Not your average haunted house, this location in Amityville, on Long Island, NY, was reported to be inhabited by demons that terrorized the Lutz family in 1974-5, ultimately driving them out of the residence less than a month after moving in. The Lutz� reported extraordinary events that took place including levitation, disembodied voices, physical attacks from unseen entities, swarms of flies, a pig-like creature with glowing red eyes, substances oozing from the walls, and disturbed religious paraphernalia. Their story was documented in a very popular 1977 book by Jay Anson and subsequently made into a film (with sequels) which brought the proclaimed "true" story to the world. Some people connected to the investigation of the haunting, the book and movies claim to have experienced illnesses, or strange occurrences related to the subject. Anson himself died not long after his book was published. A tale of a curse became associated with the house.
A real Amityville horror had indeed occurred in the house prior to the Lutz� ownership. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo, a young man urged on by "voices", murdered his parents and siblings with a rifle. The Lutz� were aware of the gruesome history of the house when they purchased it. Some paranormal investigators concluded that the house was indeed haunted. Other investigators -- finding unresolved questions, a motive regarding money, and problems with the Lutz� story changing over time -- declared the whole thing a hoax. Later residents of the house were bothered by the constant sightseers, but not by paranormal events. The story is either one of the most frightening encounters with the paranormal or one of the most prominent hoaxes. |
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