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However, it is announced that the Albany County Coroner's Office is not able to publish Ronald DeFeo's . For other inquiries, Contact Us. "It was a vicious crime, and it happened on quiet Long island," Keeler said. Murder Victim. This disturbing kind of crime is featured inFamily Massacre,a new series premiering Friday, December 3 at 9/8con Oxygen. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Vault Home. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Screams to Screens: The Amityville Horror. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the Long Island man serving a life sentence for slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a 1974 crime that would inspire The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise,. DeFeo told detectives: \"Once I started, I just couldn't stop. They only lasted 28 days before abandoning the house. Ronald DeFeo Jr. (1974) AP Photo/Richard Drew. The DeFeo family had occupied 112 Ocean Avenue since purchasing it in 1965. DeFeo said in the interview that his sister Dawn shot their father, and his distraught mother shot Dawn and the other children. "The movie made it famous. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. DeFeo, 69, died March 12, 2021, while receiving. Photo: Getty Images. While all of these reasons seem plausible, nothing was ever officially confirmed. Since then there has been a. film starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George. Ronald DeFeo Jr.s trial began in October 1975. How has this family massacre become part of pop culture? DeFeo, 69, died on March 12, 2021 at Albany Medical Center, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. A year after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the DeFeos' old home but left in less than a month, claiming it was haunted. Since the Lutz family moved out, subsequent owners of the house have changed its address number and appearance to deter visitors. In 1977, author Jay Anson published The Amityville Horror, claiming the haunted house tale was based on the experiences of the Lutz family who moved into the house following the murders. DeFeo was 23 when, in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 1974, he shot and killed his father Ronald DeFeo Sr., his mother Louise, and younger siblings Dawn, Allison, Mark and John Matthew. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. "Thereve been four owners since the murders," he told the Washington Post in 2016,"And none of them ran out of the house screaming, and there were no strange experiences., Mom 'stabs 3 of her kids to death and wounds 2 others in unsupervised visit', Daughter of murdered couple linked to Delphi case reveals paranoia, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, Alex Murdaugh looks unrecognizable in new mugshot hours after sentencing, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Ronald DeFeo at a court hearing in 1992 - he died on Friday at the age of 69 while serving life for the murders of his parents and four siblings in Amityville, New York, The house at 112 Ocean Avenue became one of the darkest addresses in America, Neighbours watched on in horror as six bodies were removed from the house in 1974, (Back row, left to right): John, Allison and Marc (Front row, left to right) Dawn and Ronald Jr, The lever-action rifle DeFeo used in the horrific slaughter of his family, DeFeo initially tried to pin the killings on a mob hitman before confessing to the crimes himself, He died while still serving time in prison - no cause of death has yet been released, George and Kathy Lutz moved into 112 Ocean Avenue a year after the murders, George Lutz reported seeing the glowing red eyes of a pig-like demonic creature out of one of the windows along with a host of other frights inside the house, The house still stands in Amityville, New York, to this day, James Brolin and Margot Kidder played George and Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror (1979), Owners have changed the house's address and appearance in more recent years, Local historians are said to be disdainful of the notoriety the films have brought to Amityville. An official cause of death has not yet been determined or released (but this page will be updated here once that information is released). Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Former Newsday reporter and editor Bob Keeler, 77, of Stony Brook, interviewed DeFeo at the Attica Correctional Facility in 1986. Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison at the age of sixty-nine. And over the years, before his March 2021 death, DeFeo's story had changed a few times. In the dead of night, he murdered his family, including both parents and four younger siblings evidence suggests his mother and 13-year-old sister Allison were awake when he turned his gun on them. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr, or Butch, was an American mass murderer who was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters in Amityville, Long Island, New York. Search Vault. DeFeo was serving 25 years to life in prison at the Sullivan Correctional Facility. Petrified, the family fled the house just one month after moving in. One theory of why Butch DeFeo killed his family is because he was under the influence of controlled substances and alcohol. Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction. This dispels the myth that Ronald Butch DeFeo Jr. has any ownership in the grave. We want to hear from you! Homicide detectives said it was the largest number of victims in a single slaying on Long Island in recent memory,, . April 13, 2022 The events that occurred at a house in Amityville, New York, in 1974 have long been considered historical, piquing the interest of many. ", Privacy Policy |Terms of service |Subscription terms |Your ad choices |Cookie Settings |California Privacy Rights |About Us |Contact Newsday |Reprints & permissions |Advertise with Newsday |Help. He was 69. At the police station, he said an alleged hitman, Louis Falini, had carried out the murders and claimed that he might be in danger, too. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the Long Island man serving a life sentence for slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a 1974 crime . MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Ronald DeFeo Jr., the Long Island man serving a life sentence for slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a 1974 crime that would inspire The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise,. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville , on suburban Long Island. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. View of the home of Ronald DeFeo Sr.,the car salesman, his wife, two daughters and two sons were found shot to death on Nov. 14 1974. Meanwhile, a prosecution expert testified that while DeFeo was an admitted LSD and heroin user, he was sane at the time of the murders, DeFeo Jr. tried but failed to get a retrial in the case in 1992 after claiming that his 18-year-old sister Dawn had murdered the other family members and he had only killed her, according to the, A year after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the DeFeos' old home but left in less than a month, claiming it was haunted. He didn't tell the Lutzs about what he heard at first, but couldn't shake his distress and called to warn them to stay out of the second floor room where he heard the voice which had once been Marc and John's bedroom. It was after 3am on November 13, 1974, when DeFeo, who was known as "Butch", went from room to room killing his loved ones. DeFeo had been transferred to the hospital on February 2 from the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y., where he had been imprisoned since 1975 after confessing to six counts of second-degree murder. Ronald DeFeo's cause of death. Ronald DeFeo Jr., whose 1974 murders of his Long Island, N.Y., family inspired the horror movie franchise The Amityville Horror, has died in prison at age 69, state officials said Monday. NEW YORK Convicted "Amityville Horror" killer Ronald DeFeo Jr., who in 1974 shot and killed his parents and four younger siblings inside their Long Island home in a grisly case that. He died while still serving time on Friday. When DeFeo initially reported the deaths of his family, he ran into a local bar and claimed they had been shot. He died Friday, March 12. All victims were found in the same position, face down in bed. U.S. Covid-19 Update: CDC Director Warns Case Declines May Be Leveling Off At "Still A Very High Number', Coronavirus: Movies That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid Outbreak, Hong Kong Filmart Postponed Due To Coronavirus Fears; Event Moves Two Weeks Before Toronto. The victims were DeFeos father, Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, his mother Louise DeFeo, 42, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Mark, 11 and John, 9, according to newspaper articles at the time. Youd go down there as kids, not really understanding the gravity of it, but you heard about all the murders in the house. It's reportedly been on the market four different times since the alleged haunting, selling most recently in 2017 for $605,000. His 43-year-old parents, Ronald and Louise, were both shot twice. In the end, Ronald admitted to killing his family and was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in November 1975. Murder Victim. When I got a gun in my hand, there's no doubt in my mind who I am. Their account of what they went through was made into a book called The Amityville Horror: A True Story which has been repeatedly adapted into several terrifying Hollywood films. The news of his death was confirmed by New York State officials. [1]Contents1 Murders2 Trial and conviction3 Controversies4 Death5 In popular culture6 References7 External linksMurders[edit]Around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 1974, 23-year-old DeFeo entered Henry's Bar in Amityville, Long Island, New York, and declared: \"You got to help me! G.W. Follow the news on the latest developments in the Thomas Valva case. He was 69. Acknowledgement of the death of Ronald DeFeo Jr, the American mass murderer, who has died aged 69. FALLSBURG, New York (WABC) -- Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was convicted of killing his entire family inside their Amityville home in 1974, . Tag: ronald defeo jr cause of death. Their account of what they went through was made into a book called The Amityville Horror: A True Story which has been repeatedly adapted into several terrifying Hollywood films. They'd been told about the massacre during a house viewing but decided it wasn't enough to put them off snapping up a five-bed home with a boat house for such a low price. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the infamous mass murderer convicted of slaying his family in 1974 and inspiring The Amityville Horror, has passed away. He told me there would be a lot of money from book rights and a movie. Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s cause of death at the age of 69 will never be announced. His victims included his parents, two younger sisters, and two little brothers. Nissa Burkhalter Bio, Wiki Nissa Burkhalterwas the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo who was an Americanmurderer. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. He claimedthat his oldest sister, Dawn, first shot their father, and then his mother killed Dawn and the other siblings. You will be redirected back to your article in, Margot Kidder, James Brolin, The Amityville Horror 1979, Jonathan Majors Talks About Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Negative Reviews, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Livestream + Latest Winners List, A24 Buys Historic Off Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre For $10M, Ke Huy Quan Lost Health Insurance After Filming Everything Everywhere All At Once, Jay Weston Dies: Lady Sings The Blues Producer Who Gave Al Pacino Broadway Break Was 93, Prolific Actor Dies At 61 After Aneurysm; Hollywood Reax + Career In Photos, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. Paranormal investigator Stephen Kaplan, who investigated the home shortly after the Lutzs fled, wrote a book critical of their supernatural allegations. According to The New. Since the Lutz family moved out, subsequent owners of the house have changed its address number and appearance to deter visitors. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. In court, he talked of hearing voices that told him that the rest of the family was plotting against him. By 1974, the DeFeo family lived in the Long Island community of Amityville. According to The New. While Butchs story kept changing over the years, the courts still believed he was the only one responsible for murdering the family. Ray Liuzza, a 34-year-old businessman, was recently promoted to Vice President of a hotel. DeFeo initially claimed the murders were connected to organized crime, but confessed under interrogation the day after the killings. DeFeo was just 23 years old when he grabbed his .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle to butcher his family. IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. DeFeo was 23 when, in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 1974, he shot and killed his father Ronald DeFeo Sr., his mother Louise, and younger siblings Dawn, Allison, Mark and John Matthew. The bodies were found in the bedrooms of the family home in the village of Amityville, Long Island. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. He died while still serving time on Friday. An official cause of death is yet to be determined. According to initial reports, the parents were shot twice in the back, Butchs sisters were shot once in the head, and his brothers were shot once in the back. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death. Siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, nine, were each shot once all of them were found face down in their beds. View of the home of Ronald DeFeo Sr.,the car salesman, his wife, two daughters and two sons were found shot to death on Nov. 14 1974. Paranormal investigator Stephen Kaplan, who investigated the home shortly after the Lutzs fled, wrote a book critical of their supernatural allegations. However, the neighbors reported only hearing the family dog on the night of the murders. The 1979 horror movie classic of the same name starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder became a big-screen hit. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Jerry O'Neill, who has previously listed the property, says there's nothing spooky to find anyway. The victims of DeFeo's family members included his parents, Ronald DeFeo, Sr. (43), and Louise (42), two brothers, John (9) and Marc (12), and two sisters, Allison (13), and Dawn (18). DeFeo whose murderous spree served as the inspiration behind the "The Amityville Horror" book and movie franchise died Friday while serving a 25-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan. Ronald DeFeo's Cause of Death Reveals Officials said DeFeo was transported to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. Ronald DeFeo, Jr., is led from the Suffolk County Police Headquarter on Nov. 14, 1974 in Hauppauge, New York after being booked for six counts of homicide in the shooting of his family the day before The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. However, the next day, DeFeo admitted to killing all six members of his family himself. WHEN Ronald DeFeo Jr finally confessed to cops, he said of his spree: "Once I started, I just couldn't stop". Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as Butch, was convicted of killing his whole family in a crime that shocked the nation. But suspicion quickly fell on him and, when the mob hitman he accused of being the killer was proven to have an alibi, he confessed to being the gunman. New York, NY 10001, Hours Condemned to six sentences of 25 years to life, DeFeo died in prison on March 12, 2021. The nightmarish account of DeFeo's murders and the Lutz's supernatural ordeal are being reexamined following news of DeFeo's death aged 69 at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York on Friday. So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we. Watch a mini documentary about Ronald DeFeo Jr and the Amityville murders here:. Death 12 Mar 2021 (aged 69) Albany, Albany County, New York, USA . I loved my family very much, he said at a 1999 parole hearing, according to AP. Ronald DeFeo, the 'Amityville Horror' murderer who killed his six family members in 1974 on New York's Long Island, has died in prison. Perpetrator Shot Liuzza Essay. The sentenced killer was taken to Albany Medical Center and articulated dead at 6:35 p.m. A post-mortem performed by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office will decide an authority reason for death. The case inspired the book and film versions of . At trial, his defence team tried to argue he was insane, arguing that DeFeo had heard voices saying that his family were plotting against him. They had all possibly been shot while sleeping and were found lying face down and hands raised above their heads. The jury rejected the insanity theory. This is the real-life story of his crimes and how they spawned a ghost story which has terrified the world for decades. The case inspired the book and film versions of The Amityville Horror. The nightmarish account of DeFeo's murders and the Lutz's supernatural ordeal are being reexamined following news of DeFeo's death aged 69 at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York on Friday. The DeFeo Family Murders Ronald DeFeo, Jr., "Butch" to his family, was born September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York. He was sentenced to six concurrent 25-year-to-life sentences. All Rights Reserved. At the time, the family lived in a home in Amityville in Long Island, New York, and Butch worked with his father at a car dealership. Copyright 2023 Newsday. March 16, 2021 10:30am. DeFeo said he did it in self-defense after hearing voices that told him his family was plotting against him. DeFeo was tried and convicted for the 1974 murders of Nissa Burkhalter Bio She was the ex-lover of Ronald DeFeo that was an American mass killer. NEW YORK Convicted "Amityville Horror" killer Ronald DeFeo Jr., who in 1974 shot and killed his parents and four younger siblings inside their Long Island home in a grisly case that inspired. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Over the years, many accounts have debunked the Lutzs' claims but the legend of the Amityville Horror persists all the same. Physical evidence suggests that Louise DeFeo and her daughter Allison were both awake at the time of their deaths. DeFeo . Back then, it was reported that Butch had a tense relationship with his father because Butch was known to use drugs, drank, and often got into fights. Ronald is originated from United States. It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office officially. Related tags : Criminal Previous Article Next Article Criminal inside their upscale home in suburban Amityville, New York. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. The victims were Ronald Jr.'s parents: Ronald DeFeo, Sr. (44) and Louise DeFeo (42); and four of his siblings: Dawn (18), Allison (13), Marc (12), and John Matthew (9).All of the victims had been shot with a .35 caliber lever action Marlin 336C rifle around three o'clock in the morning of that day. They seemed like an average good family, the Rev. Let's Examine the True Story Behind 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It', This Man Is the Most Prolific Killer in the U.S., and You Probably Don't Know His Name, These Classic Halloween Scary Movies Are Actually Based on True Stories. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Birth Sign Libra. DeFeo was later found guilty of killing his parents, two brothers DeFeo died Friday while serving a 25 years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional facility in Fallsburg, New York, officials told Newsday. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Ronald DeFeo, 69, died Friday at Albany Medical Center, where he was taken Feb. 2 from a prison in New York's Catskill Mountains, the state Department of Corrections and Community Services. However, the cause of death has not been made public. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. (September 26, 1951 March 12, 2021) was an American mass murderer who was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters in Amityville, Long Island, New York. In later interviews, Butch claimed that he was forced to follow the legal route by his lawyer, adding, He told me I had to do this. Robert DeFeo JR. Ronald is also well known as, Mass murderer who shot his mother, father, and four siblings while they lay sleeping, and was inspiration for the film and book The Amityville Horror. Distractify is a registered trademark. All of the victims had been shot with a .35 caliber lever action Marlin 336C rifle[4] around three o'clock in the morning of that day. A State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokeswoman said DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Friday. The DeFeo parents had both been shot twice, while the children had all been killed with single shots. I think my mother and father are shot!\"[2] DeFeo and a small group of people went to 112 Ocean Avenue, which was located near the bar, and found that DeFeo's parents were dead inside the house. Whether or not it was, the DeFeo family murders set the stage for the property to be a chilling home for decades to come. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. In a 1986 interview, Butch attempted to shift the blame onto his sister and mother. The following day, he confessed to carrying out the killings himself; and Falini, the alleged hitman, had an alibi proving he was out of state at the time of the killings. As US Day News writes, "It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office officially. DeFeo killed his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters inside their home in Suffolk County, New York, back in 1974, WABC News reported. His 43-year-old parents, Ronald and Louise, were both shot twice. DeFeo kicked the bucket at 69 years old. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. was born on Sept. 26, 1951. So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we? But just to be safe, they decided to have a priest come and bless the property as they unpacked which is where their nightmare began. The year prior, the Lutz family, doing business as Amityville Enterprises, filed legal documents to remove Dimension Films option on the franchise from the court-supervised sale of Weinstein Co. assets. However, an interview at the station soon exposed serious inconsistencies in his version of events. The whole thing was a con, except for the crime.. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the Long Island man serving a life sentence for slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a 1974 crime that would inspire The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise, died March 12 at the Albany Medical Center in New York. Husband and wife Ronald DeFeo, Sr. and Louise DeFeo had both been shot twice with a .35 caliber . Ronald DeFeo Jr., who slaughtered his parents and four siblings in 1974, has died at the age of 69 in prison. This disturbing kind of crime is featured in, On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, a car salesman; his wife, Louise DeFeo, 43; and four of their five children including Dawn, 18; Allison, 13; Marc, 12; and John, 9, were. During one moving sale in 2010, hundreds of people came to view the house, with some queuing for hours to get a peek inside. The confessed killer, after first pleading an insanity defense, would later attempt to shift blame on one of his deceased sisters. pic.twitter.com/MmgqWsslkF. Source: Getty Offers may be subject to change without notice. DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. In 1974, as his parents and four siblings slept in their three-story home in Long Island, New York, a 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. executed them. I am God.". The murders became famous for being central to the book and movie The Amityville Horror. The weapon was believed to be a .35-caliber rifle, and a similar firearm was later found in a creek behind the family home. As Father Ray Pecoraro performed the rites, he heard a masculine voice tell him to "get out". Very Scary People: The Amityville Murders delved into the unsettling crime in a sleepy town and the potential reasons behind it. A-Z Index. At the time of the murders, DeFeo said he had found his family shot in their home, but later, his story kept changing, even when he was convicted of the murders and given six sentences of 25 years to life in prison. The murders became famous for being central to the book and movie "The Amityville Horror". It went so fast\". [20] The 1974 massacre in Amityville, Long Island, horrified America and saw DeFeo jailed for life. He pleaded insanity, but was found guilty of the murders and sentenced to 6 separate sentences of life in prison. However, an expert for the prosecution testified that Butch was sane when the murders occurred. Jerry O'Neill, who has previously listed the property, says there's nothing spooky to find anyway. He would have me out in a couple of years, and I would come into all that money. Lutz also said he would wake up at 3.15am every night around the time when DeFeo carried out the killings. DeFeo, who was 69, was convicted of killing his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters inside their Amityville home in 1974, according to CNN affiliate WABC. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Soon after, Father Pecoraro fell ill with flu-like symptoms and his hands began to bleed, while the Lutzs began to notice unsettling phenomena in their new home. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Ronald DeFeo at a court hearing in 1992 - he died on Friday at the age of 69 while serving life for the murders of his parents and four siblings in Amityville, New York, The house at 112 Ocean Avenue became one of the darkest addresses in America, Neighbours watched on in horror as six bodies were removed from the house in 1974, (Back row, left to right): John, Allison and Marc (Front row, left to right) Dawn and Ronald Jr, The lever-action rifle DeFeo used in the horrific slaughter of his family, DeFeo initially tried to pin the killings on a mob hitman before confessing to the crimes himself, He died while still serving time in prison - no cause of death has yet been released, George and Kathy Lutz moved into 112 Ocean Avenue a year after the murders, George Lutz reported seeing the glowing red eyes of a pig-like demonic creature out of one of the windows along with a host of other frights inside the house, The house still stands in Amityville, New York, to this day, James Brolin and Margot Kidder played George and Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror (1979), Owners have changed the house's address and appearance in more recent years, Local historians are said to be disdainful of the notoriety the films have brought to Amityville. DeFeo, 69, died Friday while serving a sentence at Sullivan . But much to their disappointment, they weren't allowed to go to the upstairs floors or the basement. For more true crime stories, watch Family Massacre, premiering Friday, December 3 at 9/8c on Oxygen. 1. DeFeo, 69, was serving a 25-years-to-life sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in upstate Fallsburg for each of the six slayings, records show. DeFeo was the oldest of five children born to Ronald, a successful car salesman, and Louise DeFeo . But upon pressing further, he admitted to murdering them. [6] Ronald DeFeo, Jr. was the eldest son of the family, and was also known as "Butch". Screams to Screens: The Amityville Horror. jone. On one occasion, he claimed he found his wife Kathy levitating across the bed and, on another, he saw a vision of DeFeo's head floating in the cellar. They left in less than a month. Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, who committed the murders at the heart of the Amityville Horror book and movies, has died in New York state custody. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr, also known as Ronald DeFeo Jr, is an infamous American criminal who was sentenced to prison for the mass killing of his whole family.. DeFeo gunned down his family using a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action. 123 Main Street Their story inspired author Jay Ansons 1977 book The Amityville Horror.. The confessed killer, after first pleading an insanity defense, would later attempt to shift blame on one of his deceased sisters.