues — came out in 1979, claiming the three of them came up with the horror story "over many bottles of wine."

Son Daniel, who lives a quiet life in Queens, New York as a stonemason, claims the house ruined his life and that he continues to have nightmares to this day.

The Amityville House still stands — with a new address

Ronald DeFeo Jr. is still serving his sentence.

Five people were murdered at the Long Island residence in 1974 and frightening tales about the home continue to spook.

Son Daniel, who lives a quiet life in Queens, New York as a stonemason, claims the house ruined his life and that he continues to have nightmares to this day.

Murderer Ron, who's still alive and serving six 25-year-life sentences at a New York correctional facility, claimed he heard voices urging him to kill his family. He continues to change his story multiple times.

The Amityville House still stands — with a new address

The Amityville House was $200,000 less than the original asking price. It had been previously owned by four other families since the murders, one of which had the address changed to 108 Ocean Ave. (The house originally was at the 112 Ocean Ave location).

George and Kathy Lutz have since got divorced in the late 1980s but stayed civil. Kathy Lutz died of emphysema on August 17, 2004. George Lutz passed away on May 8, 2006, of heart disease.

Ronald Defeo Jr. still remains at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. All petitions for parole have been denied.

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