Page 18 - 200810 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - October 2008

18 The Amityville Hoax 18 The Amityville Hoax Amityville Hoax Amityville Hoax The story behind one of the The story behind one of the most believed Paranormal most believed Paranormal hoaxes in America. What hoaxes in America. What really happened in the house really happened in the house in Amityville and why? in Amityville and why? In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz moved into a big Dutch Colonial home in Amityville, New York. The house had been a great bargain and no wonder, the last owners had died along with all but one of their children, as he was the murderer. The Lutz family was not totally comfortable living in a house that had been the site of such a horrible killing spree, but they knew they could not possibly afford such a nice house under normal circumstances. They thought they could handle it. Apparently, they could not. The family left the house less than a month later, the bank could have the house back, the Lutz family didn't want it anymore. Many things worked together to drive the Lutz family from their home in Amityville. The family had financial problems, and the huge house was going to be a great consumer of finances. It had always been difficult to heat, and the Lutz were forced to rely on fireplaces because fuel oil was consumed at an alarming rate to keep a huge house warm, especially with even in 1976, discrepancies between the Lutz family, only the DeFeo family faced it located close to water. George Lutz especially published story and the facts were noted. tragedy in the house and their tragedy was was always cold. Newsday reported that the Lutzes told a press certainly not supernatural. The Moynahans The financial stress (particularly near conference neither Sgt. Pat Cammarato, nor any lived to old age in the house. The next family, the holidays) put a strain on the Lutz marriage other member of the Amityville police the Fitzgeralds never reported trouble in the and family relationships were strained. Not department, ever visited their home, even house. The Rileys reported loving the house and surprisingly, both George and Kathy had though such a visit is part of the published book. only sold it because of a divorce, unfortunately, nightmares - both about the house and about the Also, George Lutz has admitted that his stepson it doesn't take anything supernatural to cause murders, though the details of the murders were Danny was never rushed to the hospital, as most divorces. inaccurate in the dreams, but after all, they were reported in the book. Anson clearly never meant Since the publication of the Amityville just dreams. Their nerves began to feed off one the book to be a piece of journalism; for him the Horror, the house in Amityville has had a another and more and more they felt strange and book was "one hell of a ghost story." number of owners. None of them have uncomfortable in the murder house. Any odd Like most legends, the Amityville story experienced any supernatural phenomena in the occurrence took on supernatural significance. quickly grew beyond both the book and the house, though all have found the thrill seekers a Eventually, (showing more sense than families movie. Few people seemed willing to abandon a little annoying. After the movie, the Cromarty in horror movies) the family realized the house good scary story just because it conficts with the family, who bought the house at a bargain was not worth the strain and they left. A facts. As the story grew, more and more details without knowing its famous history, tried Newsday article came out in February 1976 were added. The Amityville house is said to be changing the street address and even the look of about how the Lutz family had left the house to built on a burial ground (either Indian or the house to discourage tourists. escape the "bad vibes." otherwise -- however a 1913 record of Nothing seemed to help and the Up until this point, the Lutz family cemeteries in the area show no cemetery on the Cromarty family put the house on the market probably didn't intend to perpetrate a hoax on property). The Amityville house is said to be and left for a time. Not surprisingly, no one anyone. They honestly found the house too built on the site of an Indian insane asylum (to wanted a house that came with constant rubber- spooky. Still, the Newsday article caught the the surprise of the Montaukett tribe who never neckers, and the Cromartys moved back in public's thirst for the sensational: a haunted knew their ancestors had insane asylums!) The when the worst of the tourist rush thinned down. house where six people were murdered spooks house is said to be built on the grave of John The next family to live in the house fled in the next family who tries to live there, driving Ketcham, a famous witch. (There is no evidence horror -- from the property taxes -- which had them out! It was just too good. The Lutz family that Ketcham was buried anywhere near the risen along with the value of the house to over met the killer's lawyer who was planning to house, and much evidence that John Ketcham 7000 a year. The present owner of the fateful write a book about how supernatural forces was a respected member of society - not a house is so pleased with it that he has invested made his client kill. He shared the details of the suspected witch.) The original builders of the in restoration of the boathouse and main house. murders and encouraged the Lutz family to "go house were said to have been driven to move Today, nearly 25 years after the Lutz public" with their own story. With their because of supernatural problems. (The family fled the house, some people still cling to financial troubles, the lure of book and movie Moynahans actually moved into a small cottage belief in the Amityville Horror, but for most, the sales must have been overwhelming. Thus, the while the large Dutch Colonial house was being Amityville Horror was just the Blair Witch seed of the Amityville Horror was born. built.) Stories abound that the murdered DeFeos Project of the 70s - a hell of a good ghost story Neither George nor Kathy Lutz actually experienced demonic activity before their death. but nothing more. [] wrote The Amityville Horror. Jay Anson, based (Relatives of the DeFeos totally refute this, on audiotapes from the Lutzes, wrote the book saying that the problem the DeFeos faced in the THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO SHOW at a pace of two chapters a week, hardly a pace house were domestic, not supernatural.) AND conducive to much personal research or fact And the biggest myth of all - every THE ‘X ZONE TV SHOW checking. Anson wrote a very popular ghost family that has tried to live in the house has ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON story - millions of copies were sold. However, been driven out or faced tragedy. Before the iTUNES