112 Ocean Avenue

112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York, is a six-bedroom Dutch Colonial style house built in 1924; it is also known by the name "High Hopes". It is the setting of the novel "The Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson and several of the films that it inspired. The best known feature of the house was, at one time, its pair of quarter circle shaped windows on the third floor attic level, which gave it an eerie, eye-like appearance.

History

The DeFeo murders

The DeFeo family purchased 112 Ocean Avenue in 1965. On November 13, 1974, 23-year old Ronald DeFeo, Jr. fatally shot six members of his family at the house. During his murder trial in 1975, he claimed that voices in his head had urged him to carry out the killings. He was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is currently incarcerated in Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York.

The Lutz family moves in

In December 1975, George Lutz and his wife, Kathy, purchased the house and moved in with their three children. After 28 days they left the house, claiming to have been tormented by paranormal phenomena while living there. Their story inspired the 1977 novel "The Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson and a franchise of Hollywood films. The first was "The Amityville Horror" released in 1979 starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder, and Rod Steiger.

The house today

Since the Lutzes left the house in January 1976 and the story of their alleged experiences became widely known, there have been numerous problems with sightseers disturbing the peace in the neighborhood. As a result, the house was renovated and the distinctive quarter circle windows were removed. The address has also been changed in an attempt to deter tourists from visiting the house.