Convicted mass murderer. He was born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo on September 26, 1951. He became a figure of significant public interest due to his involvement in a tragic family incident in 1974. Born into a family with ties to the mafia, he was the eldest of five children in a family rooted in the automobile industry in Brooklyn. His great uncle, Pete DeFeo, was a caporegime in the Genovese crime family.
DeFeo Jr. had a tumultuous relationship with his father, which was further complicated by his struggles with substance abuse. On November 13, 1974, a tragic event occurred that claimed the lives of his family members. DeFeo Jr. maintained that he only intended to harm his father that night and left the premises after doing so. When he returned, he discovered the rest of his family had been killed. Instinctively, he lost control and shot his sister, Dawn.
Initially, DeFeo Jr. suggested potential mob involvement, but inconsistencies in his account were reported to have led investigators to consider other possibilities. Since his death, numerous accounts of mafia involvement have emerged, including the discovery of a second weapon allegedly used by Dawn to shoot her mother, Louise.
At the time of his trial, evidence was withheld, and while subsequently using evidence linking him to the incident, it was not withheld. However, there have been allegations of misconduct by the Suffolk County, New York Homicide Division, which had a notably high closing rate on murder cases, ultimately leading many to be fired or demoted or to commit suicide.
During his trial, his defense attorney sought a verdict of 'not guilty by reason of insanity.' However, the jury did not accept this argument, and DeFeo Jr. was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder, resulting in six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. During his annual parole hearings, he was denied and also labeled "The Amityville Horror" by the parole board, according to documentation provided by his parole attorney.
The incident inspired the best-selling book, "Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later adapted into a series of films. Originally categorized as nonfiction, the book is now considered a work of horror fiction in the 21st century.
Throughout his sentence, DeFeo Jr. offered various accounts of the events of that fateful night. He was married and divorced three times while incarcerated. He passed away on March 12, 2021, while serving his sentence.
DeFeo Jr. had a tumultuous relationship with his father, which was further complicated by his struggles with substance abuse. On November 13, 1974, a tragic event occurred that claimed the lives of his family members. DeFeo Jr. maintained that he only intended to harm his father that night and left the premises after doing so. When he returned, he discovered the rest of his family had been killed. Instinctively, he lost control and shot his sister, Dawn.
Initially, DeFeo Jr. suggested potential mob involvement, but inconsistencies in his account were reported to have led investigators to consider other possibilities. Since his death, numerous accounts of mafia involvement have emerged, including the discovery of a second weapon allegedly used by Dawn to shoot her mother, Louise.
At the time of his trial, evidence was withheld, and while subsequently using evidence linking him to the incident, it was not withheld. However, there have been allegations of misconduct by the Suffolk County, New York Homicide Division, which had a notably high closing rate on murder cases, ultimately leading many to be fired or demoted or to commit suicide.
During his trial, his defense attorney sought a verdict of 'not guilty by reason of insanity.' However, the jury did not accept this argument, and DeFeo Jr. was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder, resulting in six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. During his annual parole hearings, he was denied and also labeled "The Amityville Horror" by the parole board, according to documentation provided by his parole attorney.
The incident inspired the best-selling book, "Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later adapted into a series of films. Originally categorized as nonfiction, the book is now considered a work of horror fiction in the 21st century.
Throughout his sentence, DeFeo Jr. offered various accounts of the events of that fateful night. He was married and divorced three times while incarcerated. He passed away on March 12, 2021, while serving his sentence.
Convicted mass murderer. He was born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo on September 26, 1951. He became a figure of significant public interest due to his involvement in a tragic family incident in 1974. Born into a family with ties to the mafia, he was the eldest of five children in a family rooted in the automobile industry in Brooklyn. His great uncle, Pete DeFeo, was a caporegime in the Genovese crime family.
DeFeo Jr. had a tumultuous relationship with his father, which was further complicated by his struggles with substance abuse. On November 13, 1974, a tragic event occurred that claimed the lives of his family members. DeFeo Jr. maintained that he only intended to harm his father that night and left the premises after doing so. When he returned, he discovered the rest of his family had been killed. Instinctively, he lost control and shot his sister, Dawn.
Initially, DeFeo Jr. suggested potential mob involvement, but inconsistencies in his account were reported to have led investigators to consider other possibilities. Since his death, numerous accounts of mafia involvement have emerged, including the discovery of a second weapon allegedly used by Dawn to shoot her mother, Louise.
At the time of his trial, evidence was withheld, and while subsequently using evidence linking him to the incident, it was not withheld. However, there have been allegations of misconduct by the Suffolk County, New York Homicide Division, which had a notably high closing rate on murder cases, ultimately leading many to be fired or demoted or to commit suicide.
During his trial, his defense attorney sought a verdict of 'not guilty by reason of insanity.' However, the jury did not accept this argument, and DeFeo Jr. was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder, resulting in six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. During his annual parole hearings, he was denied and also labeled "The Amityville Horror" by the parole board, according to documentation provided by his parole attorney.
The incident inspired the best-selling book, "Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later adapted into a series of films. Originally categorized as nonfiction, the book is now considered a work of horror fiction in the 21st century.
Throughout his sentence, DeFeo Jr. offered various accounts of the events of that fateful night. He was married and divorced three times while incarcerated. He passed away on March 12, 2021, while serving his sentence.
DeFeo Jr. had a tumultuous relationship with his father, which was further complicated by his struggles with substance abuse. On November 13, 1974, a tragic event occurred that claimed the lives of his family members. DeFeo Jr. maintained that he only intended to harm his father that night and left the premises after doing so. When he returned, he discovered the rest of his family had been killed. Instinctively, he lost control and shot his sister, Dawn.
Initially, DeFeo Jr. suggested potential mob involvement, but inconsistencies in his account were reported to have led investigators to consider other possibilities. Since his death, numerous accounts of mafia involvement have emerged, including the discovery of a second weapon allegedly used by Dawn to shoot her mother, Louise.
At the time of his trial, evidence was withheld, and while subsequently using evidence linking him to the incident, it was not withheld. However, there have been allegations of misconduct by the Suffolk County, New York Homicide Division, which had a notably high closing rate on murder cases, ultimately leading many to be fired or demoted or to commit suicide.
During his trial, his defense attorney sought a verdict of 'not guilty by reason of insanity.' However, the jury did not accept this argument, and DeFeo Jr. was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder, resulting in six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. During his annual parole hearings, he was denied and also labeled "The Amityville Horror" by the parole board, according to documentation provided by his parole attorney.
The incident inspired the best-selling book, "Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later adapted into a series of films. Originally categorized as nonfiction, the book is now considered a work of horror fiction in the 21st century.
Throughout his sentence, DeFeo Jr. offered various accounts of the events of that fateful night. He was married and divorced three times while incarcerated. He passed away on March 12, 2021, while serving his sentence.
Bio by: Nissa Burkhalter
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