The DeFeo family were murdered inside their Amityville home in 1974. What happened to them formed a 'cottage industry' horror franchiseThe DeFeo family were murdered inside their Amityville home in 1974. What happened to them formed a 'cottage industry' horror franchiseWhen the DeFeo family went to bed for a final time on November 12, 1974 — their deaths would form a new chapter of American folklore.
A multi-million-dollar movie franchise, books, podcasts, documentaries and more would follow in the five decades to come. "Call up the Amityville Police and have someone come down here, they know the family," he told them, according to transcripts of the 911 call. The DeFeo family, according to reporting at the time, had been linked to the Vito Genovese crime family.
"Is it to be found in his background, dotted with evidence that he was already on a course of wasting his own life?"At trial, according to reports at the time, witnesses testified to a "deteriorating relationship" between Butch DeFeo and his parents. "I would urge some mercy for him because now he is an animal, but in 10 or 15 years he may be rehabilitated and possibly make a contribution to society."
"And I remember the house with the windows and the demonic font, and I was like, 'Wow, this house looks like it's looking at me.' "Anything that went into my book had to have some type of reference note, whether it was a legal document, statement, something." He added there were "serious family problems" in the house, and that both he and Dawn had wanted to "get out of there"."We were like dogs on leashes. We were always beat up and abused by my father. I am not making excuses."As Butch DeFeo began his multiple life sentences in a New York prison, another chapter of the horror story in Amityville was about to unfold.