History Daily The Amityville Murders
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Nov 13, 2025 On a fateful November night in 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six family members in a suburban New York home, sparking a chilling true crime saga. As police uncover shocking evidence, Butch's conflicting statements lead to his arrest. His trial hinges on a battle between sanity and guilt, with forensic testimonies sealing his fate. The horrifying legacy continues when the Lutz family moves in, claiming ghostly encounters that inspire a bestselling book and blockbuster film, signaling the rise of a haunted legend.
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Friend Races To Discover The Massacre
- Bobby Kelsky races to the DeFeo house after Ronald DeFeo Jr. bursts into a bar claiming his parents were shot.
- He discovers the bodies and the later search reveals four more family members murdered in their beds.
Crime Scene Pointed Toward An Insider
- Investigators found no forced entry or signs of robbery, suggesting the murderer was known to the family.
- Evidence in Butch's room (a rifle box and matching ballistics) quickly shifted police focus onto him.
Weapon Evidence Leads To Arrest
- Police found cartridges and labels from a rifle box in Butch's bedroom and matched bullets to the victims.
- Detectives read Butch his rights and he later confessed, leading to charges two days after the killings.
