Episode 610: The Amityville Horror Conspiracy

Update: 2024-10-17

Digest

This episode of Morbid, a true crime podcast, delves into the infamous Amityville Horror conspiracy. Hosts Ash and Alina begin by discussing their recent experience with COVID and its impact on their recording schedule. They then provide a brief recap of the DeFeo murders, which took place in the Amityville house, before introducing the MADville Horror conspiracy as the main topic of the episode. The episode then focuses on the story of George and Kathy Lutz, a newlywed couple who purchased the Amityville house in 1975. The hosts discuss the house's history, including the DeFeo murders, and the Lutz family's decision to buy the house despite its troubled past. They recount the priest's attempt to bless the house and his unsettling experience of hearing a voice telling him to leave. The hosts then discuss the strange events that began to occur after the Lutz family moved in, including George's sudden change in behavior and Kathy's encounters with paranormal activity. The episode continues to detail the Lutz family's experiences in the Amityville house, including Melissa's imaginary friend "Jody," George's encounter with fiery red eyes, and the discovery of a hidden room in the closet. The hosts express skepticism about some of the more outlandish claims, but acknowledge the possibility of genuine paranormal activity. They describe the Lutz family's decision to leave the Amityville house after experiencing constant paranormal attacks, discussing their final night in the house, which culminated in a terrifying encounter with a hooded figure and a dramatic escape. The episode then shifts to the involvement of William Weber, Ronald Defeo's lawyer, who believed Defeo was mentally ill and claimed the Lutzes' paranormal experiences could have influenced Defeo's murders. Weber organized a press conference with the Lutzes, suggesting a demonic force was responsible for both their experiences and Defeo's actions. Renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren conducted an investigation at the Lutz house, with Lorraine claiming to sense a negative entity from the earth, blaming it for the Lutzes' experiences and Defeo's murders. They took time-lapse photos, one of which showed a child-like figure at the base of the stairs, which they claimed was the ghost of John DeFeo, the youngest victim, trapped in the house. However, the photo has since been debunked. The episode also discusses the investigations of Hans Holzer, a skeptical paranormal investigator, and the book deal that Weber secured for the Lutzes, which led to the publication of "The Amityville Horror." The book became a bestseller and spawned a successful film adaptation, bringing financial success to the Lutz family. However, the book's success brought scrutiny, revealing inconsistencies and cracks in the story. Journalists and skeptics questioned the veracity of the claims, leading to investigations and debunking of certain events. Investigations revealed that the Catholic diocese denied the events described in the book, neighbors denied key points, and the Amityville Historical Society refuted the claim of an indigenous burial ground. The Cromairty family, who owned the house after the Lutzes, held a press conference to defend the house's reputation and the memory of the DeFeo family. They criticized Anson's book and the Lutz's claims. Anson defended the book, claiming he presented the story as a reporter, allowing readers to form their own opinions. However, the book's reliance on subjective experiences made it difficult to verify. Newsday reporters interviewed neighbors and found that they had not noticed anything unusual happening at the house. James Malali, who bought the house after the Lutzes, confirmed that they had not mentioned any paranormal experiences. George Lutz's claims of seeing his daughter's imaginary friend and finding hoof tracks in the snow were also debunked. The book claimed that Reverend Pecarraro was called to bless the house and heard a disembodied voice. However, Pecarraro denied ever visiting the house, stating his only contact with the Lutzes was a phone call. Ultimately, William Weber confessed to People Magazine that the Amityville Horror was a hoax, created over bottles of wine with George Lutz. Weber claimed the Lutzes fabricated the story to escape financial difficulties. They had purchased a house beyond their means and were struggling to manage their expenses. The episode concludes by discussing the legacy of the Amityville Horror, which, despite being a hoax, has persisted for nearly 50 years, sparking debates about truth and fiction. The story has overshadowed the town of Amityville itself, disrupting the lives of residents and turning the town into a tourist destination. The house at 112 Ocean Avenue still stands, despite the hoax, and has recently sold for $1.5 million. The episode urges listeners to respect the privacy of the current owners and acknowledge that the house is not haunted.

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