7 Shocking Real-Life Updates On 112 Ocean Avenue: The Amityville Horror House Today
The notorious address 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, remains one of the most recognizable—and terrifying—locations in American crime and paranormal history. Since the horrific DeFeo family murders in 1974 and the subsequent claims of demonic haunting by the Lutz family, the house has been a macabre tourist attraction and the subject of endless scrutiny. As of December 23, 2025, the house still stands, but its appearance, address, and reputation have been dramatically altered in a deliberate attempt to erase its dark legacy.
The true story of the Amityville house is a complex tapestry woven from mass murder, alleged supernatural events, and a massive media hoax controversy. While the films and books cemented its place in pop culture, the reality of the property today is far removed from the spooky facade seen on screen. The current status of the home is a testament to the new owners' desire for privacy and normalcy, a stark contrast to the terror experienced by its most famous residents.
The Victims and the Survivors: A Full Biography of the DeFeo and Lutz Families
The history of 112 Ocean Avenue is defined by the two families who occupied it during the most pivotal moments of its notoriety: the DeFeos and the Lutzes. Understanding their roles is crucial to grasping the house's legacy.
The DeFeo Family: The Tragic Victims
On November 13, 1974, Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr., then 23, murdered his entire family while they slept. He used a .35 caliber Marlin rifle to kill his parents and four younger siblings. The victims were found lying face down in their beds, having been shot at approximately 3:15 a.m.
- Ronald DeFeo Sr. (Age 43): Father.
- Louise DeFeo (Age 43): Mother.
- Dawn DeFeo (Age 18): Sister.
- Allison DeFeo (Age 13): Sister.
- Marc DeFeo (Age 12): Brother.
- John Matthew DeFeo (Age 9): Brother.
- Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. (The Killer): Convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. He died in prison in 2021 at the age of 69.
The Lutz Family: The 'Haunted' Occupants
Thirteen months after the murders, George Lutz (28) and his new wife Kathy Lutz (29) purchased the house for a drastically reduced price of $80,000. Kathy had three children from a previous marriage. The family lived in the house for only 28 days before fleeing, claiming to have been tormented by bizarre and terrifying paranormal phenomena.
- George Lutz: Born January 1, 1947. He was a surveyor who married Kathy in the 1970s. He died of heart disease in 2006.
- Kathy Lutz: Born c. 1945. She was a central figure in the haunting claims. She died of emphysema in 2004.
- The Children (Step-Children): Daniel, Christopher, and Missy (Melissa). The children, who were young at the time, have largely shied away from the media spotlight.
The Current Status: Address Change, Renovations, and the End of the Curse
The single most significant change to the property is the effort made by subsequent owners to sever the physical link to the horror story. The house today is almost unrecognizable from the iconic image in the films.
1. The Address is No Longer 112 Ocean Avenue
To deter the constant stream of sightseers, vandals, and true crime enthusiasts, the property's address was officially changed. The house is now registered as 108 Ocean Avenue. This subtle, administrative change was a deliberate tactic by the owners to regain privacy and make it harder for the public to confirm the location.
2. The Infamous "Eye" Windows Are Gone
Perhaps the most recognizable feature of the house, the two quarter-round windows on the third floor that resembled sinister, glowing eyes, were replaced. The current owners have installed standard, rectangular windows, completely altering the house's spooky facade. This renovation was a major step in the de-haunting of the property's image.
3. The Last Sale Price and Current Owners
The house has changed hands multiple times since the Lutzes fled in 1976. The subsequent owners have consistently denied experiencing any paranormal activity, suggesting the haunting was either fabricated or localized to the Lutz family's brief stay. The house was last sold in March 2017 for $605,000, significantly less than its original asking price, but still a substantial sum for the area. The identity of the current owner remains private, focusing on a quiet, normal life away from the media circus.
The Amityville Horror Debunked: The Controversy of the Haunting
While the DeFeo murders are undisputed fact, the supernatural claims made by the Lutz family—which formed the basis of Jay Anson's 1977 book, The Amityville Horror—have been largely discredited by investigators and debunkers over the years.
The Warrens and the Kaplans
Two famous paranormal investigation teams became involved. Ed and Lorraine Warren, known for their work on the *Conjuring* case, conducted a brief investigation, capturing the now-famous photograph of a "demonic boy." However, other investigators, such as Stephen and Roxanne Salch Kaplan, spent years attempting to debunk the claims, arguing that the story was a "hoax" concocted for financial gain by George and Kathy Lutz.
The "Red Room" and Other Hoax Claims
The book and film mention a "Red Room" in the basement, a small, hidden chamber allegedly used by the DeFeo family for occult purposes, which was a source of the evil. However, the room was later identified by skeptics as a small, ordinary storage closet, and no evidence of occult activity was ever found. The divorce of George and Kathy Lutz in 1988, and their subsequent deaths in the early 2000s, did little to quell the debate over the truth of their claims, but the consensus among many journalists and investigators is that the haunting was a media fabrication.
A Legacy of True Crime, Not True Horror
The house at 108 (formerly 112) Ocean Avenue stands as a silent monument to a gruesome true crime event. The real horror is not the alleged demon in the basement but the brutal, senseless murder of six members of the DeFeo family. The current occupants live a quiet life, shielded by a changed address, new windows, and the passage of time. The Amityville house has shed its demonic eyes and its notorious number, becoming a simple, large Dutch Colonial house in a suburban Long Island neighborhood, finally escaping the shadow of its terrifying past.
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