To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. DeFeo,. When Ronald DeFeo Jr initially reported the deaths of his family, he ran into a local police station and claimed they had been shot. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the killer who inspired The Amityville Horror book and movie series, has died, according to a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Services (DOCCS). A system error has occurred. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. At first, it was announced that Ronald DeFeo Jrs cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially, but now it is reported that the Albany County Coroners Office is not able to publish the cause of death to anyone except relatives, over the privacy laws. The corrections department said it couldn't disclose why DeFeo was hospitalized, citing health privacy laws. One of those was a .35 caliber Marlin rifle. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Infamous "Amityville Horror" killer Ronald DeFeo died in a New York hospital last week of unknown causes at the age of 69. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Published Ronald DeFeo exits Suffolk County Police Headquarters in Hauppauge, New York, Nov. 14, 1974. Convicted murderer of his father, mother, two sisters, and two brothers. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Ronald DeFeo Jr was serving a 25-to-life sentence for the brutal killing of his mom, dad, two sisters and two brothers. . This browser does not support getting your location. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The man convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home that later inspired the "The Amityville Horror" book and movies has died, prison officials said Monday. In 2017, the notorious five-bedroom, 3-bathroom Colonial home where the bloodbath took place sold for $605,000. While all of these reasons seem probable, nothing was officially confirmed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Tennessee becomes first state to ban drag shows on public property, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Staten Island man gets 18 months in prison for anti-Semitic assaults. Copyright 2023 Distractify. One thing we know regardless, a horrible tragedy happened there that took out an entire family. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Is Nanci Griffiths Cause of Death Related to a Health Problem? Officials did not disclose the reason DeFeo was hospitalized to PEOPLE, citing privacy laws. Condemned to six sentences of 25 years to life, DeFeo died in prison on March 12, 2021. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The home became the basis of a horror-movie classic after another family briefly lived there about a year after the killings and claimed the house was haunted. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. 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. American Criminal. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. DeFeo was serving 25 years to life in prison at the Sullivan Correctional Facility. A Warner Bros. Please reset your password. His initial trial defense was that he had heard his familys voices against him. I think a horrible family tragedy sparked a twisted mind to figure out how to make money off of it with their theories and story plot and we the people ate it up! IE 11 is not supported. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Drag images here or select from your computer for Ronald DeFeo Jr. memorial. DeFeo, who went by the nickname Butch, was eligible for a parole hearing in July. 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. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. 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 Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, according to the state Department of Corrections. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974. The corrections department said it couldn't disclose why DeFeo was hospitalized, citing health privacy laws. The killer's last victim was the family's youngest child, John DeFeo, 9. A lawyer expert testified that while Ronald was an admitted LSD and heroin user, he was mentally normal at the time of the murders. On December 5, 1984, in the heart of New Orleans, the lives of two men made a wrong turn towards death. At the time of DeFeo's 1974 confession of the murders, he claimed he had heard voices telling him his family was plotting against him and that he had to murder his parents and four siblings out of self-defense. Born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo, his father was a successful automobile salesman for his family's Brooklyn dealership. Butch's fifth victim was his younger brother Marc DeFeo, 12. A book and the resulting film franchise including the 1979 original with James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger; several sequels; and a 2005 remake with Ryan Reynolds portrayed a home with strange voices, walls that oozed slime, furniture that moved on its own and other supernatural features. The stately, 5,000-square-foot abode underwent renovations after Caroline and David DAntonio purchased it in 2010 for $950,000. Fox News Flash top headlines for March 15. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Others figured that the voices he had heard resulted from taking LSD, which Ronald DeFeo had admitted to using. Ronald DeFeo died on Friday at Albany Medical Center. The New York man convicted of gruesomely killing his siblings and parents in 1974 and subsequently inspiring the Amityville Horror franchise has died. Unlike giving him a fair trial to begin with! Butch didnt run into a police station saying he found his parents shot, he ran into a bar a got his friend, the bar owner, and 2 others to go to the house. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Sorry! There is a problem with your email/password. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . 2023 Cable News Network. Amityville, N.Y.: Exterior of the . Memory of Alex Murdaughs Son & Wifes Death Hunt Him AllTime, Alec Baldwin Charged With Manslaughter in Rust Shooting, Vhong Navarros Rape Charges Led him Transferred to NBI, Fans Ask about Singer Daniel Levis Cause of Death, Shocking Story of AGT Contestant Nolan Neals Cause of Death, Maddie Ziegler and Eddie Benjamin Call it Quits After 3 Years, Are Eiza Gonzalez and Ben Simmons Dating? A Boeing employee has been identified as the winner of the record-breaking Powerball jackpot that was drawn on Feb. 6. In 1990 he filed a 440 motion claiming Dawn alongside another assailant killed the family and he later killed Dawn by accident during a struggle. DeFeowas transferred to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Ronald DeFeo in court in June 1992 during a hearing seeking a new trial on charges he murdered his family in Amityville, N.Y. in 1974. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. They lived, loved, & then died by the hands of one of their own. His dad Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, his mom Louise DeFeo, 43, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, 9. MURDERER Ronald DeFeo Jr, who killed his entire family and inspired "The Amityville Horror", has died. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Please try again later. Market data provided by Factset. A cause of death has not yet been announced, but will be determined by the Albany County coroner. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. And insurance money motive. Ronald DeFeo, the convicted . Interesting take, with some factual errors. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life for the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. Initially, he reported the murders himself, telling police someone had broken into the house and killed his family, and even claimed he thought the killer was Louis Falini, a mafia hitman. George Lutz told ABC News in 2006 that some scenes in the book and movie including the green slime were embellished. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He did leave behind three ex-wives and, according to one of his exes, he was also the father to at least one child. A book and two movies the 1979 original, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger, and a 2005 remake portrayed a home with strange voices, walls that oozed slime, furniture that moved on its own, and other supernatural features. DeFeo, nicknamed Butch, who was 23 at the time, admitted he was an LSD and heroin user but he was deemed safe at the time of the attack. Another possible reason he might have killed his family members was for a possibly sizable life insurance policy. Try again. So what do you think about it? We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. was born on Sept. 26, 1951. He was 69. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Ronald DeFeo Jr. Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, his mother Louise DeFeo, 42, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison . A year after the slaughter, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the home but left 28 days later after reporting paranormal activity in the house, including strange sounds, voices and green slime oozing from the walls, according to real estate site 6sqft. I dont think the truth of what happened in that house will ever be known. Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA. Early in the police investigation, DeFeo lied to authorities stating he believed the murders were mob-related. It is believed the 13-year-old girl was awake at the time of her death when she received a bullet in her head. This was further exasperated with the usage of LSD and heroin by DeFeo . March 15 (UPI) -- 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? These cookies do not store any personal information. The then-23-year-old used a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle to slaughter his family members, who were all in bed at the time dad Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, mom Louise DeFeo, 43, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, 9. ", "The whole story was made up," O'Neill said. To get the father. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Learn More Here, From the Cecil Hotel to The Stanley Hotel, These Are the Most Haunted Hotels in America. DeFeo gunned down his family using a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle, inside their home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, on November 13, 1974. DeFeo died Friday while serving a 25 years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional facility in Fallsburg, New York, officials told Newsday. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Alllll of them needed professional help. However, the next day, Ronald admitted to killing all his six family members himself. Over the years, the house has been up for sale several times, including most recently in 2016 when it was on the market for $850,000. He was taken to the hospital from a prison in the Catskill Mountains on Feb. 2, state prison officials confirmed to PEOPLE. Ariz. Man Kills Wife and 18-Year-Old Daughter in Murder-Suicide that Left Girl, 12, Wounded, Robert Rosamilio/NY Daily News Archive via Getty, Mass. The cause of his death wasn't immediately known.DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island.The home became the basis of a horror . DeFeo unsuccessfully sought a retrial in 1992, claiming that his 18-year-old sister killed the five other family members and that he then shot her. Speaking to Ric Osuna, the author of The Night The DeFeos Died, in November 2000, DeFeo confessed that along with his sister Dawn and two of his friends he'd planned the murders of the family"out of desperation". 822 Words4 Pages. The patricide had claimed he killed his family in self-defense after hearing voices that they were plotting against him. Investigators found his story to be full of discrepancies and his guilt was further substantiated with the uncovering of evidence linking him to the crimes. Although there have been other claims of the supernatural occurring at the Amityville house, there are former residents of the house who claim nothing of the sort happened to them. (Newsday/Getty Images). DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. "Amityville Horror" killer Ronald DeFeo -- who killed his six family members in 1974 on Long Island -- has died behind bars, according to officials. The home and the killings became the basis of the horror movie classic "The Amityville Horror" after another family briefly lived there for about a year after the killings and claimed the house was haunted. People still drive by the Amityville Horror house in NY. The convicted murderer was transferred to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. An autopsy by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office will determine an official cause of death. An autopsy . There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Legal Statement. He was a PI on the case. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. Prison officials released the news to the public but did not reveal why he had been at the hospital in the first place or what his cause of death was. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the killer in "The Amityville Horror" case, has died, according to a spokesperson for the New York State prisons department. State department of corrections officials confirmed his death on Monday . . If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. ALBANY, N.Y. - The man convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home that later inspired the "The Amityville Horror" book and movies has died, prison officials said Monday. DeFeos death was first reported by Newsday. Two years later followed a cult classic film starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger and Murray Hamilton. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ronald Jr., the oldest of five children frequently argued violently with his father. "I loved my family very much," he said at a 1999 parole hearing, where he also said he had gotten married while in prison. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Year should not be greater than current year. He then claimed he knocked her unconscious on to her bed and shot her in the head. But I know dat Ronald defeo jr and dawn were on it. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. Try again later. Ronald DeFeos death news was revealed on March 12. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. All six victims were later buried in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. In that regard, it could be all about the power of perception. DeFeo, 69, who was serving a 25-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility, was found dead on Friday, March 12, 2021, at the Albany Medical Center. Ronald DeFeo Jr. leaves Suffolk County district court after a hearing, Nov. 15, 1974. Why Felicity Hoffman Sentenced to Only 14 Days in Prison? 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 for shooting and killing his parents and four siblings as they slept in their beds, the he New York state Department of Corrections and Community Services told PEOPLE. 2021 Associated Press. Take an exclusive look at the name and renderings for a potential casino, resort and entertainment venue on Coney Island. He unsuccessfully sought a retrial in 1992, claiming that his 18-year-old sister killed the other five family members and that he then shot her. Four people were found shot to death on Nov. 14, 1974, inside this home in Amityville, New York. He was 69. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Over the years in interviews, DeFeo stated several unsubstantiated explanations of what happened including blaming his sister Dawn for killing their siblings and attempting to kill him, which resulted in DeFeo killing her in self-defense. Officials said DeFeo was transported to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. (Bettmann via Getty Images). based on information from your browser. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. More articles: Former NWA & WWE Star Don Kernodles Cause of Death at 71. Their story inspired the book The Amityville Horror which, in turn, inspired the movies that followed it. Police said DeFeo had shot each of his family members with a 35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle, shooting each of his siblings once and his parents twice inside their home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island, New York, in 1974. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office officially. This account has been disabled. March 15, 2021 / 7:59 PM Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. English Ronald DeFeo Jr., who served his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in upstate Fallsburg, died Friday at the age of 69, New York State officials confirmed. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. DeFeodied Friday while serving a 25 years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional facility in Fallsburg,New York, officials told Newsday. So what was his cause of death? A family of 7 paid with their lives, it just took one of them 47yrs to die while the rest went quickly. Ronald DeFeo Jrs cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office after investigation. In a 1986 interview for Newsday he blamed his sister Dawn for the brutal killings. Everyone is wondering how did a murderer, Ronald DeFeo Jr, die? Over the course of time DeFeo has changed his version of the story multiple times. 'The Staircase' : Where Is Michael Peterson Now? DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their home in Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974.