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Victims were found in their nightclothes and were shot in the back, apparently while they were asleep. As Father Ray Pecoraro performed the rites, he heard a masculine voice tell him to "get out". Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. The murders were the subject of a 2012 documentary,Shattered Hopes: The True Story of the Amityville Murders, in which filmmaker Ryan Katzenbach argued that the DeFeos were killed by more than one person. Troubled Youth. DeFeo was tried and convicted for the 1974 murders of Nissa Burkhalter Bio She was the ex-lover of Ronald DeFeo that was an American mass killer. He told me there would be a lot of money from book rights and a movie. Follow the news on the latest developments in the Thomas Valva case. However, the neighbors reported only hearing the family dog on the night of the murders. The house stood empty for 13 months until the Lutz family bought for $80,000 in December 1975 they thought it was a bargain. He died while still serving time in prison - no cause of death has yet been released Credit: YouTube. Over the years, many accounts have debunked the Lutzs' claims but the legend of the Amityville Horror persists all the same. March 16, 2021 10:30am. On December 5, 1984, in the heart of New Orleans, the lives of two men made a wrong turn towards death. The news of his death was confirmed by New York State officials. on March 12, 2021 at Albany Medical Center, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 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. Murder Victim. The year prior, the Lutz family, doing business as Amityville Enterprises, filed legal documents to remove Dimension Films option on the franchise from the court-supervised sale of Weinstein Co. assets. Petrified, the family fled the house just one month after moving in. Since then there has been a 3-D movie take on the story and a 2005 remake of the original film starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George. He was sentenced to six concurrent 25-year-to-life sentences. His victims were found face down in their beds, shot to death with a .35-caliber Marlin hunting rifle in the early hours of Nov. 13, 1974. During the interview, DeFeo changed his story and blamed his sister and mother for the deaths. Fifth and youngest child of Ronald Sr., and Louise De Feo. Vault Links: FOIA Home. DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical. This disturbing kind of crime is featured inFamily Massacre,a new series premiering Friday, December 3 at 9/8con Oxygen. Search Vault. He was an inmate at Sullivan Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in the Catskills. A ruling on cause of death is pending an autopsy. Related tags : Criminal Previous Article Next Article Criminal DeFeo killed his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters inside their home in Suffolk County, New York, back in 1974, WABC News reported. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. They seemed like an average good family, the Rev. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM3:00PM, Rape case against soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo Portuguese football player, Who is Nissa Burkhalter? [20] There have been several theories regarding what happened that night in November 1974. What was Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s cause of death? However, the cause of death has not been made public. But just to be safe, they decided to have a priest come and bless the property as they unpacked which is where their nightmare began. This dispels the myth that Ronald Butch DeFeo Jr. has any ownership in the grave. Siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, nine, were each shot once all of them were found face down in their beds. He died Friday, March 12. Butch was handed down six sentences of 25 years to life the following month. 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. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. On March 12, 2021, Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison at the age of 69. However, it is announced that the Albany County Coroner's Office is not able to publish Ronald DeFeo's . But no changes in the case were ever made as a result of those claims. The events that occurred at a house in Amityville, New York, in 1974 have long been considered historical, piquing the interest of many. 0. Back then, it was reported that Butch had a tense relationship with his father because Butch was known to use drugs, drank, and often got into fights. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. As Father Ray Pecoraro performed the rites, he heard a masculine voice tell him to "get out". Ronald DeFeo Jr., the killer who inspired "The Amityville Horror" book and movie series, has died, according to a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community . Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as Butch, was convicted of killing his whole family in a crime that shocked the nation. Soon after, Father Pecoraro fell ill with flu-like symptoms and his hands began to bleed, while the Lutzs began to notice unsettling phenomena in their new home. And over the years, before his March 2021 death, DeFeo's story had changed a few times. View of the home of Ronald DeFeo Sr.,the car salesman, his wife, two daughters and two sons were found shot to death on Nov. 14 1974. George and Kathy Lutz moved into the Dutch Colonial home with their three kids a year after the massacre, but famously fled 28 days later without their possessions because they'd been so traumatised by hauntings in the house which included claims of slime oozing from the walls and a priest's hands bleeding after attempting to bless the property. Screams to Screens: The Amityville Horror. Prison officials released the news to the public but did not reveal why he had been at the hospital in the first place or what his cause of death was. Main > Ronald DeFeo Jr. Tue, 16 March 2021 . Butch had two brothers and two sisters, aged between 9 and 18 at the time of the incident. They only lasted 28 days before abandoning the house. The victims of DeFeo's family members included his parents, Ronald DeFeo, Sr. (43), and Louise (42), two brothers, John (9) and Marc (12), and two sisters, Allison (13), and Dawn (18). New York, and had been taken to the hospital on February 2nd. Birthday September 26, 1951. Their account of what they went through was made into a book called The Amityville Horror: A True Story which has been repeatedly adapted into several terrifying Hollywood films. March 16, 2021. The nightmarish account of DeFeo's murders and the Lutz's supernatural ordeal are being reexamined following news of DeFeo's death aged 69 at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York on Friday. When I got a gun in my hand, there's no doubt in my mind who I am. Though all of the supernatural claims were eventually debunked and the book criticized as a hoax, nearly 30 films either theatrical or direct-to-video have used the Amityville title or concept, including 1983s Amityville 3-D, 2005s The Amityville Horror remake starring Ryan Reynolds, and, in 2017, Amityville: The Awakening. . He was serving a sentence of. April 13, 2022 The events that occurred at a house in Amityville, New York, in 1974 have long been considered historical, piquing the interest of many. Read More. He was 69. When I got a gun in my hand, there's no doubt in my mind who I am. While we all know the story of the haunting of Amityville, before the Lutz family even lived there, a real life horror story occurred within the walls. Those details, and others, have come under scrutiny, reported the Washington Post in 1979. The 1974 massacre in Amityville, Long Island, horrified America and saw DeFeo jailed for life. DeFeo told detectives: \"Once I started, I just couldn't stop. Their story inspired author Jay Ansons 1977 book The Amityville Horror.. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. His defense attorney, William Weber, tried to make a case that the defendant, who allegedly heard voices, was innocent by reason of insanity,NBC Newsreported. Giacalone, who once worked cold cases in the Bronx, said DeFeos murders will always live in infamy in New York. But no changes in the case were ever made as a result of those claims. "And as far as I'm concerned, what I did was self-defence and there was nothing wrong with it. Petrified, the family fled the house just one month after moving in. "The front door would slam shut in the middle of the night.". Ronald DeFeo Jr., the convicted killer whose 1974 murders spawned the "Amityville Horror" franchise, died last week while serving a 25 years-to-life prison term, officials said Monday. Breaking News, Photos, and Videos. "As kids, we rode our bikes just to see the house like every other kid who grew up in the area," Giacalone said. The victims were DeFeos father, Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, his mother Louise DeFeo, 42, and siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Mark, 11 and John, 9, according to newspaper articles at the time. News. This is the real-life story of his crimes and how they spawned a ghost story which has terrified the world for decades. By 1974, the DeFeo family lived in the Long Island community of Amityville. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. While demenologists Ed and Lorraine Warren came to the opposite conclusion during their 1976 investigation, during which an infrared photograph of a ghostly child was captured at the bottom of the staircase. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All victims were found in the same position, face down in bed. The murders became famous for being central to the book and movie "The Amityville Horror". Looking for Ron Defore online? [3]The victims were Ronald Jr.'s parents: Ronald DeFeo Sr. (age 43) and Louise DeFeo (ne Brigante, 43); and his four siblings: Dawn (18), Allison (13), Marc (12), and John Matthew (9). This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. Over the years, many accounts have debunked the Lutzs' claims but the legend of the Amityville Horror persists all the same. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. FALLSBURG, New York (WABC) -- Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was convicted of killing his entire family inside their Amityville home in 1974, . This is the real-life story of his crimes and how they spawned a ghost story which has terrified the world for decades. Butch died on March 12, 2021, at 69-years-old at a hospital in Albany, New York. He was 69. It went so fast\". So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we? "I believe he wanted to tell another side of the story," Keeler said. In advance of the series premiere, heres what you need to know about the real-life Amityville Horror.. I loved my family very much, he said at a 1999 parole hearing, according to AP. DeFeo kicked the bucket at 69 years old. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. A cause of death has not yet been announced. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. However, an expert for the prosecution testified that Butch was sane when the murders occurred. Shortly after the murders, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the former DeFeo family home. . Their examination of the house was depicted in the film The Conjuring 2 (2016) one of many mainstream movies about the Lutzs' story. "As far as I'm concerned, if I didn't kill my family, they were going to kill me," DeFeo reportedly said at trial. MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. A prosecution expert testified that while DeFeo was an admitted LSD and heroin user, he was sane at the time of the murders. The case inspired the book and film versions of . But suspicion quickly fell on him and, when the mob hitman he accused of being the killer was proven to have an alibi, he confessed to being the gunman. 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 massacre in Amityville, Long Island, horrified America and saw DeFeo jailed for life. He was 69. Other books and films based on the murders would follow. Ronald DeFeo Jr. died in prison at the age of sixty-nine. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. It's reportedly been on the market four different times since the alleged haunting, selling most recently in 2017 for $605,000. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. G.W. Nissa Burkhalter Bio, Wiki Nissa Burkhalter was the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo who was an American murderer . Paranormal investigator Stephen Kaplan, who investigated the home shortly after the Lutzs fled, wrote a book critical of their supernatural allegations. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was 47 years old, and Natascha Burkhalter, who was 40 years old, were both well-known actors and celebrities in their own right. Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, who committed the murders at the heart of theAmityville Horrorbook and movies, has died in New York state custody. He didn't tell the Lutzs about what he heard at first, but couldn't shake his distress and called to warn them to stay out of the second floor room where he heard the voice which had once been Marc and John's bedroom. pic.twitter.com/MmgqWsslkF. Siblings Dawn, 18, Allison, 13, Marc, 12, and John, nine, were each shot once all of them were found face down in their beds. He didn't tell the Lutzs about what he heard at first, but couldn't shake his distress and called to warn them to stay out of the second floor room where he heard the voice which had once been Marc and John's bedroom. Later on, the films and many of the books that followed centers around the Lutzes purported experiences in the house. At trial, his defence team tried to argue he was insane, arguing that DeFeo had heard voices saying that his family were plotting against him. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. (September 26, 1951 March 12, 2021) was an American mass murderer who was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters in Amityville, Long Island, New York. DeFeo was endeavored and condemned for the 1974 killings Nissa Burkhalter Biography Nissa Burkhalter was the ex-wife of Ronald DeFeo, an American mass murderer. Vault Home. During his 1975 trial, DeFeo admitted the killings. JOHN ROBERTON OF EARNOCK. 1. He died while still serving time on Friday. The original Amityville Horror (1979) starred James Brolin and Margot Kidder, and a 2005 remake of the same name had Ryan Reynolds play George Lutz. A cause of death has not yet been announced, but will be determined by the Albany County coroner. jone. DeFeo initially claimed the murders were connected to organized crime, but confessed under interrogation the day after the killings. The cause of his death wasn't revealed at the time. 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, died March 12 at the Albany Medical Center in New York. He later confessed that he killed his family around 3:30 a.m., acting out the murders for detectives as he described how he shot his family one by one, according to the outlet. "The movie made it famous. Address The year prior, the Lutz family, doing business as Amityville Enterprises, filed legal documents to remove Dimension Films option on the franchise from the court-supervised sale of Weinstein Co. assets. At the time of the murders, DeFeo said he had found his family shot in their home, but later, his story kept changing, even when he was convicted of the murders and given six sentences of 25 years to life in prison. DeFeo, 69, died Friday while serving a sentence at Sullivan . All Rights Reserved. Ronald DeFeo died on . DeFeo was the oldest of five children born to Ronald, a successful car salesman, and Louise DeFeo . For other inquiries, Contact Us. Since then there has been a. film starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George. Regardless of why Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed his family, he was the sole suspect convicted of the heinous crimes. The New York man convicted of gruesomely killing his siblings and parents in 1974 and subsequently inspiring the Amityville Horror franchise has died. American Internationals 1979 film adaptation, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder and featuring the memorable poster tagline For Gods Sake, Get Out!, was the highest-grossing independent film of all time until 1990. DeFeo was just 23 years old when he grabbed his .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle to butcher his family. But the story of the house where the killings took place, on 112 Ocean Avenue, has become the stuff of legend because of chilling paranormal claims made about it. They lived in the house they purchased in 1964 at 112 Ocean Avenue. Keeler recalled the widespread attention the case drew. 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. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, From the archives: EW takes a trip to Amityville. Their examination of the house was depicted in the film The Conjuring 2 (2016) one of many mainstream movies about the Lutzs' story. [6]Ronald DeFeo Jr., also known as \"Butch\", was the eldest son of the family and its lone surviving member. In the book, the Lutzes fled the house in terror after 28 days of windows slamming, an oozing slime occurring, and ghoulish visions appearing. Nearly a half-century later, it remains one of the most infamous cases of familicide. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Categories ( click to retract ) - Administrative Policy Procedures - Anti-War - Bureau Personnel - Civil Rights - Counterterrorism - Foreign Counterintelligence - Frequently Requested An official cause of death is yet to be determined. The 1974 massacre in Amityville, Long Island, horrified America and saw DeFeo jailed for life. In the dead of night, he murdered his family, including both parents and four younger siblings evidence suggests his mother and 13-year-old sister Allison were awake when he turned his gun on them. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. The murdered members of the DeFeo family are buried in nearby Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Credit: Barry Sloan. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr, also known as Ronald DeFeo Jr, is an infamous American criminal who was sentenced to prison for the mass killing of his whole family.. On December 21, 1975, DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced . Their stories of demonic possession helped inspire The Amityville Horror book and original movie, along with the story of the DeFeo family. While Butchs story kept changing over the years, the courts still believed he was the only one responsible for murdering the family. The heinous acts, which occurred in 1974, inspired the Amityville Horror book and film series. Meanwhile, a prosecution expert testified that while DeFeo was an admitted LSD and heroin user, he was sane at the time of the murders, according to a Newsday report in 2021. Robert DeFeo JR. I think my mother and father are shot!\"[2] DeFeo and a small group of people went to 112 Ocean Avenue, which was located near the bar, and found that DeFeo's parents were dead inside the house. But the story of the house where the killings took place, on 112 Ocean Avenue, has become the stuff of legend because of chilling paranormal claims made about it. Ronald DeFeo Jr., center, leaves Suffolk County district court after a hearing on Nov. 15, 1974. DeFeo was serving 25 years to life in prison at the Sullivan Correctional Facility. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But much to their disappointment, they weren't allowed to go to the upstairs floors or the basement. Watch a mini documentary about Ronald DeFeo Jr and the Amityville murders here:. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Their story inspired author, Jay Ansons 1977 book The Amityville Horror.. View our online Press Pack. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who massacred his entire family in 1974 in their Amityville home while they slept, a case that gained national attention and spawned multiple books and movies, died Friday. Let's Examine the True Story Behind 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It', This Man Is the Most Prolific Killer in the U.S., and You Probably Don't Know His Name, These Classic Halloween Scary Movies Are Actually Based on True Stories. In the book, the Lutzes fled the house in terror after 28 days of windows slamming, an oozing slime occurring, and ghoulish visions appearing. Physical evidence suggests that Louise DeFeo and her daughter Allison were both awake at the time of their deaths. [5] The DeFeo family had occupied 112 Ocean Avenue since purchasing it in 1965. While demenologists Ed and Lorraine Warren came to the opposite conclusion during their 1976 investigation, during which an infrared photograph of a ghostly child was captured at the bottom of the staircase. He claimed he then crawled into the house through a window and stumbled across the bloody scene. Perpetrator Shot Liuzza Essay. Husband and wife Ronald DeFeo, Sr. and Louise DeFeo had both been shot twice with a .35 caliber . It was the stuff of unthinkable nightmares. Though all of the supernatural claims were eventually debunked and the book criticized as a hoax, nearly 30 films either theatrical or direct-to-video have used the Amityville title or concept, including1983s Amityville 3-D, 2005s The Amityville Horror remake starring Ryan Reynolds, and, in 2017, Amityville: The Awakening. In a 1986 interview, Butch attempted to shift the blame onto his sister and mother. Ronald DeFeo's cause of death. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. DeFeo was ordered held . DeFeo, 69, was pronounced dead at 6.35pm Friday at the Albany Medical Center, state corrections officials said in a statement. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Photo: Getty Images. His defense attorney, William Weber, tried to make a case that the defendant, who allegedly heard voices, was innocent by reason of insanity. [1]Contents1 Murders2 Trial and conviction3 Controversies4 Death5 In popular culture6 References7 External linksMurders[edit]Around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 1974, 23-year-old DeFeo entered Henry's Bar in Amityville, Long Island, New York, and declared: \"You got to help me! So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! They had all possibly been shot while sleeping and were found lying face down and hands raised above their heads. DeFeo gunned down his family using a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action rifle, inside their home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, on November 13, 1974. Another potential motive was that he benefited from a hefty insurance policy. The confessed killer, after first pleading an insanity defense, would later attempt to shift blame on one of his deceased sisters. The Albany County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released his cause of death. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. In 1974, as his parents and four siblings slept in their three-story home in Long Island, New York, a 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. executed them. His death was announced yesterday by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He had spent the last 45 years of his life imprisoned on six counts of second-degree murder. His 43-year-old parents, Ronald and Louise, were both shot twice. The DeFeo parents had both been shot twice, while the children had all been killed with single shots. The whole thing was a con, except for the crime.. he was murdered, along with the rest of his family, by older brother Ronald Jr. on the night of November 13, 1974. How has this family massacre become part of pop culture? During their initial investigation, police reported that DeFeo told them "the voices of the house" compelled him to commit the crime. DeFeo was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of Nissa Burkhalter Bio She was the ex of Ronald DeFeo who was an American mass executioner. James McNamara, an assistant pastor at the family's church at the time, told reporters. He also alleged that his wife, Kathy, would sometimes appear transformed into a wrinkled old woman, and that green slime had oozed from the walls. The murders were immortalized in Jay Anson's 1977 book about the allegedly true paranormal experiences of the subsequent owners of the home. DeFeo . The DeFeo Family Murders Ronald DeFeo, Jr., "Butch" to his family, was born September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York. Lutz also said he would wake up at 3.15am every night around the time when DeFeo carried out the killings. On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43, a car salesman; his wife, Louise DeFeo, 43; and four of their five children including Dawn, 18; Allison, 13; Marc, 12; and John, 9, were shot to death with a .35 caliber rifle inside their upscale home in suburban Amityville, New York. "Amityville Horror" killer Ronald DeFeo -- who killed his six family members in 1974 on Long Island -- has died behind bars, according to officials. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. On one occasion, he claimed he found his wife Kathy levitating across the bed and, on another, he saw a vision of DeFeo's head floating in the cellar. You will be redirected back to your article in, Margot Kidder, James Brolin, The Amityville Horror 1979, Jonathan Majors Talks About Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Negative Reviews, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Livestream + Latest Winners List, A24 Buys Historic Off Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre For $10M, Ke Huy Quan Lost Health Insurance After Filming Everything Everywhere All At Once, Jay Weston Dies: Lady Sings The Blues Producer Who Gave Al Pacino Broadway Break Was 93, Prolific Actor Dies At 61 After Aneurysm; Hollywood Reax + Career In Photos, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. He claimedthat his oldest sister, Dawn, first shot their father, and then his mother killed Dawn and the other siblings. To celebrate, he enjoyed the night on Bourbon Street. In 1974, as his parents and four siblings slept in their three-story home in Long Island, New York, a 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. executed them. He also alleged that his wife, Kathy, would sometimes appear transformed into a wrinkled old woman, and that green slime had oozed from the walls. The 1979 horror movie classic of the same name starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder became a big-screen hit. On December 21, 1975, DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six sentences of 25-years to life. [2] He admitted that he had taken a bath and redressed, and detailed where he had discarded crucial evidence such as blood-stained clothes and the Marlin rifle and cartridges before going to work as usual. On November 21, 1975, just over a year after the slayings, DeFeo Jr. was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder. But suspicion quickly fell on him and, when the mob hitman he accused of being the killer was proven to have an alibi, he confessed to being the gunman. Jerry O'Neill, who has previously listed the property, says there's nothing spooky to find anyway. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the man whose brutal slayings of his parents and siblings inspired "The Amityville Horror" book and movie series, has died in prison custody. He was born on September 26, 1951 and his birthplace is New York. Who is Nissa Burkhalter? He was 69. Initially, Butch claimed that someone from the mob killed his family. The six victims were later buried in nearby Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. Tag: ronald defeo jr cause of death. Those details, and others, have come under scrutiny, of the same name starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder became a big-screen hit. DeFeo, who had been serving a 25 years-to-life. His victims included his parents, two younger sisters, and two little brothers.