Amityville Haunting
The 1974–1976 case of the Lutz family who fled their new home after 28 days, reporting demonic possession, strange odors, and green slime, later revealed to be largely fabricated.
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW
The Amityville haunting began when George and Kathy Lutz moved into a Dutch Colonial house at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York, in December 1975 — 13 months after Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his family in the same house. The Lutzes claimed they experienced strange phenomena including swarms of flies, green slime, cold spots, and a demonic voice. They fled after 28 days. The story spawned a series of books and films. Critics and journalists later exposed significant fabrication. The lawyer for the Lutzes was connected to a paranormal researcher who admitted parts of the story were made up. The case remains a seminal example of the intersection of true crime, real estate, and ghost hunting.
KEY CLAIMS
The Lutz family was terrorized by demonic entities for 28 days
A demonic pig-like creature appeared in the house
Green slime oozed from walls and ceilings
Flies swarmed in winter despite sealed windows
A demonic voice commanded a priest to leave the house
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The DeFeo family murders in the same house were documented
The Lutzes maintained their story across decades of interviews
Multiple paranormal investigators visited and reported unusual readings
The house's history and architecture have been thoroughly documented
Some neighbors reported unusual events during the Lutzes' tenancy
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
Journalist Rick Moran and others exposed significant fabrication by the Lutzes
William Weber, the lawyer who helped research the story, admitted parts were invented
No independent investigation documented the more extreme claims
The Lutzes passed multiple polygraph tests but also gave contradictory interviews
The house has been occupied by other families who reported nothing unusual
TIMELINE
DeFeo murders six family members at 112 Ocean Avenue
Lutz family moves into the house
Lutz family flees after 28 days
The Amityville Horror book published
Film adaptation released
Journalist exposes fabrications in the story
KEY FIGURES
George Lutz
Homeowner who claimed demonic possession
Kathy Lutz
Homeowner and co-author of the story
Ronald DeFeo Jr.
Murderer whose crime preceded the haunting claims
ORGANIZATIONS
Paranormal investigators
Research
Amityville Village
Local Government
SOURCES
RELATED ENTITIES
PEOPLE
George Lutz
Kathy Lutz
Ronald DeFeo Jr.
ORGANIZATIONS
Paranormal investigators
Amityville Village
EVENTS
DeFeo murders six family members at 112 Ocean Avenue
1974-11-13
Lutz family moves into the house
1975-12-18
Lutz family flees after 28 days
1976-01-14
The Amityville Horror book published
1977
Film adaptation released
1979