The house made famous in the 1979 film The Amityville Horror is up for sale in New York - ghosts not included.The five-bedroom Dutch Colonial went on the market yesterday for $1.15 million (£800,000).
In 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were shot dead as they slept in the house. The eldest son, Ronald DeFeo, called police to report the slayings. He was convicted of the murders aged 23.
When he confessed, he told detectives: 'Once I started, I just couldn’t stop. It went so fast.George and Kathleen Lutz purchased the house after the murders, thinking it would be their dream home. But the dream quickly turned to nightmare as a supernatural horror appeared to haunt the house. After just 28 terrifying days they fled for their lives.
According to Jay Anson's book the house at 112 Ocean Avenue remained empty for thirteen months after the DeFeo murders. In December 1975, the Mr and Mrs Lutz bought the house for what was considered to be a bargain price of $80,000. The six-bedroom house was built in Dutch Colonial style, and had a distinctive gambrel roof. It also had a swimming pool and a boathouse, as it was located on a canal.
George and Kathy married in July 1975 and each had their own homes, but they wanted to start afresh with a new property. Kathy had three children from a previous marriage, Daniel, nine, Christopher, seven, and Melissa (Missy), five. (Daily Mail)
