The Amityville Horror

On November 13, 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were shot dead inside 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York. Ronald DeFeo Jr. confessed and was convicted the following year. In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz moved in with three children and fled 28 days later, alleging a violent haunting—flies in winter, cold spots, “green slime,” a red‑eyed pig named “Jody,” and a priest told to “get out.” Their account (and Ed & Lorraine Warren’s visit) fueled The Amityville Horror book and film franchise—and a decades‑long battle between believers and hoax claims. We walk the line between the verified murders and the disputed haunting, using the original timeline, courtroom outcomes, reported phenomena, and later challenges. What you’ll hear:The DeFeo murders (1974): the killings, confession, trial, and sentence; why neighbors heard no shots and how insanity claims surfaced later. The Lutz account (1975–76): 28 days in the house—flies, sludge, cold spots, “Jody,” a priest’s warning, and a midnight exit. Belief vs. hoax: Warren investigation, Jay Anson’s bestseller, lawyer/press challenges, Newsday reporting, priest denials, and later owners reporting no activity (address later changed to 108). Pop‑culture legacy: 1979 hit film, 2005 remake, continuing sequels/reboots, and the 2016 resale with “no ghosts—just gawkers.” Live debate: trauma “energy,” paranormal claims, and what evidence would actually move a skeptic. ⚖️ DisclaimerDebate the News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Listener discretion is advised. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.Speakers→ Adrienne Barker — Host→ Joseph Lobosco — Host→ Danielle Paci — Guest Contributor→ Marccella — Guest Contributor→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba — Guest Contributor→ Lisa — Guest Contributor→ Jessica — Guest Contributor→ Gail — Guest ContributorCredits:"Debate The News: True Crime"Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. LoboscoProducers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, Jonathan BingWriters: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. LoboscoEditor: Joseph R. LoboscoCover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social teamTheme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]Music provided by NoCopyrightSoundsFree Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/karmaWatch: http://ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp