Initially, he reported the murders himself, telling police someone had broken into the house and killed his family, and even claimed he thought the killer was Louis Falini, a mafia hitman. All rights reserved. DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical . 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. appreciated. As far as hauntings go, however, there are ongoing conflicting reports. Over the years, the house has been up for sale several times, including most recently in 2016 when it was on the market for $850,000. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo, his father was a successful automobile salesman for his family's Brooklyn dealership. Their story inspired the book The Amityville Horror which, in turn, inspired the movies that followed it. It wasn't clear why DeFeo, who was serving his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility, was hospitalized, and a cause of death was still being determined by the medical examiner's office in Albany County, officials said. We are eagerly waiting to see what you think. Murder Victim. His insanity plea wasn't accepted, however, and in 1965, he was found guilty on six counts of murder and sentenced to six separate 25-years-to-life sentences. Prosecutors confirmed during Ronald Jr's trial that Marc was shot face down in bed. GREAT NEWS! Condemned to six sentences of 25 years to life, DeFeo died in prison on March 12, 2021. Dr Hilary says Sarah Everard vigils are 'Covid superspreading events however strong people feel'. The killer shot his parents twice while all the children had been killed with a single shot. Legal Statement. He was 69. We have set your language to There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. But maybe this is because of the special situation of the mass murderer.. The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions (SDCCS) spokeswoman said she could not immediately comment on the case. This browser does not support getting your location. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. He then claimed he knocked her unconscious on to her bed and shot her in the head. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Butch didnt run into a police station saying he found his parents shot, he ran into a bar a got his friend, the bar owner, and 2 others to go to the house. based on information from your browser. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sorry! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2. The cause of his death wasn't immediately known. His cause of death was not released. or redistributed. 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,. 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 . This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. March 15 (UPI) -- Ronald DeFeo Jr., whose 1974 murders of his Long Island, N.Y., family inspired the horror movie franchise The Amityville Horror, has died in prison at age 69, state. The corrections department said it couldn't disclose why DeFeo was hospitalized, citing health privacy laws. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. that is nothing more than conjecture and heresay. He was taken to the hospital from a prison in the Catskill Mountains on Feb. 2, state prison officials confirmed to PEOPLE. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. All rights reserved. All victims were found in the same position, face down in bed. This was further exasperated with the usage of LSD and heroin by DeFeo, Jr. On November 13, 1974, as his family slept, he gunned them down using a .35-caliber Marlin rifle. ALBANY -- One of the most infamous criminals in the New York State prison system, "Amityville Horrors" murderer Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, has died while in state custody, CNHI confirmed Monday . Ronald DeFeos cause of death never reveals because it is reported that the Albany County Coroners Office is not able to publish his cause of death to anyone except relatives, over health privacy laws. He was 69. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She won the jackpot. Ronald DeFeo died on Friday at Albany Medical Center. AP. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. ALBANY, N.Y. - The man convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home that later inspired the "The Amityville Horror" book and movies has died, prison officials said Monday. At first, it was announced that Ronald DeFeo Jrs cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially, but now it is reported that the Albany County Coroners Office is not able to publish the cause of death to anyone except relatives, over the privacy laws. He unsuccessfully sought a retrial in 1992, claiming that his 18-year-old sister killed the other five family members and that he then shot her. We tell scary stories about it. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The horrifying murders inspired the 1977 book The Amityville Horror, A True Story. The man had accumulated an arsenal of guns, using the stipend from his father and the money he'd stolen from the dealership. Others figured that the voices he had heard resulted from taking LSD, which Ronald DeFeo had admitted to using. DeFeo whose murderous spree served as the inspiration behind the "The Amityville Horror" book and movie franchise died Friday while serving a 25-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan. Maybe Butch deserved to die the way he did or maybe he was tortured in that house. George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the house after the DeFeo murders but left after living there for under a month, citing paranormal activity. On December 5, 1984, in the heart of New Orleans, the lives of two men made a wrong turn towards death. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Take an exclusive look at the name and renderings for a potential casino, resort and entertainment venue on Coney Island. Death 12 Mar 2021 (aged 69) Albany, Albany County, New York, USA. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Ronald DeFeo died on Friday. The death was . Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. . Officials did not disclose the reason DeFeo was hospitalized to PEOPLE, citing privacy laws. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Ronald DeFeo Jr. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The original address of the home when the murders took place was 112 Ocean Ave. but it was eventually changed to 108 Ocean Ave. in order to discourage tourists. In a jailhouse interview in 2006, DeFeo claimed he only killed his father, his mother and his eldest sister, Dawn. In this Nov. 15, 1974 file photo, Ronald DeFeo Jr., center, leaves Suffolk County district court after a hearing, on New York's Long Island. All of the victims were found face-down in bed. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Speaking to Ric Osuna, the author of The Night The DeFeos Died, in November 2000, DeFeo confessed that along with his sister Dawn and two of his friends he'd planned the murders of the family"out of desperation". 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. Monique Samuels Divorce Rumors From Chris After 10 Years! Published A year after the slaughter, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the home, they claimed that they had been forced to leave the house after noticing strange sounds, voices and green slime oozing from the walls, less than a month after moving in. A cause of death has not yet been announced, but will be determined by the Albany County coroner. Born Louise Brigante, she was a former model and it was believed she was dating singer Mel Torme before her marriage to Ronald Sr. Ronald Jr also killed his 18-year-old sister Dawn, who he later blamed for the killings of the rest of the family. There was a problem getting your location. Ronald Jr mom Louise DeFeo, 43, was the second victim who was shot in the back twice. All Rights Reserved. "I loved my family very much," he said at a 1999 parole hearing, where he also said he had gotten married while in prison. Bronx native, Ian Jackson could be one of the city's best basketball players, ever? What was Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s cause of death? Please enter your email and password to sign in. DeFeo had claimed as much during his defense, but he was found guilty of murder and was serving out six sentences of 25 years to life in prison when he died. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Alllll of them needed professional help. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. In fact, the Albany County Coroner's Office is not able to release the cause of death to anyone except relatives, due to health privacy laws. The mass murderer was convicted on Nov. 21, 1975, and on Dec. 4, 1975, and was sentenced to six accusations of 25-years-to-life by Judge Thomas Stark. Ronald DeFeo Jrs cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office after investigation. Over the course of time DeFeo has changed his version of the story multiple times. A system error has occurred. He died Friday, March 12. 2023 FOX Television Stations, slaughtering his parents and four siblings, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Study: NFL players who experience concussions may exhibit cognitive failure later in life. Officials said DeFeo was transferred to Albany Medical Center and was pronounced dead on March 12 at 6:35 p.m. An autopsy by the Albany County Medical Examiner's Office will rule an official cause of death. He was 69. Officials didn't release the cause of his death at the time, which only led to people wondering more about his death, which appeared to be sudden and unexpected. 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The Albany County Coroner's Office, which is responsible for determining what caused his death, said it doesn't release such information except to relatives of the dead. At the time of their deaths, law enforcement reported that he asked how to get his fathers life insurance policy, which raises the theory that money might have motivated the killings. Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Coney Island casino and resort: First look at name, renderings, Driver shot in head during Bronx gas station robbery, surveillance shows. New York, and had been taken to the hospital on February 2nd. His cause of death was not immediately available, but it will be determined and released by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office and is at that offices discretion whether the results will be made publicly available, the spokesperson said. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. was born on Sept. 26, 1951. After confessing to the murders, he was convicted in November 1975 and the following month he was sentenced to six sentences of 25-years-to-life by Judge Thomas Stark. The stately, 5,000-square-foot abode underwent renovations after Caroline and David DAntonio purchased it in 2010 for $950,000. Small detail, but important if you entertain he didnt do this alone. His defense attorney attempted to use the "insanity" plea, however, a jury rejected the argument, and DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences. He said an alleged hitman, Louis Falini, had murdered and claimed that he might be in danger, too. DeFeo, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the eldest son of Ronald, Sr. and Louise Brigante. Your email address will not be published. To get the father. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He was convicted in 1975 of six counts of second-degree murder. DeFeo had been at the Albany Medical Center on March 12, 2021, when he was declared dead. Nicknamed "Big Ronnie" he was married to Louise DeFeo and had five children. Add to your scrapbook. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The New York man convicted of gruesomely killing his siblings and parents in 1974 and subsequently inspiring the Amityville Horror franchise has died. 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In 2016, the infamous five-bedroom, 3-bathroom Colonial home where the bloodbath took place hit the market for $850,000 and went into contract months later. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 8 Scary Movies You Probably Didn't Know Were Remakes, Is 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' Inspired by Real Events? DeFeo whose murderous spree served as the inspiration behind the The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise died Friday while serving a 25-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, according to the state Department of Corrections. He was a PI on the case. Please reset your password. The New York man convicted of gruesomely killing his siblings and parents in 1974 and subsequently inspiring the Amityville Horror franchise has died. This was further exasperated with the usage of LSD and heroin by DeFeo . There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, who committed the murders at the heart of the Amityville Horror book and movies, has died in New York state custody. Try again. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the killer in "The Amityville Horror" case, has died, according to a spokesperson for the New York State prisons department. He claimed that what led to the killings was their father's regular abuse and it was initially Dawn's idea, who killed their siblings first. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. We've received your submission. DeFeowas transferred to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Ronald DeFeo in court in June 1992 during a hearing seeking a new trial on charges he murdered his family in Amityville, N.Y. in 1974. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Most were undisturbed by any paranormal happenings and instead had to contend with horror movie fanatics who would walk up to or drive by the house to ogle at it. Police said Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43; Louise DeFeo, 42; Dawn Defeo, 18; Allison Defeo, 13; Mark DeFeo, 11; and John Matthew, 7, were all found shot to death in their beds, with their hands above their . You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He was a mass murderer who shot and killed his mother and father, two sisters, and two brothers inside their home. Try again later. Ronald Jr., the oldest of five children frequently argued violently with his father. Convicted murderer of his father, mother, two sisters, and two brothers. 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Man Gets 375 Years for Killing 2 Children, Woman over Facebook Post, Former Minneapolis Police Officer Thomas Lane Gets 2.5 Years for His Role in the Killing of George Floyd, NYPD Officer Found Guilty of Killing Son, 8, with Autism After Making Him Sleep in Freezing Garage, Serial Killers' Kids who Turned in Their Parents or Spoke Out About Growing Up with Them. Robert DeFeo JR. Killed his whole family on the night of November 13, 1974. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Some people outside of the case presumed this to mean that he had heard voices in his head due to the family home being haunted. The then-23-year-old killed his family members, who were all in bed at the time. He died while serving a 25 years-to-life sentence for the murders. Another possible reason he might have killed his family members was for a possibly sizable life insurance policy. 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Physical evidence suggested that his mom and his younger sister were awake at the time of their deaths. (Bettmann via Getty Images). But the family that was slaughtered there was real. During his trial, DeFeo pursued an insanity defense and claimed that he had heard voices telling him to kill his family. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. But I know dat Ronald defeo jr and dawn were on it. We will never know for sure, we can only come up with theories and maybes to explain it because rational minds can comprehend someone killing their mom, dad and their brothers and sisters. Ronald Joseph DeFeo, Jr. was an American mass murderer and family annihilator who, in the early morning hours of November 14, 1974, systematically shot each member of his family to death. However, the next day, Ronald admitted to killing all his six family members himself. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Romance in the Air, Story of AustralianGreat Singer Archie Roachs Cause of Death. A family of 7 paid with their lives, it just took one of them 47yrs to die while the rest went quickly. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Take a moment to remember his family. Investigators found his story to be full of discrepancies and his guilt was further substantiated with the uncovering of evidence linking him to the crimes. At the time of DeFeo's 1974 confession of the murders, he claimed he had heard voices telling him his family was plotting against him and that he had to murder his parents and four siblings out of self-defense. The cause of his death wasn't immediately known. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Distractify is a registered trademark. In 1990 he filed a 440 motion claiming Dawn alongside another assailant killed the family and he later killed Dawn by accident during a struggle. The cause of death was not immediately known. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. The other siblings were murdered by Dawn, before DeFeo killed her, he claimed. The home and the killings became the basis of the horror movie classic "The Amityville Horror" after another family briefly lived there for about a year after the killings and claimed the house was haunted.