Amityville, what’s the big deal?
Article by Bindi Lavelle

The Amityville Horror, arguably the most influential haunting in modern memory has become a pop culture phenomenon, most notably spawning the book by Jan Anson which of course latter lead to the 1979 classic film and a couple of not so classic sequels and a re-make. But what are the facts of this case and how much is Hollywood gloss and glamor?

What is known is: 13th of November 1974 A homicide was reported at 112 Ocean Avenue. Six members of the DeFeo family were found dead in the same position, laying on their stomachs with their hands under their heads. The family’s eldest son, Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr was found guilty of the murders. 18th December 1975 the Lutz family moved in to the house, 28 days later they fled leaving all but a few possessions behind.

There have been countless investigations into the haunting and nothing conclusive. If you Google it you will see what I mean;but it can also be seen just how massive interest is in this case: What Ronald DeFeo Jr is the subject of countless interviews. The Lutz family appear at conventions across the world, experts debunking each other on a regular basis. The Amityville Horror is still big news.

But why has this captured our imagination? Perhaps it is the idea of if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Or buyers remorse on a large scale. Or is it just our simple love of a good old fashioned ghost story? What ever the reason unless the truth can be proved with out a doubt to be a hoax the story will endure.