“Amityville Horror” killer Ronald DeFeo Jr. – who spread terror across Long Island and beyond by massacring his parents and four brothers in 1974 – has died, according to state officials.
DeFeo – whose murder spree inspired the book and movie franchise “The Amityville Horror” – died on Friday while serving a 25-year life sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, according to the State Department of Corrections. He was 69 years old.
The convicted killer was transferred to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:35 pm
An autopsy from the Albany County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of the murder of his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside his home in Amityville on Ocean Avenue on November 13, 1974.
The 23-year-old then used a .35 caliber Marlin rifle to shoot down his family members, who were all in bed at the time – father Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, mother Louise DeFeo, 43, and brothers Dawn, 18, Allison , 13, Marc, 12, and John, 9.
Both parents were shot twice, while the siblings were shot once. All the victims were found face down on the bed.
At the trial, his lawyer set up an insanity defense, claiming that DeFeo heard voices saying his family was conspiring against him.
He was convicted in 1975 on six counts of second-degree murder and received six sentences of 25 years in prison.
DeFeo had a probation hearing scheduled for July, DOC’s online records show.
In a 2006 prison interview, DeFeo claimed that he only killed his father, mother and older sister, Dawn.
The other brothers were murdered by Dawn, before DeFeo killed her, he said.
In 2016, the notorious colonial house with five bedrooms and three and a half baths, where the bloodbath took place, hit the market for $ 850,000 – and signed a contract months later.
The home’s original address when the murders took place was 112 Ocean Ave. – but it was eventually changed to 108 Ocean Ave. to discourage tourists.
A year after the massacre, George and Kathy Lutz bought the house – but left 28 days after reporting paranormal activities at the house, including “strange sounds, voices and green ooze dripping from the walls,” according to the 6sqft real estate website.
The frightening events served as inspiration for the 1977 book “The Amityville Horror” and, two years later, the classic cult film “The Amityville Horror”, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder.
The imposing 5,000 square foot abode underwent renovations after Caroline and David D’Antonio bought it in 2010 for $ 950,000.
DeFeo’s death was first reported by Newsday.
