The Amityville Horror

Numerous discrepencies have emerged over the years, though the Lutz's continued claims that the book was essentially true help keep the legend alive in the public eye. Along with making a post-Dancing with the Stars appearence in the November 2005 issue of Playboy (previously unpublished pictures from her Miss April 1997 shoot) , Monaco has also made numerous recent cover appearances in scantily-clad magazines such as FHM and Maxim. Weber had admitted that much of the story was created over "many bottles of wine" with the Lutz's [5]. The win on Dancing With the Stars boosted her visibility level considerably and resulted in a number of appearances on talk shows as well as possible new job offers, but she stated that she intends to remain with General Hospital. Weber" [4]. From appearances, it is fair to say that Monaco was as happy about losing this match as O'Hurley was about losing the regular competition. Weinstein dismissed the Lutz's claims, saying "it appears to me that to a large extent the book is a work of fiction, relying in a large part upon the suggestions of Mr. This time, O'Hurley and his dance partner Charlotte emerged as the winners.

Weinstein. It was held "live" on September 20 and results were announced two days later. District Court judge Jack B. However, it was decided to have a "Dance-Off" special as a follow up to this controversial result, with a presumably lessened chance of Internet voting skewing the results. Eventually, the claims against the news corporations were dropped for lack of evidence, and the remainder of the case was tried by Brooklyn U.S. This was discussed briefly on a Larry King Live interview with several members of the show, but was not pursued by runner-up John O'Hurley, who took the high road and declared that participation and viewer popularity was more important to him than winning. Hoffman, Weber, and Burton immediately filed a countersuit alleging fraud and breach of contract. This was viewed by some as an upset, whereas others suspected ballot-box stuffing, a frequent complaint of Internet-based voting.

The story started to fall apart when the Lutz's filed suit against Paul Hoffman (a writer working on an account of the hauntings), William Weber (DeFeo's Lawyer), Bernard Burton, Frederick Mars (both clairvoyants who had examined the house), Good Housekeeping, New York Sunday News and the Hearst Corporation (who had published articles related to the hauntings), alleging invasion of privacy, misappropration of names for trade purposes, and mental distress. On July 6, 2005, Kelly Monaco won the Dancing With The Stars competition. The popular consensus today, however, among researchers of the incident is that "the facts depicted in the books (and the movies to follow) were written entirely as a profit making scheme" [3]. In the quarterfinal round samba, she coolly recovered from a mid-dance wardrobe malfunction without becoming exposed on live national television. The book and the subsequent movies were promoted as being based on a true story, and for a time Anson's word that "There is simply too much independent corroboration of their narrative to support the speculation that [the Lutzes] either imagined or fabricated these events" held. Despite her perceived lack of height and an initial lack of grace, she improved each week and became a popular underdog. On January 14, 1976, George and Kathy Lutz, with their three children and their dog, Harry, fled the house on 112 Ocean Avenue, leaving most of their possessions behind. In summer 2005, Monaco appeared as a contestant in the highly-rated American version of the television series Dancing With The Stars.

After getting in touch with Father Ray, he managed to convince George and Kathy to take some belongings and stay at Kathy’s mother’s house in Deer Park, for the time being until they sorted out what problems were in the house. In 2003 Monaco was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her Port Charles work. To this day, events of this night have not been disclosed fully by any of the Lutz family, as they have described it as too frightening. When that program ended, she joined the cast of soap opera General Hospital as possible con woman Samantha “Sam” McCall in September 2003. By mid-January of 1976, and after another attempt at a house blessing by George and Kathy, they experienced what would be their final night in the house. Monaco had two roles on the supernatural television soap opera Port Charles: Olivia “Livvie” Locke Morley (1999–2003) and Tess Ramsey (2002–2003). When taking his advice and walking around the house doing the Lord’s prayer each of the rooms, George and Kathy would hear a chorus of voices telling them “Will you please stop!”. She also had minor roles in the late 1990s films BASEketball, Idle Hands, and Mumford.

When it was apparent to the Lutz’s that something was wrong with their house that they could not explain rationally, it was suggested by a friend of George’s, who had had similar experiences in his house, that he and Kathy do a blessing of their own and open all the windows in the rooms and tell whatever was there to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. Her first television role was on the nightime drama Baywatch from 1997 to 1998. Some of the experiences in the house for the Lutz family are as follows:. The work allowed her the opportunity to travel to many exotic locales, including Fiji, Honduras, and throughout South America. Each family member would experience different things as individuals which made such a profound psychological effect that it was difficult to explain them to even other family members that lived in the house, and it was like they “were each living in a different house”. She became Playboy's Playmate of the Month in April 1997, and was also featured in several of its newsstand specials. The instances of paranormal activity were later described as being “in a three-ringed circus”. With her family's approval, she traveled to Chicago for a photo shoot.

Occurrences were subtle and escalated as time went by. In 1996, Monaco sent nude photos of herself to Playboy magazine and was contacted one month later by the men's publication. The sensations in the house experienced by the Lutz family did not happen at an accelerated pace instantly. With dreams of becoming an actress, she planned her escape from the Poconos. Because they planned to use the room as a “sewing room” nothing else was mentioned of it, until much later after George and Kathy had fled the house. She then attended Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she majored in mass communications for two years, and worked as a lifeguard at the Mount Airy Lodge in Mount Pocono. Instead he told them he felt uncomfortable in that room and would prefer it if nobody spent too much time in that room. Monaco excelled at sports, including soccer, swimming, tennis, track, and softball, as well as speech, debate and drama during her years at Pocono Mountain High School in Swiftwater, where she graduated in 1994.

When leaving the house, Father Ray did not mention this incident to either George or Kathy, more than likely because he did not wish to cause them unnecessary concern. Although initially unhappy about the move, she eventually learned to love her peaceful surroundings. Much later, after fleeing, George and Kathy learned from Father Ray that when blessing a particular room on the second-storey, which would be referred to as the “sewing room” (formerly Marc and John Matthew DeFeo’s bedroom), he discovered an unnatural coldness in this room, and heard an unearthly voice telling him to “Get Out!” Startled by this, Father Ray was subsequently slapped by an unseen force. The Monacos relocated from Philadelphia to the rural Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania before Kelly became a teenager. Father Ray arrived to do the house blessing on the day the Lutz’s were moving in and as they busily unpacked outside he went in and performed the house blessing. Kelly grew up in a traditional Italian American Catholic household, the third of five sisters. Being an ecclesiastical judge at the local Catholic establishment, Father Ray was not in the habit of doing house-blessings but since he and George were friends, he was doing it as a favour. Kelly Marie Monaco (born May 23, 1976 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American model, actress, and reality television contestant.

George only knew of one Catholic priest, named Father Ray, who was also a close friend, who agreed to do the house blessing. Playboy's Girls of Summer June 2003. Kathy was a non-practising Catholic at the time and explained the process. Playboy's Sexy 100 February 2003. At the time George was a non-Catholic (at the time he was a non-practising Methodist) and had no experience with what a house blessing entailed. Playboy's Blondes, Brunettes & Redheads March 2002. When a friend of George’s learned of the house he insisted George have the house blessed. Playboy's Nude Playmates April 2001 — pages 80–81.

They moved in on December 18, 1975. 75 September 2000. After family discussions, it was agreed that it was not an issue. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. During their first inspection of the house the realtor told them about the DeFeo murders the previous November and asked if this changed their opinion on wanting to purchase the house. 74 July 2000 - pages 36-37. Kathy had three children from a previous marriage and a black Labrador named Harry. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol.

George and Kathy were married in July and had their own houses, however they wanted to start a new life with a new home, for a new marriage. 5 June 2000. The house on 112 Ocean Avenue remained empty for 13 months until late 1975, when George and Kathleen Lutz purchased the 2 ½ floor house. Playboy's Celebrating Centerfolds Vol. He was convicted of second degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence. Playboy's Girls of Summer May 2000. DeFeo's attorney pursued that line of questioning during the trial, only to have it backfire on him when DeFeo testified that he had not heard any voices the night of the murders [2]. 2 April 2000.

However CourtTV's account of the murder case makes no mention of these claims, implying that DeFeo in fact did not contest his confession until the trial [1]. Playboy's Natural Beauties Vol. He also claimed when killing his parents the weapon made no sound when firing it. 71 January 2000 — front & back covers, pages 1–3, 36–37, 66–67, 76–81, 92–93. DeFeo also claimed to have seen shadow figures moving about the house during the murders. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. The popular story of ensuing events is that DeFeo’s original claims were that the murders were mob-connected had changed to “hearing voices,” demonic possession, and being handed the murder weapon, a .35 calibre Marlin hunting rifle, by a “pair of black hands”. Playboy's Wet & Wild December 1999.

Ronald DeFeo Jr., the only surviving member, claimed that they had been murdered by the mob until he confessed to the murders. Playboy's Nudes December 1999 — pages 64–65. On November 13, 1974, police found that all but one of the members of the family residing at 112 Oceanside Ave., the DeFeo's, had been murdered in the middle of the night. Playboy's Barefoot Beauties December 1999. Main Article: Ronald DeFeo, Jr. Playboy's Girlfriends September 1999 — pages 32–41. The Lutz family, having lived in the house for only 28 days, fled their house with very few belongings, claiming to have been terrorized by paranormal phenomenon. 69 September 1999.

Thirteen months earlier the house on 112 Ocean Avenue was the scene of a brutal mass murder. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. Both book and film revolve around the Lutz family, who move into the Dutch Colonial home in the village of Amityville, a New York City suburb on the south shore of Long Island, New York village. Playboy's Hardbodies July 1999. . 68 July 1999 — pages 14–17. The novel is also the basis of two movies made in 1979 and 2005. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol.

The Amityville Horror was a best-selling 1977 novel by Jay Anson. Playboy's Girls of Summer June 1999. The Amityville Horror (2005 film). 1 May 1999. The Amityville Horror (1979 film). Playboy's Natural Beauties Vol. Later it was theorized that it could have been “Jody”. 67 May 1999 — pages 80–81.

When he raced upstairs and to her room there was no sign of this mysterious entity. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. While checking the boathouse one night, George saw a pair of “red eyes” looking at him from Missy’s bedroom window. 3 February 1999 — pages 88–91. When he got downstairs the noise would stop. Playboy's Playmates in Bed Vol. George would hear what was described as a “German marching band tuning up” or what also sounded like a clock radio playing not quite on frequency. Playboy's Girls of Winter January 1999 — cover, pages 28–29, 34–35, 40–41, 44–45.

Nobody else heard these sounds even though it was loud enough to wake the house. Playboy's Nudes December 1998 — pages 30–31, 46–47. He would race downstairs to see the dog sleeping soundly at the front door. Playboy's Playmate Tests November 1998. George would be awoken by the sound of the front door slamming when there was no door slamming. 64 November 1998 — pages 20–23. The Lutz’s youngest daughter, Missy, developed an imaginary friend named “Jody” who it was later discovered was not so imaginary and who it would be discovered could change form from a little boy to a demonic pig-like creature. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol.

There were cold spots and strange odours of scented perfume and excrement in certain areas of the house where there were no wind drafts or any piping whatsoever to explain a source. 63 September 1998 — pages 34–35. This room had a profound effect on their dog, Harry, who refused to go near it and cowered away as if sensing something negative there. Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. The room was referred to as “the red room”. 14 August 1998 — pages 26–33. This did not show up on the blue prints of the house. Playboy's Playmate Review Vol.

Kathy discovered a small hidden crawl space behind shelving in the basement, the walls painted red. Kathy would feel a sensation as if “being embraced” in a loving manner, by an unseen force. These details were later confirmed when they met with Ronald DeFeo’s defence attorney. Kathy would have vivid nightmares about the murders, and discovered which order the murders occurred and who was shot where.

Later it would be learned that it was the estimated time of death with the DeFeo murders. George would wake up around 3.15am every morning and then would go out to check the boathouse. They are part of a work of literature alleging supernatural events and have not been independently verified by impartial research. This section contains allegations of events that support the contention that the house was actually haunted.

This section contains information that is a part of the public record separate from specific allegations of supernatural events which form the heart of the book and movies.