The Amityville House Today: The $1 Million Mansion, The 2021 Killer’s Death, And The New Amazon MGM Film

The notorious house at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York, remains one of the most infamous properties in American history, its reputation forever scarred by a brutal mass murder and the subsequent claims of a terrifying paranormal haunting. As of late 2024, the property is privately owned, has undergone significant renovations, and its address has been permanently changed to deter the endless stream of sightseers and true-crime tourists. The house continues to be a focal point of discussion, especially with the recent death of the killer and a major new Hollywood production announced.

The story is a chilling blend of undeniable true crime and highly disputed supernatural terror, split between the horrific events of November 1974 and the sensationalized 28-day ordeal of the subsequent owners, George and Kathy Lutz. While the house itself stands quietly on Long Island, its legacy is being actively refreshed by new media developments, ensuring the saga of the Amityville Horror house is far from over.

The DeFeo Murders: A Timeline and Biography of Ronald DeFeo Jr.

The true horror of the Amityville house began not with a ghost, but with a man: Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. His biography is inextricably linked to the house's dark history.

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• Full Name: Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr.
• Born: September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York.
• The Crime Date: November 13, 1974.
• The Victims: Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire immediate family while they slept in their beds. The victims were his father, Ronald DeFeo Sr. (43); his mother, Louise DeFeo (43); and his four younger siblings: Dawn (18), Allison (13), Marc (12), and John Matthew (9).
• Weapon: A .35 Marlin lever-action rifle.
• Motive: DeFeo's motive remains officially unclear, though he initially claimed he was compelled by "voices" in the house. During his trial, his defense argued for insanity, claiming he was a heroin and LSD user who was influenced by his family’s abuse and the hostile environment.
• Conviction and Sentence: He was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in November 1975 and sentenced to six concurrent sentences of 25 years to life.
• Death: Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in state custody on March 12, 2021, at the age of 69, while serving his sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y.

The sheer brutality and mystery surrounding the murders—the fact that six people were killed without a struggle and without the neighbors hearing the gunshots—laid the groundwork for the supernatural claims that followed. The DeFeo family tragedy is the undisputed, factual cornerstone of the Amityville saga.

The 28-Day Haunting and the Enduring Hoax Controversy

Thirteen months after the murders, George and Kathleen "Kathy" Lutz purchased the home for a bargain price of $80,000. They moved in with Kathy's three children from a previous marriage. Their stay, however, lasted only 28 days, a period they claimed was filled with terrifying paranormal events that drove them out of the house.

The Lutz Family's Claims

The Lutz family's story, which became the basis for Jay Anson's 1977 best-selling book, The Amityville Horror, included a series of disturbing and inexplicable phenomena. These claims are the source of the house’s worldwide notoriety and the foundation of the cinematic franchise.

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• Physical Manifestations: Claims included green slime oozing from the walls, mysterious odors, and cold spots in rooms.
• Personal Torment: George Lutz reportedly woke up at 3:15 a.m. every morning—the alleged time of the DeFeo murders.
• Demonic Figures: Kathy Lutz claimed to have levitated and been touched by a demonic force.
• The Red Room: The family reported finding a small, hidden "Red Room" in the basement, which their dog refused to go near.

The Hoax Confession and Skepticism

Despite the sensational nature of the claims, the Amityville haunting story has been largely discredited as a hoax. The controversy centers around the financial incentive and the subsequent admission by key figures.

The most damaging evidence against the haunting claim came from William Weber, Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s defense attorney. Weber later confessed that he and George Lutz "created this horror story over many bottles of wine" with the intention of securing a book deal and a new trial for DeFeo based on the idea of demonic possession.

Furthermore, subsequent owners who have lived in the home for decades have consistently reported no unusual or paranormal activity. This includes the Cromarty family, who purchased the house in 1977. This skepticism highlights the distinction between the confirmed tragedy of the DeFeo murders and the highly dubious claims of a haunting.

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112 Ocean Avenue Today: Address Change, Value, and the New Hollywood Reimagining

The house itself, a Dutch Colonial structure, is located in a quiet, affluent suburb of Long Island. The current owners have taken significant steps to distance the property from its macabre past and the constant media attention. The house continues to be a valuable piece of real estate, regardless of its history.

The Current Status of the Property

To discourage "murder tourists" and sightseers, the house's official address was changed years ago from 112 Ocean Avenue to 108 Ocean Avenue. The iconic quarter-round windows, often likened to "evil eyes" in the films, have also been altered or replaced over the years, changing the home's exterior appearance.

The house was last sold in March 2017 for $605,000. Real estate valuations show its market worth has continued to climb, with a recent estimated value of over $1,000,000, reflecting the high value of property in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. The home is privately owned and occupied, with no recent reports of it being on the market.

The Newest Chapter: Amazon MGM's Reimagining

The *Amityville Horror* franchise is set to receive a major, modern update, ensuring the story remains relevant and terrifying for a new generation. This is the most current and significant update regarding the Amityville legacy.

In a major development, Amazon MGM Studios is developing a new, high-profile reimagining of The Amityville Horror. The project is set to be directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker David F. Sandberg, known for hits like *Lights Out* and *Annabelle: Creation*.

This new film, with a screenplay penned by Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing, is a clear indication that Hollywood remains committed to exploiting the potent combination of the DeFeo family's true-crime tragedy and the Lutz family's disputed haunting. The film's success will likely reignite public curiosity about the house, the murders, and the enduring question of whether the events were a hoax or a genuine encounter with the demonic.

The house at 112 Ocean Avenue—now 108 Ocean Avenue—may be a quiet suburban home today, but the story it inspired is an ever-evolving cultural phenomenon. From the DeFeo tragedy to the Lutz controversy and the new Amazon MGM film, the Amityville saga continues to define the intersection of true crime and supernatural lore.