Episode Title: The Amityville Horror: Haunted House or Hoax?
What really happened inside the most famous haunted house in America? In this episode of Loreplay, host Dayna Pereira digs into the chilling story of the Amityville Horror—where true crime meets the paranormal.
First, we revisit the shocking 1974 DeFeo family murders that left six dead inside 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. Then we dive into the terrifying claims of George and Kathy Lutz, who lasted only 28 days before fleeing the house in fear. From swarms of flies in winter, to walls that oozed slime, to a demon pig with glowing eyes, the Amityville haunting became one of the most infamous paranormal cases in history.
But was the Amityville Horror real—or the ultimate haunted house hoax? We’ll explore the books, movies, court cases, and investigations by Ed and Lorraine Warren, skeptics, and reporters that turned this Long Island murder house into a global phenomenon.
If you love haunted house stories, true crime murders, creepy paranormal encounters, and spooky legends that blend fact with fiction, this episode is for you.
📚 Sources for Show Notes
- Anson, Jay. The Amityville Horror. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1977.
- Kaplan, Stephen & Kaplan, Roxanne. The Amityville Horror Conspiracy. Belfry Books, 1995.
- Hans Holzer. Murder in Amityville. Belmont Tower, 1979.
- Osuna, Ric. The Night the DeFeos Died: Reinvestigating the Amityville Murders. 2002.
- Cromarty Family Interviews (owners after the Lutzes who disputed hauntings). Reported in Newsday, New York Times, and various Long Island papers (1977–1979).
- “High Hopes: The Amityville Murders” documentary, 2020.
- Amityville Horror (1979 film) and The Amityville Horror (2005 remake) for cultural influence.
- News reports: New York Times archives (Nov–Dec 1974, coverage of the DeFeo murders and trial).
- Court documents from People v. Ronald DeFeo Jr. (1975 trial transcripts).
- Interviews with George & Kathy Lutz (e.g., Good Morning America, 1979).
- Gerald Brittle. The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren. iUniverse, 1980s (for Warren’s perspective).
What is Loreplay?
Dayna Pereira is the sarcastic solo host of Loreplay, serving up paranormal stories, haunted history, creepy folklore, and weird legends with a playful twist. Equal parts storyteller and skeptic, she blends dark humor, spooky vibes, and a love for the bizarre into binge-worthy episodes for fans of ghost stories, urban legends, and true crime with a paranormal twist.