The Amityville Murders (Rare Pics)

One of the most infamous family massacres in American history took place on November 13, 1974, in the quiet town of Amityville, New York.

Ronald DeFeo Jr., a 23-year-old troubled young man, took a .35-caliber Marlin rifle and systematically executed his entire family while they slept.

The DeFeo Family Murders (November 13, 1974)

The Victims

At around 3:15 AM, Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. grabbed his rifle and began moving through the house, killing each of his family members one by one:

Ronald DeFeo Sr. (43) – Shot twice in the back while he slept.

Louise DeFeo (42) – Shot twice in the back, likely waking up just before death.

Dawn DeFeo (18) – Shot once in the head, killing her instantly.

Allison DeFeo (13) – Shot once in the face, destroying her head.

Marc DeFeo (12) & John DeFeo (9) – Each shot once in the back, execution-style.

The Aftermath – Crime Scene Discovery

Later that day, Ronald DeFeo Jr. ran into a local bar, claiming that his family had been murdered. When police arrived at the house, they were met with a horrific scene:

Bodies of the entire family lying face down in their beds, blood soaking the sheets.

Walls splattered with blood in some of the rooms.

The murder weapon—Marlin rifle—found hidden in a closet.

The crime scene photos were later made public, showing the DeFeo family members dead in their beds, with graphic bloodstains on the pillows and sheets.

Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s Arrest & Confession

Initially, DeFeo claimed the murders were done by a mob hitman, but his story quickly fell apart. After hours of questioning, he finally confessed, saying:

"Once I started, I just couldn't stop. It went so fast."

However, in later years, DeFeo changed his story multiple times, claiming:

He was possessed by demons.

His sister, Dawn, actually killed some family members.

He was forced to kill under threats from a mysterious stranger.

Despite these conflicting accounts, he was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six consecutive life terms. He died in prison in 2021.