The Amityville Killer’s Final Silence: 5 Chilling Facts About Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s Life, Death, And The Enduring Horror

The name Ronald DeFeo Jr. is synonymous with one of America's most infamous and chilling true crime cases: the Amityville Murders. More than fifty years after the horrific events at 112 Ocean Avenue, the case continues to captivate and terrify, largely due to the subsequent paranormal claims that spawned the colossal Amityville Horror franchise. As of December 10, 2025, the most significant update to this dark saga remains DeFeo’s death in prison, which occurred in March 2021, officially closing the chapter on the man but leaving the true motive for his brutal actions an enduring, sinister mystery.

Convicted of killing his entire family—his parents and four younger siblings—as they slept in 1974, DeFeo spent nearly five decades incarcerated, consistently changing his story about the massacre. This article delves into the definitive facts of his life, the gruesome details of the crime, the controversial trial, and the final, silent end of the man known as "Butch," who became the architect of the world's most famous haunted house story.

The Architect of Horror: Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s Complete Biography and Profile

Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr., often referred to by his nickname "Butch," was the eldest child of the DeFeo family, whose life culminated in one of the most brutal mass murders in Long Island history. His profile is marked by a history of drug use, volatile behavior, and a tumultuous relationship with his father, Ronald DeFeo Sr..

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• Full Name: Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr.
• Date of Birth: September 26, 1951
• Date of Death: March 12, 2021 (Age 69)
• Place of Death: Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York
• Residence at Time of Murders: 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York
• The Crime: Mass murder of six family members on November 13, 1974
• Victims:
  • Ronald DeFeo Sr. (Father, 43)
  • Louise DeFeo (Mother, 42)
  • Dawn DeFeo (Sister, 18)
  • Allison DeFeo (Sister, 13)
  • Marc DeFeo (Brother, 12)
  • John Matthew DeFeo (Brother, 9)
• Weapon: .35 caliber Marlin lever-action rifle
• Conviction: Six counts of Second-Degree Murder (1975)
• Sentence: Six concurrent sentences of 25 years to life
• Incarceration: Served time primarily at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York

The End of the Killer: DeFeo Jr.’s Death and the Unanswered Questions

The most recent and definitive update to the Amityville saga is the death of Ronald DeFeo Jr. in 2021. After decades of failed parole attempts and a life behind bars, the 69-year-old killer was transferred from the maximum-security Sullivan Correctional Facility to the Albany Medical Center on February 2, 2021, where he died a few weeks later in March.

His death marked the final legal closure to the case, as the man responsible for the massacre at 112 Ocean Avenue could no longer offer new testimonies or appeal his conviction. However, the details surrounding his passing remain shrouded in a degree of official ambiguity.

The Final Days and Undisclosed Cause of Death

While the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed his death, they did not immediately disclose the specific cause, citing privacy laws. This lack of a clear, public cause of death—such as natural causes or a specific illness—only added another layer of mystery to a case already steeped in the unknown. DeFeo had been hospitalized for an undisclosed reason, and the official silence ensures that even his final moments are part of the enduring intrigue surrounding the Amityville Murders.

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His death came just a few months before what would have been his next parole hearing, which was scheduled for March 2021. He had been denied parole numerous times throughout his incarceration, with authorities consistently citing the brutal nature of the crime and his lack of genuine remorse.

The Shifting Narrative: DeFeo’s Multiple, Conflicting Motives

From the moment he burst into Henry's Bar in Amityville claiming his family had been shot, Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s story was a web of contradictions. Over the decades, he presented multiple, conflicting narratives for the murders, each one designed to shift blame or mitigate his responsibility. This constant flux of testimony is a key reason the motive remains so elusive and why the case continues to generate intense debate among true crime enthusiasts and legal experts.

• The Initial 'Demonic' Claim: At his 1975 trial, DeFeo's defense attorney, William Weber, mounted an insanity plea. DeFeo claimed he heard "voices" telling him to commit the murders, a narrative that later became the foundation for the supernatural claims made by the subsequent residents of the house, the Lutz family, and the basis for The Amityville Horror book. The defense argued he was insane, a claim supported by defense psychiatrist Daniel Schwartz, but the jury ultimately rejected the plea.
• The Sister Involvement Theory: In later years, DeFeo attempted to implicate his sister, Dawn DeFeo, claiming she was involved in the initial killings and that he only finished the job. This version of events was widely dismissed by investigators and was seen as another desperate attempt to rewrite history.
• The Drug-Fueled Rage: Another narrative centered on his heavy use of drugs at the time of the murders, suggesting the killings were committed in a state of drug-induced psychosis. DeFeo was known to have a history of drug abuse and violence, particularly towards his father, Ronald DeFeo Sr.

Despite the various explanations, the court determined that the murders were committed with "sufficient deliberation" and found him guilty of six counts of second-degree murder. The fact that all six victims were found lying face down in their beds, having been shot with a rifle, suggests a calculated, methodical crime, contradicting the image of a chaotic, demon-possessed killer.

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The Legacy: From Mass Murder to Global Horror Franchise

The true crime of Ronald DeFeo Jr. is inextricably linked to the paranormal phenomenon that followed. Just 13 months after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the infamous house at 112 Ocean Avenue. They fled 28 days later, claiming to have experienced terrifying paranormal events, including strange voices, cold spots, and slime oozing from the walls.

This sensational account was documented in Jay Anson's 1977 book, The Amityville Horror, which sold millions of copies and launched a multi-million-dollar film franchise. The DeFeo murders, therefore, became the "historical basis" for a global phenomenon, forever linking the brutal reality of the crime with the fictionalized terror of the supernatural.

The controversy over whether the Lutz's story was a hoax—a claim supported by DeFeo's trial lawyer, William Weber, who later admitted he and the Lutzes "invented" the horror story—only further cemented the case's place in popular culture. Ronald DeFeo Jr. may have died in prison, but the house he made famous, and the questions surrounding his motive, ensure that the Amityville Horror will continue to haunt the public imagination for generations to come.