Was the real Kathy Lutz a widow? The book, purportedly based on a true story, describes the house at 112 Ocean Avenue as remaining empty for 13 months after the DeFeo murders. During their first inspection of the house, the real estate broker told them about the DeFeo murders and asked if this would affect their decision. He says the levitating beds, footboards and headboards slamming into the ceiling, were not imagined. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It's certainly not a hoax. [6], The role of Father Pecoraro in the story has been given considerable attention. He swatted hundreds of them and went to fetch his mother. Estimates of the sales of the book are around 10 million copies from its numerous editions. Even though it was December and quite cold in New York, the house was swarming with flies. I wish it was. Question: Does anyone live in the Amityville horror house now? At first George and Kathy experienced nothing unusual in the house. In a portending sign of the times, Wall Street is now betting on the future of water supplies. George and Kathy Lutz divorced in the late 1980s. She was the mother of 5 children, three from her previous marriage and two daughters with George. Asked by Wiki User. Every day at 3:15, they have to wake up with a ghostly sound. Patriarch George Lutz would wake up around 3:15AM every morning to visit the boathouse. It was like a magic trick gone bad that youcouldntshut off. For the media, see, List of films based on the Amityville haunting, Joe Nickell wrote a summary of the investigative files on, "The Amityville Murders' Reference Material", "George Lutz interview Amityville Horror", "Interview with George Lutz by Dan Farrands", "1979 letter from William Weber to Ronald DeFeo, Jr", "The Real Amityville Horror: The Tragic Murder of the Ronald De Feo Family", "Original Amityville Horror house on sale for $1.15 million", "The Amityville Horror Official Website: Documents", 'Amityville Horror' house back on market, for $1.15M, "The Amityville Horror Official Website: John Ketcham Man or Myth? George and Kathy married in July 1975, and each had their own homes, but they wanted to start fresh with a new property. Danny Lutz, 47, pictured, the eldest son of the Lutz family who famously claimed they lived in a possessed house in Amityville, Long Island, has spoken out for the first time about his experiences. He also makes additional claims that both he and George Lutz were possessed, that George Lutz demonstrated telekinetic abilities and strongly suggests that George's dabbling in the occult may have initiated the demonic events.[26]. Daniels experience in the Amityville Horror home was turned into a best-selling book, The Amityville Horror, a 1979 hit-move of the same name, and now, a new documentary by filmmaker Eric Walter title My Amityville Horror. Kathy Jones was born in 1945 in the USA as Elizabeth Ann Bird. Paranormal and esoteric news, research and articles "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown", Copyright 2020 Altered Dimensions. George Lee Lutz, the former owner of a haunted house known as The Amityville Horror, died on May 8 of heart disease. The Truth Behind Two Hollywood Ghost Stories, Investigative Files Amityville: The Horror of It All, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Amityville_Horror&oldid=1004398123, Reportedly haunted locations in New York (state), All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from July 2016, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 February 2021, at 11:54. He told the filmmaker, I just wanted somebody to believe me. Critics including Stephen Kaplan have pointed out that changes were made to the book as it was reprinted in different editions. The claim of cloven hoof prints in the snow on January 1, 1976, was rejected by other researchers[who?]. Lutz echos the original story as told by his mother and step-father. Kathy was a non-practicing Catholic and explained the process. Georges beliefs and practices triggered what was going on in the house. They decided to sell both of their houses and combine households. One of the images allegedly showed a "demonic boy" with glowing eyes who was standing at the foot of a staircase. [9] Other accounts say that Father Pecoraro did visit the house but experienced nothing unusual there. It doesn't mean that everything that has ever been said about it is true. After 37 years, one of the original Amityville Horror children has decided to finally break the silence regarding his experience at the legendary haunted home. Kathy Westmoreland Official Fanpage is on Facebook. James Brolin and Margot Kidder portray the couple George and Kathy Lutz. By mid-January 1976, after another attempt at a house blessing by George and Kathy, they experienced what would turn out to be their final night in the house. Join Facebook to connect with Kathy Westmoreland Official Fanpage and others you may know. September 22, 2020. The Warrens' visit to the house was depicted in the 2016 film The Conjuring 2. He was 59. She is buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens, Georgia. In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house in Amityville, a suburban neighborhood located on the south shore of Long Island, New York.Thirteen months before the Lutzes moved in, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. had shot and killed six members of his family at the house. Leaked military photo from 2018 shows cube-shaped UAP over the Atlantic Ocean. She was the mother of 5 children, three from her previous marriage and two daughters with George. He still recalls the family dog going crazy, nearly strangling itself with its lead as their garage door shook and slammed up and down. He reported no paranormal phenomena while inside the house. a. Judge Weinstein also expressed concern about the conduct of William Weber and Bernard Burton relating to the affair, stating: "There is a very serious ethical question when lawyers become literary agents."[16]. The book is claimed to be based on the paranormal experiences of the Lutz family, but has led to controversy and lawsuits over its truthfulness.[1]. The windows are often illuminated in the films, giving the appearance of malevolent eyes. Related Questions. After discussing the matter, they decided that it was not a problem. During the course of the lawsuit surrounding the case in the late 1970s, Father Pecoraro stated in an affidavit that his only contact with the Lutzes concerning the matter had been by telephone. He remembers how the activity in the home accelerated each night at 3:15 AM, the precise time police believe the prior residents were slaughtered by their son in the middle of the night. The child character Jodie DeFeo, appearing in the film, is fictional and was not one of the victims of the shootings by Ronald DeFeo, Jr. in November 1974. Kathy had three children from a previous marriage: Daniel, 9, Christopher, 7, and Melissa (Missy), 5. One of the better known features of the Amityville Horror films is the distinctive pumpkin head appearance of the house, which was created by two quarter round windows on the third floor attic level. Select this result to view Kathy Lutz's phone number, address, and more. The Lutzes declined to give a full account of the events that took place on this occasion, describing them as "too frightening". The first three films were filmed at a house in Toms River, New Jersey which had been converted to look like 112 Ocean Avenue after the authorities in Amityville denied permission for location filming. For the 2005 film version, the house was renamed 412 Ocean Avenue. But it wasn't until after the Lutz family moved into the house in December of 1975 that the purported haunting of the Amityville Horror house allegedly set in. She was a waitress, and freshly divorced. The house used in the 2005 version was in Silver Lake, Wisconsin, while other location work was shot in nearby Antioch, Illinois. In Chapter 1, the date is given as December 18. Even as a child, you realized there was something not right about this man something not good.. Christopher Lutz, the son of George and Kathy, tells Inside Edition in 2005 that he was "absolutely disgusted" with regard to what he saw as he watched Hollywood's take on his family's story. If you have any unfortunate news that this page should be update with, please let us know using this form. Lutz, 58, who lives in Las Vegas, did not return calls seeking comment. Kathy died of emphysema in 2004; George died of heart disease in 2006. In December 1975 George and Kathy Lutz have their homeowners dreams come true. [3] A friend of George Lutz learned about the history of the house and insisted on having it blessed. It is also the basis of a series of films released from 1979 onward. "I believe this has stayed alive for 25 years because it's a true story. Daniel has declined any further interviews and has no plans to make any financial gain out of any of this. [10], The claims of physical damage to the locks, doors and windows were rejected by Jim and Barbara Cromarty, who bought the house for $55,000 in March 1977. When she returned with him to the room, there was not a fly in sight. This happened to be the exact time of the DeFeo family killings. George Lutz commented in an interview for the program: "I believe this has stayed alive for 25 years because it's a true story. During the period in which the Lutz family was living at 112 Ocean Avenue, Dr. Stephen Kaplan, a self-styled vampirologist and ghost hunter, was called in to investigate the house. It also had a swimming pool and a boathouse (the home was located on a canal). There was nothing particularity suspicious or eerie about their deaths. The debate about the accuracy of The Amityville Horror continues. [38] Events in the book dated to the period before December 23 suggest that this date may be incorrect. The people and events fictionalized in The Amityville Horror have been the subject of a number of films (many of which share no connection other than the reference to Amityville): The 1979 film, based on Jay Anson's novel, is the best known in the series. The six-bedroom house was built in Dutch Colonial style and had a distinctive gambrel roof with odd-shaped windows giving it the appearance of eyes. George knew a Catholic priest named Father Ray who agreed to carry out the house blessing (in Anson's book, real-life priest Father Ralph J. Pecoraro is referred to as Father Mancuso for privacy reasons).[4]. After 37 years, one of the original Amityville Horror children has decided to finally break the silence regarding his experience at the legendary haunted home. [13][pageneeded] In the original hardcover edition, Father Pecoraro's car is "an old tan Ford", and he experiences an incident in which the hood flies up against the windshield while he is driving it. Both had been married before, and Kathy had children from her previous marriage. The Cromartys also revealed that the "Red Room" was a small closet in the basement and would have been known to the previous owners of the house (the Lutzes) because it was not concealed in any way. Daniel says he knew something was off with the house within hours of moving in. He remembers his sister, Kathy, waking up screaming from vivid nightmares of the murders (which took place in her room), her jumping after she felt cold, invisible arms embrace her, and her confusion as mysterious red welts appeared from nowhere on her chest. When he flicked the first holy water and began to pray, he heard a masculine voice demand that he "get out". In the September 17, 1979, issue of People magazine, William Weber wrote: "I know this book is a hoax. He recalled the familys bookshelves lined with books on the occult and demonism. [18][19] In October 2000, The History Channel broadcast Amityville: The Haunting and Amityville: Horror or Hoax?, a two-part documentary made by horror screenwriter/producer Daniel Farrands. Carmen, Marcus said Scruggs was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the story that the FBI sought the security guards Richard Jewell, the leader of the suspect in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics can demonstrate. It's not." Katy Perry Surprised that Paul McCartney is Still Alive The Graham Norton Show He recalls the green, gelatin-like substance oozing from the walls, the living-room crucifix rotating until it was upside down, and the clear bite-marks that appeared on his fathers ankles right before their eyes. In upcoming documentary, Daniel says that his father had been involved with Satanism and magic even before they moved to into the quiet suburban neighborhood on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Still, the story of the Lutz haunting has inspired over a dozen horror films, the first of which was made in 1979 and starred James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathleen. He still stands by the familys original story. [24] He objected particularly to the scene in the film where the male lead named as George Lutz and played by Ryan Reynolds is shown killing the family dog with an axe. [citation needed] Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. She was co-starred in several major Fox productions of the postwar years, and played the title role in Kathy Lutz. A pretty, athletic leading lady with a refreshing down-to-earth quality, Cathy Downs worked as a model before signing a 20th Century-Fox contract in 1944. Also bad odor around the house, along with lots of fleas and the haunting coolness in some places of the house. Kathy Lutz had repeated nightmares about the murders. [27] The photograph did not emerge into the public domain until 1979, when George and Kathy Lutz and Rod Steiger appeared on The Merv Griffin Show to promote the release of the first film. Daniel Lutz, who was a 10-year-old boy on January 14, 1976 when the family fled from the house , still insists that the family was menaced by spirits in the home. In August 2010, the house was sold to a local resident for $950,000. After 37 years, original Amityville Horror child breaks the silence about their experience in the haunted home, Michigan dispatch receives more than 30 calls regarding mysterious booms in the area, Angry squirrel terrorizes New York neighborhood. The part of the priest who blesses the house (renamed Father Delaney in the film) was played by Academy Awardwinning actor Rod Steiger. Chronicle. Kathy married George Lutz in 1974. His story would have likely remained secret had a friend not contacted a popular filmmaker, Eric Walter, about speaking to him about his experience. Kathy is related to Clyde Frye and Kathy Frye as well as 2 additional people. Amityville Horror Wife. The various owners of the house since the Lutz family left in 1976 have reported no problems while living there. George Lee Lutz's brief stay in a home in Amityville, N.Y., spawned one of the most famous haunted house stories, the basis for the "Amityville Horror" novel and movies. Murderer Ron, who's still alive and serving six 25-year-life sentences at a New York correctional facility, claimed he heard voices urging him to kill his family. New high-res Area 51 photos from pilot who skirted the top-secret military bases boundary. After 28 days, the Lutzes fled the house, claiming to have been terrorized by paranormal phenomena while living there.[2]. [a] Much of the DeFeo family's furniture was still in the house, because it was included for $400 as part of the deal. Jay Ansons The Amityville Horror sold more than three million copies and was turned into a major motion picture that grossed more than $80 million dollars. Estranged from his wife and two children, Daniel now lives in Queens, New York where he works as a stonemason. Despite all working on a funny TV show, the cast of Family Affair was plagued by tragedy. Sign up for the Altered Dimensions newsletter and periodically receive the latest Christian news, Bible study articles, modern-day life lessons, new product announcements, and more. The polygraph tests were performed by Chris Gugas and Michael Rice who, at the time, were reportedly among the top five polygraph experts in America. [14][15], In May 1977, George and Kathy Lutz filed a lawsuit against William Weber (the defense lawyer for Ronald DeFeo, Jr. at his trial), Paul Hoffman (a writer working on an account of the hauntings), Bernard Burton and Frederick Mars (both alleged clairvoyants who had examined the house), along with Good Housekeeping magazine, the New York Sunday News and the Hearst Corporation. The Amityville true story reveals that unlike what is stated early in the movie, Kathy's former husband, Sebastian, was not dead. Kathy had three children from a previous marriage: Daniel, 9, Christopher, 7, and Melissa (Missy), 5. George Lutz maintained that events in the book were "mostly true". They have also lived in Barberton, OH and Chesapeake, OH. Entitled "Boo", it features a house in Amityville where a family has died in circumstances similar to the DeFeo murders. The defamation claim was dismissed by a Los Angeles court in November 2005, while other issues related to the lawsuit remained unresolved at the time of George Lutz's death. The house in Toms River used as the location for the first three films has also been modified for the same reason. Daniel Lutz, who was a 10-year-old boy on January 14, 1976 when the family fled from the house , still insists that the family was menaced by spirits in the home. Cathy Downs - Biography. The filmmaker noted that Daniel still insists the story is substantially true. [17] The results, in Mr. Rice's opinion, did not indicate lying. ^ The Prologue of The Amityville Horror states that "they moved in on December 23". 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