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. Recently Added. [3]The victims were Ronald Jr.'s parents: Ronald DeFeo Sr. (age 43) and Louise DeFeo (ne Brigante, 43); and his four siblings: Dawn (18), Allison (13), Marc (12), and John Matthew (9). In 1999, Ronald DeFeo Jr. said, I loved my family very much. But 25 years earlier, he had killed all of them in an infamous slaying. 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. 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. 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. The six victims were later buried in nearby Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. "As far as I'm concerned, if I didn't kill my family, they were going to kill me," DeFeo reportedly said at trial. DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical. On November 21, 1975, just over a year after the slayings, DeFeo Jr. was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder. accessed ), memorial page for Ronald DeFeo Jr. (26 Sep 1951 . Facts About Ronald Defeo Jr. Defeo Jr.'s age is 67 years old. DeFeo, who had been serving a 25 years-to-life. ", 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. It was the stuff of unthinkable nightmares. Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as Butch, was convicted of killing his whole family in a crime that shocked the nation. [6] Ronald DeFeo, Jr. was the eldest son of the family, and was also known as "Butch". The movie The Amityville Horror was partly inspired by the real-life murders committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr., who killed his entire family in their Amityville, Long Island, N.Y. home in 1974. he was murdered, along with the rest of his family, by older brother Ronald Jr. on the night of November 13, 1974. A cause of death has not yet been announced, but will be determined by the Albany County coroner. 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,. Regardless of why Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed his family, he was the sole suspect convicted of the heinous crimes. 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. "The front door would slam shut in the middle of the night.". 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. However, an interview at the station soon exposed serious inconsistencies in his version of events. 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. What was Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s cause of death? He also alleged that his wife, Kathy, would sometimes appear transformed into a wrinkled old woman, and that green slime had oozed from the walls. On December 21, 1975, DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced . But the story of the house where the killings took place, on 112 Ocean Avenue, has become the stuff of legend because of chilling paranormal claims made about it. New York, and had been taken to the hospital on February 2nd. 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. DeFeo's initial trial defense was that he had heard his family's voices plotting against him. The murders were the subject of a 2012 documentary,Shattered Hopes: The True Story of the Amityville Murders, in which filmmaker Ryan Katzenbach argued that the DeFeos were killed by more than one person. 123 Main Street Condemned to six sentences of 25 years to life, DeFeo died in custody in 2021. 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 . 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 Credit: Getty The 1974. During his 1975 trial, DeFeo admitted the killings. Ronald DeFeo's Wife. 2K Views. 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. In a 1986 interview, Butch attempted to shift the blame onto his sister and mother. The original Amityville Horror (1979) starred James Brolin and Margot Kidder, and a 2005 remake of the same name had Ryan Reynolds play George Lutz. According to The New. "It was a vicious crime, and it happened on quiet Long island," Keeler said. Though all of the supernatural claims were eventually debunked and the book criticized as a hoax, nearly 30 films either theatrical or direct-to-video have used the Amityville title or concept, including1983s Amityville 3-D, 2005s The Amityville Horror remake starring Ryan Reynolds, and, in 2017, Amityville: The Awakening. The bodies were found in the bedrooms of the family home in the village of Amityville, Long Island. Copyright 2023 Newsday. 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. In the aftermath it has been churned into books and a hit movie series, "The Amityville Horror.". Shortly after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the former DeFeo family home. Newsday originally revealed his passing. Follow the news on the latest developments in the Thomas Valva case. However, it is announced that the Albany County Coroner's Office is not able to publish Ronald DeFeo's . "I never saw a case that would amount to what DeFeo did in his own home. Giacalone, who once worked cold cases in the Bronx, said DeFeos murders will always live in infamy in New York. "I believe he wanted to tell another side of the story," Keeler said. DeFeo, 69, died March 12, 2021, while receiving. It's reportedly been on the market four different times since the alleged haunting, selling most recently in 2017 for $605,000. There were no signs of a struggle inside the home, where a. Ronald DeFeo Jr.s trial began in October 1975. 21 3.6K views 1 year ago 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,. Address John Robertoun of Earnock, son and heir of Robert Robertoun of Earnock, who succeeded his father and married Elizabeth daughter of Alexander Cleland of that Ilk, an ancient family in Lanarkshire, whose mother was daughter to Lord Sommerville. American Internationals 1979 film adaptation, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder and featuring the memorable poster tagline For Gods Sake, Get Out!, was the highest-grossing independent film of all time until 1990. The jury rejected the insanity theory. DeFeo was later found guilty of killing his parents, two brothers I am God.". ", "The Amityville Horror House," 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, on Monday. Looking for Ron Defore online? Their story inspired author, Jay Ansons 1977 book The Amityville Horror.. 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. They seemed like an average good family, the Rev. Paranormal investigator Stephen Kaplan, who investigated the home shortly after the Lutzs fled, wrote a book critical of their supernatural allegations. January 30, 2022 January 30, 2022. Paranormal investigator Stephen Kaplan, who investigated the home shortly after the Lutzs fled, wrote a book critical of their supernatural allegations. In 1975, DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of his mother, father, two brothers, and two sisters. 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. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. And over the years, before his March 2021 death, DeFeo's story had changed a few times. Apart from his parents, his siblings were also dead. 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. Petrified, the family fled the house just one month after moving in. All rights reserved. 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. But even now, people are curious about what led DeFeo to commit the murders and if he really did hear voices in his head, as he had claimed at one point. He had initially told the police that he drugged the family with barbiturates before committing the murders. Over the years, many accounts have debunked the Lutzs' claims but the legend of the Amityville Horror persists all the same. The murders became famous for being central to the book and movie The Amityville Horror. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. sign hanging outside the main entrance read. Breaking News, Photos, and Videos. In a 1986 interview with Newsday, DeFeo even claimed his sister, Dawn DeFeo, had carried out the murders with an accomplice. As recently as 2019, a new take called Amityville 1974 was given a greenlight. ", The house on Ocean Avenue in Amityville where Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six family members in 1974. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin. The Albany County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released his cause of death. The murders were immortalized in Jay Anson's 1977 book about the allegedly true paranormal experiences of the subsequent owners of the home. Sometime during the evening of November 13, 1974, Butch rushed to a local bar and pleaded for help because he had discovered his parents dead in the house. . Though all of the supernatural claims were eventually debunked and the book criticized as a hoax, nearly 30 films either theatrical or direct-to-video have used the Amityville title or concept, including 1983s Amityville 3-D, 2005s The Amityville Horror remake starring Ryan Reynolds, and, in 2017, Amityville: The Awakening. 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. He had spent the last 45 years of his life imprisoned on six counts of second-degree murder. The authorities believed that all six victims were shot at close range, and a silencer could not have been used. All Rights Reserved. This is the real-life story of his crimes and how they spawned a ghost story which has terrified the world for decades. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. 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. He was serving a sentence of. Jerry O'Neill, who has previously listed the property, says there's nothing spooky to find anyway. 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,. As Father Ray Pecoraro performed the rites, he heard a masculine voice tell him to "get out". 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. In a 1986 interview with Newsday, DeFeo even claimed his sister, Dawn DeFeo, had carried out the murders with an accomplice. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. Was the house really haunted? His 43-year-old parents, Ronald and Louise, were both shot twice. 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. It went so fast\". Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Later on, the films and many of the books that followed centers around the Lutzes purported experiences in the house. DeFeo was endeavored and condemned for the 1974 killings Nissa Burkhalter Biography Nissa Burkhalter was the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo, an American mass murderer. 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. 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. Meanwhile, a prosecution expert testified that while DeFeo was an admitted LSD and heroin user, he was sane at the time of the murders, according to a Newsday report in 2021. "From a former investigators standpoint, I couldnt imagine the scene that the cops had to witness," he said. on March 12, 2021 at Albany Medical Center, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. However, the neighbors reported only hearing the family dog on the night of the murders. Nissa Burkhalter Bio, Wiki Nissa Burkhalterwas the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo who was an Americanmurderer. Acknowledgement of the death of Ronald DeFeo Jr, the American mass murderer, who has died aged 69. The Lutzes, who moved into the house after the murders, later claimed that the house was haunted. Murder Victim. In the book, the Lutzes fled the house in terror after 28 days of windows slamming, an oozing slime occurring, and ghoulish visions appearing. jone. Siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, nine, were each shot once all of them were found face down in their beds. 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. One that left a family dead and the only surviving member of the family and the killer behind bars for the rest of his life. DeFeo, 23 at the time, shot each of his family members with a .35-caliber Marlin Lever action rifle, police said. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who slaughtered his parents and four siblings in 1974, has died at the age of 69 in prison. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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 shot to death with a .35 caliber rifle inside their upscale home in suburban Amityville, New York. During the interview, DeFeo changed his story and blamed his sister and mother for the deaths. Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction. 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. Butch was handed down six sentences of 25 years to life the following month. In the end, Ronald admitted to killing his family and was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in November 1975. The murders became famous for being central to the book and movie "The Amityville Horror". He claimedthat his oldest sister, Dawn, first shot their father, and then his mother killed Dawn and the other siblings. WHEN Ronald DeFeo Jr finally confessed to cops, he said of his spree: "Once I started, I just couldn't stop". Ronald DeFeo, the 'Amityville Horror' murderer who killed his six family members in 1974 on New York's Long Island, has died in prison. While we all know the story of the haunting of Amityville, before the Lutz family even lived there, a real life horror story occurred within the walls. James McNamara, an assistant pastor at the family's church at the time, told reporters. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. However, an expert for the prosecution testified that Butch was sane when the murders occurred. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. He would have me out in a couple of years, and I would come into all that money. The DeFeo Family Murders Ronald DeFeo, Jr., "Butch" to his family, was born September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York. Butch had two brothers and two sisters, aged between 9 and 18 at the time of the incident. DeFeo said he did it in self-defense after hearing voices that told him his family was plotting against him. The news of his death was confirmed by New York State officials. Perpetrator Shot Liuzza Essay. DeFeo was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Their examination of the house was depicted in the film The Conjuring 2 (2016) one of many mainstream movies about the Lutzs' story. Nissa Burkhalter Bio, Wiki Nissa Burkhalter was the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo who was an American murderer . According a 1974 report in The New York Times, the DeFeos were considered, in the words of one neighbor, "a nice, normal family." Jerry O'Neill, who has previously listed the property, says there's nothing spooky to find anyway. In court, he talked of hearing voices that told him that the rest of the family was plotting against him. In 1974, he used a rifle to kill his father, Ronald . Offers may be subject to change without notice. But no changes in the case were ever made as a result of those claims. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. At the time of their deaths, law enforcement reported that he asked how to collect his father's life insurance policy, which prompted the theory that money might have motivated the killings. 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. DeFeo . 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 told detectives: \"Once I started, I just couldn't stop. [2] He admitted that he had taken a bath and redressed, and detailed where he had discarded crucial evidence such as blood-stained clothes and the Marlin rifle and cartridges before going to work as usual. There have been several theories regarding what happened that night in November 1974. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the convicted killer whose 1974 murders spawned the "Amityville Horror" franchise, died last week while serving a 25 years-to-life prison term, officials said Monday. A cause of death has not yet been announced. The events that occurred at a house in Amityville, New York, in 1974 have long been considered historical, piquing the interest of many. The 1974 massacre in Amityville, Long Island, horrified America and saw DeFeo jailed for life. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. DeFeo, who was 23 at the time of the murders, would have been eligible for a parole hearing in July. Mother of the DeFeo family and wife of Ronald DeFeo, Sr. Ronald DeFeos Wife, Nissa Burkhalter executioner Ronald DeFeos Ex-Wife, Breaking: Nissa Burkhalter Wiki, Bio, Age, Instagram, Twitter & Quick Facts. 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. Robert DeFeo JR. 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. However, the cause of death has not been made public. 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. Other books and films based on the murders would follow. On March 12, 2021, Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison at the age of 69. Those details, and others, have come under scrutiny, of the same name starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder became a big-screen hit. Ronald DeFeo Jr. was 69. Ronald DeFeo Jr., in 1974. . But much to their disappointment, they weren't allowed to go to the upstairs floors or the basement. Some people outside of the case presumed this to mean he'd heard voices in his head as a result of the family home being haunted. 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. 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. 1. FALLSBURG, New York (WABC) -- Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was convicted of killing his entire family inside their Amityville home in 1974, . 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. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. 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. News. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was 47 years old, and Natascha Burkhalter, who was 40 years old, were both well-known actors and celebrities in their own right. Very Scary People: The Amityville Murders delved into the unsettling crime in a sleepy town and the potential reasons behind it. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Former Newsday reporter and editor Bob Keeler, 77, of Stony Brook, interviewed DeFeo at the Attica Correctional Facility in 1986. JOHN ROBERTON OF EARNOCK. Credit: Barry Sloan. All victims were found in the same position, face down in bed. DeFeo was attempted and also punished for the 1974 Nissa Burkhalter: She was the ex of Ronald DeFeo who was an American mass killer. 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. Born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo, his father was a successful automobile salesman for his family's Brooklyn dealership. The case inspired the book and film versions of The Amityville Horror. "And as far as I'm concerned, what I did was self-defence and there was nothing wrong with it. WHEN Ronald DeFeo Jr finally confessed to cops, he said of his spree: "Once I started, I just couldn't stop". At around 6.30pm that evening, DeFeo went into a nearby bar asking for help, pretending to have just discovered the bloodbath. Related tags : Criminal Previous Article Next Article Criminal He was born on September 26, 1951 and his birthplace is New York. He was 69. He married secondly, Margaret, daughter of Allan Lord Cathcart, by his Helen . 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. 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. 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 So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we. George and Kathy Lutz moved into the Dutch Colonial home with their three kids a year after the massacre, but famously fled 28 days later without their possessions because they'd been so traumatised by hauntings in the house which included claims of slime oozing from the walls and a priest's hands bleeding after attempting to bless the property. Also Read, Charlie Bigelow, Shura Baryshnikov, and Tara Perry. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. The confessed killer, after first pleading an insanity defense, would later attempt to shift blame on one of his deceased sisters. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. pic.twitter.com/MmgqWsslkF. In the book, the Lutzes fled the house in terror after 28 days of windows slamming, an oozing slime occurring, and ghoulish visions appearing. If you do not like such things, please move on.) 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. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. They publicly said they encountered demonic voices and presences while they lived there. How has this family massacre become part of pop culture? The DeFeo parents had both been shot twice, while the children had all been killed with single . The nature of the killings DeFeo's parents and four siblings were found dead in their beds, each with a single bullet in their back and tales of angry spirits haunting the Dutch Colonial-style Ocean Avenue home in the aftermath, stunned Long Island and much of the country. The case inspired the book and film versions of . It was the stuff of unthinkable nightmares. On December 21, 1975, DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six sentences of 25-years to life. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.