Ghosts of Christmas Past: The Amityville Horror Revisited

In a quiet neighbourhood in New York State stands a house with a chilling reputation that has captivated and terrified for decades. Known as the site of both a brutal crime and a haunting, 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville gained infamy, particularly for the terrifying experiences of the Lutz family during Christmas 1975.

George and Kathy Lutz, along with Kathy’s three children from a previous marriage, moved into the large Dutch Colonial house in December 1975. Despite the house’s dark history—the brutal murders of the DeFeo family just a year earlier—the Lutzes were eager to make it their home. However, their excitement quickly turned to fear as they found themselves at the center of a horrifying and unexplained ordeal.

The tragedy that preceded the Lutz family’s haunting is deeply rooted in the house’s notoriety. In November 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings while they slept, claiming he was compelled by sinister voices. The shocking crime cast a dark shadow over the property, leaving an eerie aura that seemed to linger when the Lutzes moved in. Although the family knew of the house’s tragic past, they were unprepared for what awaited them.

At first, the strange occurrences were subtle—cold drafts in warm rooms and doors closing on their own. But these minor disturbances quickly escalated into a nightmare. George Lutz reported waking up every night at 3:15 a.m., the time the DeFeo murders had taken place. He also began to exhibit unusual behavior, growing increasingly irritable and distant. Meanwhile, Kathy experienced vivid and disturbing encounters, including waking up to find herself embraced by an unseen force and seeing her reflection transform into a hideous, aging figure.

The most disturbing claims involved the Lutz children. Their youngest daughter, Missy, befriended an imaginary entity she called “Jodie,” described as a pig-like creature with glowing red eyes. George and Kathy also reported hearing strange sounds throughout the house, including phantom footsteps and a marching band playing music. The family even found cloven hoof prints in the snow outside their home during the Christmas season.

As the haunting intensified, the Lutz family turned to religious and paranormal authorities for help. They brought in a priest to bless the house, but he reportedly fled after hearing a disembodied voice command him to “get out.” The family described witnessing levitating objects, mysterious green slime oozing from the walls, and shadowy figures lurking in dark corners. These phenomena culminated in a series of violent and terrifying events that forced the family to flee the house just 28 days after moving in.

After leaving 112 Ocean Avenue, the Lutzes shared their experiences with the public, sparking widespread interest and controversy. Their story was documented in Jay Anson’s 1977 book The Amityville Horror, which later inspired a series of films. While the Lutz family maintained the truth of their account, skeptics have argued that the events were fabricated for fame and financial gain. Paranormal investigators, including Ed and Lorraine Warren, claimed the house was home to a powerful and malevolent entity, further enhancing its mystique.

In the years following the Lutz family’s departure, 112 Ocean Avenue has been sold multiple times. Interestingly, none of the subsequent residents have reported any paranormal activity, leading skeptics to question whether the infamous haunting was genuine or merely a fabrication.

To this day, the Amityville Horror remains one of the most debated cases in paranormal history. Whether the Lutz family’s experiences were genuine or exaggerated, their story has become a chilling part of Christmas lore.