The DeFeo Family Murder

On the evening of November 13, 1974, twenty-three-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. burst through the door of Henry’s Bar in Amityville, Long Island, frantically yelling for help and telling the patrons that someone had killed his parents. When a small group returned to the house with DeFeo, they discovered that not only had his parents, Louise and Ronald Sr., been killed, but so had his four brothers and sisters—all shot to death in their beds with a .35 caliber rifle.

During a police interview that night, investigators became suspicious of Ronald DeFeo. Not only was his story of a mob hit difficult to believe, but he seemed incapable of keeping certain aspects of his story straight during the interview. The next day, DeFeo broke down and confessed to the murders, explaining that he had hated his father and telling investigators, “Once I started [shooting], I just couldn’t stop.”

Ronald DeFeo’s trial was one of New York’s biggest news stories of 1975 and attracted considerable attention due to his attempt to mount an insanity defense and his frequent outbursts in the courtroom. In the end, the defense was unsuccessful and DeFeo was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life in prison. DeFeo’s conviction should have been the end of the story, but it turned out it was only the beginning of what would eventually become one of the most notorious supernatural claims in American history.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!!

References

Carter, A.J., Soper Susan , Dallas Gatewood, and Sam Washington. 1974. "DeFeo son is accused." Newsday, November 15: 3.

Incantalupo, Tom, and Sam Washington. 1974. "A quiet drink turns into an invitation to disaster." Newsday, November 14: 3.

—. 1974. "Six in Amityville family slain, each in bed, 1 bullet in back." Newsday, November 14: 1.

New York Times. 1974. "Six in family found slain in bedrooms in L.I. home." New York Times, November 14: 97.

Smith, Don. 1975. "Attack mounted on DeFeio's insanity plea." Newsday, October 25: 16.

—. 1975. "Cellmate says DeFeo had insanity plan." Newsday, November 11: 6.

—. 1975. "Cop quotes DeFeoL 'I... couldn't stop'." Newsday, September 24: 4.

—. 1975. "Cop: DeFeo altered story." Newsday, October 22: 9.

—. 1975. "DeFeo charges police beat him into confessing." Newsday, September 27: 13.

—. 1975. "DeFeo defended as psychotic killer." Newsday, November 19: 17.

—. 1975. "DeFeo guilty of family murder." Newsday, November 22: 3.

—. 1975. "Doctor: DeFeo knew it was wrong." Newsday, November 13: 19.

—. 1975. "Family clash is cited in DeFeo trial." Newsday, October 15: 22.

—. 1975. "I killed a dozen others, DeFeo says." Newsday, November 7: 21.

—. 1975. "'I left the room in awe of the horror'." Newsday, October 23: 17.

Smith, Don, and Sam Washington. 1975. "DeFeo a heroin user, cop testifies." Newsday, October 18: 16.

Stark, Thomas M. 2021. Horrific Homicides: A Judge Looks Back at the Amityville Horror Murders and Other Infamous Long Island Crimes. New York, NY : Archway Publishing.

Sullivan, Gerard, and Harvey Aronson. 1981. High Hopes: The Amityville Murders. New York, NY: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.

Vecsey, George. 1974. "L.I. slayings suspect had used drugs." New York Times, November 16: 18.

—. 1974. "Neighbors recall DeFeos as 'nice, normal family'." New York Times, November 15: 80.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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