7 Shocking Facts About The Amityville House (Latest 2025 Update)

The Amityville House, forever etched into the American consciousness as the epicenter of one of the most terrifying and controversial haunting stories, continues to fascinate and disturb. As of late 2025, the infamous house at the original address of 112 Ocean Avenue stands today, privately owned and almost completely unrecognizable from its cinematic portrayal. The true-crime foundation of the house—the brutal 1974 DeFeo mass murders—is undeniable, yet the subsequent claims of demonic possession by the Lutz family, detailed in the 1977 book and subsequent films, remain a subject of intense debate.

This article dives into the current status of the Long Island property, exploring the latest updates, the full biographical profile of the families involved, and the compelling evidence that continues to fuel the skepticism surrounding the 28-day haunting that launched a multi-million-dollar horror franchise. We uncover the facts, the fiction, and the enduring legacy of "High Hopes," the house that became known simply as the Amityville Horror House.

The Families: A Complete Biographical Profile

The history of the Amityville House is defined by two families: the victims of a horrific crime and the family whose short stay became a global phenomenon.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The DeFeo Family (Victims and Killer)

• Ronald Joseph DeFeo Sr. (Age 43): Father, shot while sleeping.
• Louise DeFeo (née Brigante) (Age 42): Mother, shot while sleeping.
• Dawn Theresa DeFeo (Age 18): Eldest daughter.
• Allison Louise DeFeo (Age 13): Daughter.
• Marc Gregory DeFeo (Age 12): Son.
• John Matthew DeFeo (Age 9): Youngest son.
• Ronald "Butch" Joseph DeFeo Jr. (Age 23): The perpetrator, who systematically shot all six family members in their beds on the night of November 13, 1974. He initially claimed a mafia hitman was responsible before confessing. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and died in prison in March 2021.

The Lutz Family (The Claimants)

• George Lee Lutz: Stepfather, who claimed to experience extreme physical and psychological torment.
• Kathleen "Kathy" Lutz (née Quackenbush): Mother, claimed to have been levitated and terrorized by an unseen entity.
• Daniel Lutz: Kathy's son from a previous marriage.
• Christopher Lutz: Kathy's son from a previous marriage.
• Missy Lutz (also known as "Missy" in the book): Kathy's daughter from a previous marriage, who allegedly befriended a demonic pig-like entity named "Jodie."

The Lutz family moved into the house in December 1975, 13 months after the murders, and fled just 28 days later, claiming to be terrorized by a malevolent paranormal force.

Fact 1: The Address Has Been Permanently Changed to Deter Tourists

One of the most significant updates regarding the Amityville House is its efforts to maintain privacy. The iconic Dutch Colonial home, originally located at 112 Ocean Avenue, has had its street number changed multiple times by subsequent owners. This change was a direct response to the constant stream of tourists, true-crime enthusiasts, and paranormal investigators who flocked to the site following the success of Jay Anson's 1977 book, The Amityville Horror, and the 1979 film adaptation. The exact new address is kept private, but the physical structure remains in the same location in Amityville, Long Island, New York.

Fact 2: The House Last Sold in 2017 for $605,000

Despite its horrifying history, the property remains a desirable piece of Long Island real estate. The most recent confirmed sale occurred in February 2017, when the house was purchased by an undisclosed owner for $605,000. This price was notably less than its original asking price, a common trend for properties with a notorious past, often referred to as "stigmatized properties." The sale was handled quietly, further emphasizing the new owner's desire for privacy and distance from the house's infamous reputation.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

For context, the median sold home price in the Amityville area as of late 2025 hovers around $612,000, suggesting the house's price was largely in line with local market trends despite its history, proving that the property's notoriety no longer drastically undervalues it.

Fact 3: Current Owners Report NO Paranormal Activity

A crucial piece of information that challenges the core narrative of the haunting is the consistent testimony of the owners who have lived in the house since the Lutz family fled in 1976. The Lutz family's story of a demonic presence, green slime, levitation, and the infamous "Red Room" only lasted 28 days. However, the families who have lived there for decades since—including the Cromarty family, who purchased the house in 1977—have reported no supernatural occurrences, strange sounds, or paranormal activity whatsoever.

The current private owners, like their predecessors, maintain that the house is merely a beautiful, large home with an unfortunate history, suggesting the "horror" ended with the DeFeo murders and was not a continuing supernatural phenomenon.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

Fact 4: The Role of Ed and Lorraine Warren and the 'Psychic Investigation'

The Amityville story gained significant traction due to the involvement of famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were later the subject of The Conjuring franchise. In 1976, the Warrens conducted a highly publicized "psychic investigation" of the home, which produced the chilling photograph of a ghostly boy peering out from a doorway, supposedly the spirit of one of the DeFeo children.

This investigation, along with the claims of the Catholic priest, Father Pecoraro, who allegedly experienced a demonic voice telling him to "Get Out!" during a house blessing, became cornerstones of the "true haunting" narrative. However, critics and skeptics often point to the Warrens' involvement as a key moment where the story transitioned from a true crime to a sensationalized paranormal tale.

Fact 5: The Controversy of "The Amityville Horror" Book

The entire haunting narrative rests on the claims made by George and Kathy Lutz, which were chronicled by author Jay Anson. The book's authenticity has been heavily disputed almost since its publication.

• William Weber's Claim: William Weber, Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s defense attorney, famously claimed that he and George Lutz "sat down over many bottles of wine" and fabricated the story. Weber even sued the Lutzes, though the suit was ultimately dismissed.
• Inconsistencies: Skeptics point to inconsistencies, such as the house's "Red Room" (a small closet) being misidentified as a large, evil chamber, and the famous window "eyes" being a later architectural addition, not an original feature.
• Financial Motive: The Lutzes were known to be in financial distress, leading many to believe the story was a calculated effort to profit from the DeFeo tragedy.

Fact 6: The Amityville Horror Film Franchise is Still Growing

The legacy of the Amityville House lives on through its extensive horror film franchise, which now includes over 20 films, making it one of the longest-running horror series of all time. The films range from the classic 1979 version to the 2005 remake starring Ryan Reynolds, and countless direct-to-video sequels.

Latest reports indicate that a new film about the horrors that beset the home is reportedly in the works, with production expected to start in late 2025 or 2026, ensuring the Amityville name remains a relevant entity in the horror genre for years to come.

Fact 7: The True Horror Was The DeFeo Mass Murder

Ultimately, separating the sensationalized haunting from the historical tragedy is essential. The undeniable and true horror of the Amityville House is the mass murder committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr. The house's negative energy, if any, stems from this brutal act of family annihilation, not necessarily a demonic possession, as the subsequent owners' experiences suggest.

The story serves as a powerful case study in true crime and the power of media to transform a local tragedy into a global supernatural myth. The house, once called "High Hopes," is now a symbol of both a real-life nightmare and a fabricated paranormal tale, forever linking 112 Ocean Avenue to the darkest corners of American folklore.