Ronald DeFeo Jr., who served his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in upstate Fallsburg, died Friday at the age of 69, New York State officials confirmed. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. His defense attorney attempted to use the "insanity" plea, however, a jury rejected the argument, and DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences. They lived, loved, & then died by the hands of one of their own. 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. At first, it was announced that Ronald DeFeo Jrs cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially, but now it is reported that the Albany County Coroners Office is not able to publish the cause of death to anyone except relatives, over the privacy laws. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. (Don Jacobsen/Newsday RM via Getty Images). Their story inspired the book The Amityville Horror which, in turn, inspired the movies that followed it. The Albany County Coroner's Office, tasked with determining what caused his death, said it doesn't release such information, except to relatives of the dead. Some theories of why he did it include the multiple drugs and alcohol he was on, being possessed by demons and the many fights with his family. A Warner Bros. 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They reportedly lasted only 28 days there, claiming to have witnessed paranormal activity like odd noises, voices and green slime oozing from the walls. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their home in Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974. Investigators found his story to be full of discrepancies and his guilt was further substantiated with the uncovering of evidence linking him to the crimes. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Constant abuse and family disfunction Defoe Sr. was abusive but the last generation carried the abuse on that a main amount of that generation did, slap your children, beat them down its what they were taught by their parents, so, they didnt know how to understand it so they did what their parents did,,carry it on. His dad Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, his mom Louise DeFeo, 43, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, 9. Mother of the DeFeo family and wife of Ronald DeFeo, Sr. She was murdered, along with the rest of her family, by her eldest son, Ronald Jr., on November 13, 1974. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. A book and the resulting film franchise including the 1979 original with James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger; several sequels; and a 2005 remake with Ryan Reynolds portrayed a home with strange voices, walls that oozed slime, furniture that moved on its own and other supernatural features. Early in the police investigation, DeFeo lied to authorities stating he believed the murders were mob-related. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. He was serving a sentence of. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. The stately, 5,000-square-foot abode underwent renovations after Caroline and David DAntonio purchased it in 2010 for $950,000. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. At trial, his lawyer mounted an insanity defense, claiming DeFeo heard voices saying his family was plotting against him. Four people were found shot to death on Nov. 14, 1974, inside this home in Amityville, New York. . A cause of death has not yet been announced, but will be determined by the Albany County coroner. 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Ronald DeFeo Jr. (1951-2021) - Find a Grave Memorial We tell scary stories about it. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. 2023 FOX Television Stations, slaughtering his parents and four siblings, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Study: NFL players who experience concussions may exhibit cognitive failure later in life. He later confessed to the murders, was tried, found guilty, and incarcerated. These cookies do not store any personal information. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Amityville Horror killer Ronald DeFeo dies in N.Y. prison at 69 On March 12, 2021, it was announced that Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as the Amityville Horror killer, died while he was still incarcerated for the murders of six of his family members. But maybe this is because of the special situation of the mass murderer.. Ronald DeFeo Jr., center, leaves Suffolk County District Court in New York after a hearing Nov. 15, 1974. Ronald Jr., the oldest of five children frequently argued violently with his father. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. An autopsy . On Nov. 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr., the oldest of five children in the DeFeo family, alerted police that his parents and four siblings had been killed in a bloody rampage. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. DeFeo had claimed as much during his defense, but he was found guilty of murder and was serving out six sentences of 25 years to life in prison when he died. 'Amityville Horror' killer dies in prison at 69 - NBC News The title is misleading since the cause of death was not disclosed. We have set your language to Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? According a 1974 report in The New York Times, the DeFeos were considered, in the words of one neighbor, "a nice, normal family." Romance in the Air, Story of AustralianGreat Singer Archie Roachs Cause of Death. Why did Ronald Defeo Jr kill his family? | The US Sun When Ronald DeFeo Jr initially reported the deaths of his family, he ran into a local police station and claimed they had been shot. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. She was 43 years old. Ronald DeFeo exits Suffolk County Police Headquarters in Hauppauge, New York, Nov. 14, 1974. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Your email address will not be published. Story of NME & Mojo Music Journalist Fred Dellars Cause of Death, Arthur Goodwin Bogan Coachs Cause of Death not Revealed, Jamie Dornans Dad, Jim Dornans Cause of Death Announced, Truth of Don Rickles Widow, Barbara Rickles Cause of Death. In 1990 he filed a 440 motion claiming Dawn alongside another assailant killed the family and he later killed Dawn by accident during a struggle. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224476445/ronald-defeo. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. This case inspired the book and movie The Amityville Horror.. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Nicknamed "Big Ronnie" he was married to Louise DeFeo and had five children. Officials said DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. An autopsy by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office will rule an official cause of death. In 2017, the notorious five-bedroom, 3-bathroom Colonial home where the bloodbath took place sold for $605,000. Dr Hilary says Sarah Everard vigils are 'Covid superspreading events however strong people feel'. Ronald DeFeo's Cause of Death Reveals Officials said DeFeo was transported to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. Ronald DeFeo, Jr: The Man, The Truth and His Story (NOW and THEN) It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. On December 4, Judge Thomas Stark handed down six sentences of 25 years to life. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. I found on Findagrave.com. (Photo by Stan Wolfson/Newsday RM via Getty Images). English Tennessee becomes first state to ban drag shows on public property, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Staten Island man gets 18 months in prison for anti-Semitic assaults. I think a horrible family tragedy sparked a twisted mind to figure out how to make money off of it with their theories and story plot and we the people ate it up! Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Others figured that the voices he had heard resulted from taking LSD, which Ronald DeFeo had admitted to using. All rights reserved. The home was listed as recently as 2016 for $850,000. And insurance money motive. DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. One theory of why Butch DeFeo killed his family is because he was under the influence of controlled substances and alcohol. The cause of death will be determined by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office, the spokeswoman said. 2. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. At the time, the listing agent Gerald O'Neill told PEOPLE that locally, the story is known as "The Amityville Hoax. Their experiences inspired the 1976 novel The Amityville Horror: A True Story, which was turned into a horror film in 1979 and remade in 2005 starring Ryan Reynolds. We are eagerly waiting to see what you think. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He was convicted in 1975 of six counts of second-degree murder and received six sentences of 25 years to life. Ronald DeFeo, 69, died Friday at Albany Medical Center, where he was taken Feb. 2 from a prison in New York's Catskill Mountains, the state Department of Corrections and Community Services said. His cause of death was not released. . First published on March 15, 2021 / 7:59 PM. (Newsday/Getty Images). He was 69. 2023 Cable News Network. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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,. Ronald DeFeo Changes His Story Over the years, DeFeo changed his story many times. The then-23-year-old used a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle to slaughter his family members, who were all in bed at the time dad Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, mom Louise DeFeo, 43, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, 9. One of the victims was Ronald DeFeo Sr, 43, the killer's father. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974. 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. Great Author Bob Proctor Passed Away at 88, Autopsy Result Clarifying Prophet TB Joshuas Cause of Death, The Star Dakota Skyes Cause of Sudden Death is Unknown, Suicide Led to TikToker Leah Cantillons Death at a Young Age, Secret Behind Cesar Millans Juniors Cause of Death is Private, Kings Gate CoFounder Rob Skibas Cause of Death is Unknown Yet. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Most were undisturbed by any paranormal happenings and instead had to contend with horror movie fanatics who would walk up to or drive by the house to ogle at it. DeFeo had pursued an insanity defense at his trial, saying he heard voices that drove him to kill his family. Copyright 2023 Distractify. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The corrections department said it couldn't disclose why DeFeo was hospitalized, citing health privacy laws. The scene of six grisly murders went on to inspire the Amityville Horror books and movies. New York, and had been taken to the hospital on February 2nd. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The patricide had claimed he killed his family in self-defense after hearing voices that they were plotting against him. Ronald DeFeo, killer whose murders inspired 'The Amityville Horror The horrifying murders inspired the 1977 book The Amityville Horror, A True Story. Ronald DeFeo Jr was convicted of murdering his parents Louise and Ronald DeFeo Sr and his four siblings Dawn, Allison, Marc and John. Ronald DeFeo died on Friday. 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,. DeFeos death was first reported by Newsday. Physical evidence suggested that his mom and his younger sister were awake at the time of their deaths. At the time of their deaths, law enforcement reported that he asked how to get his fathers life insurance policy, which raises the theory that money might have motivated the killings. 'Amityville Horror' killer Ronald DeFeo Jr. dies in state custody He was 69. Maybe Butch deserved to die the way he did or maybe he was tortured in that house. DeFeo, who went by the nickname Butch, was eligible for a parole hearing in July. He died Friday, March 12. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. The New York man convicted of gruesomely killing his siblings and parents in 1974 and subsequently inspiring the Amityville Horror franchise has died. His insanity plea wasn't accepted, however, and in 1965, he was found guilty on six counts of murder and sentenced to six separate 25-years-to-life sentences. Ronald DeFeo Jr. dead: The true story of the Amityville Horror killer Speaking to Ric Osuna, the author of The Night The DeFeos Died, in November 2000, DeFeo confessed that along with his sister Dawn and two of his friends he'd planned the murders of the family"out of desperation". ", "The whole story was made up," O'Neill said. It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially. Ronald DeFeo, 69, died Friday at Albany Medical Center, where he was taken Feb. 2 from a prison in New York's Catskill Mountains, the state Department of Corrections and Community Services. American Criminal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. DeFeo was 69 years old at the time of his death and it's possible that he died of natural causes or some underlying health condition that wasn't public knowledge. Year should not be greater than current year. Father and Son Sentenced to Life in Prison For Federal Hate Crimes in Killing of Ahmaud Arbery, The True Story Behind Netflix's 'The Good Nurse', The Man These Siblings Say Shot Them Is Behind Bars But Kim Kardashian Wants Him to Go Free, Man Gets Life inPrison for Killing Girlfriend's Parents After Disputes About Covid Social Distancing. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The cause of his death wasn't immediately known. He then claimed he knocked her unconscious on to her bed and shot her in the head. She won the jackpot. Ron Defore's Instagram, Twitter & Facebook on IDCrawl Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Search above to list available cemeteries. 'Amityville Horror' killer Ronald DeFeo dies in prison - FOX 5 New York The home became the basis of a horror-movie classic after another family briefly lived there about a year after the killings and claimed the house was haunted. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Boeing employee bought lottery ticket because it was at $747M, a nod to the aircraft. This account has been disabled. Ronald DeFeo Jr. - Wikipedia DeFeo died Friday while serving a 25 years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional facility in Fallsburg, New York, officials told Newsday. 9:38 PM EDT, Mon March 15, 2021. His victims are all buried atSaint Charles CemeteryinFarmingdale. As far as hauntings go, however, there are ongoing conflicting reports. Distractify is a registered trademark. Officials Never Announce Ronald DeFeo's Cause of Death - US day News Try again later. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! A year after the slaughter, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the home, they claimed that they had been forced to leave the house after noticing strange sounds, voices and green slime oozing from the walls, less than a month after moving in. The NYPD is looking for the suspect they said shot a driver, who was stopped at a Bronx gas station, in the head during an attempted robbery. This was further exasperated with the usage of LSD and heroin by DeFeo, Jr. On November 13, 1974, as his family slept, he gunned them down using a .35-caliber Marlin rifle. Ronald DeFeo, Jr., pictured here being escorted by detectives in Suffolk County. DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, officials said. However, the next day, Ronald admitted to killing all his six family members himself. Whats Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Wayne Shorters Death Cause? Born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo, his father was a successful automobile salesman for his family's Brooklyn dealership. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. DeFeo was scheduled for a parole hearing in July, online DOC records show. "I loved my family very much," he said at a 1999 parole hearing, where he also said he had gotten married while in prison. In that regard, it could be all about the power of perception. Learn More Here, From the Cecil Hotel to The Stanley Hotel, These Are the Most Haunted Hotels in America. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Ronald DeFeo Jr. dead: The true story of the Amityville Horror killer Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Ronald DeFeo, Killer in Amityville Horror Case, Dies - Peoplemag IE 11 is not supported. 'Amityville Horror' Convicted Killer Ronald DeFeo, Dies In Prison 'Amityville Horror' killer Ronald DeFeo Jr. dies in prison 'Amityville Horror' Killer Dies in New York State Custody at 69 A book and two movies the 1979 original, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger, and a 2005 remake portrayed a home with strange voices, walls that oozed slime, furniture that moved on its own, and other supernatural features. Initially, he reported the murders himself, telling police someone had broken into the house and killed his family, and even claimed he thought the killer was Louis Falini, a mafia hitman. that is nothing more than conjecture and heresay. 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. 'Amityville Horror' killer Ronald Defeo Jr. dead at 69 At the time of DeFeo's 1974 confession of the murders, he claimed he had heard voices telling him his family was plotting against him and that he had to murder his parents and four siblings out of self-defense. He was 69. DeFeo, 69, was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Friday at the Albany Medical Center, state corrections officials said in a statement. DeFeo had pursued an insanity defense at his trial, saying he heard voices that drove him to kill his family.