Hours after murdering them, DeFeo went to a nearby bar, crying for help. DeFeo whose murderous spree served as the inspiration behind the The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise died Friday while serving a 25-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, according to the state Department of Corrections. Evidence was submitted to the court by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office suggesting that Richard Romondoe did not exist and that Geraldine Gates was living in upstate New York married to someone else at the time of the murders. Ronald Jr., the oldest of five children frequently argued violently with his father. Try again. He said an alleged hitman, Louis Falini, had murdered and claimed that he might be in danger, too. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. pic.twitter.com/an1LVWXQfH. His defense attorney attempted to use the "insanity" plea, however, a jury rejected the argument, and DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences. So I understand that part of it. When Ronald DeFeo Jr initially reported the deaths of his family, he ran into a local police station and claimed they had been shot. He had also sought to have his conviction overturned, blaming his sister Dawn for the killings. [13], DeFeo had a volatile relationship with his father, but the motive for the killings remains unclear. He was a mass murderer who shot and killed his mother and father, two sisters, and two brothers inside their home. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who slaughtered his parents and four siblings in 1974, has died at the age of 69 in prison. Maybe you are right and they dont release Ronald DeFeos cause of death over a cover-up. However, the next day, Ronald admitted to killing all his six family members himself. "I loved my family very much," he said at a 1999 parole hearing, where he also said he had gotten married while in prison. AP. 2. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. She was 43 years old. They gone now and the least would do is to bid them far well, one relative said after the Mass of the Resurrection at the church, where the DeFeds had worShiped in the nine years they pied in this village Long Island's South Shore. Distractify is a registered trademark. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, who committed the murders at the heart of theAmityville Horrorbook and movies, has died in New York state custody. DeFeo, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the eldest son of Ronald, Sr. and Louise Brigante. Ronald Jr., the oldest of five children frequently argued violently with his father. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the convicted killer whose 1974 murders spawned the "Amityville Horror" franchise, died last week while serving a 25 years-to-life prison term, officials said Monday. Is Nanci Griffiths Cause of Death Related to a Health Problem? Anyone can read what you share. Why Did Butch Kill His Family? He was 69. After 37 years, one of the original Amityville Horror children has decided to finally break the silence regarding his experience at the legendary haunted home. Most were undisturbed by any paranormal happenings and instead had to contend with horror movie fanatics who would walk up to or drive by the house to ogle at it. While the services were held at the St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church, a Suffolk County grand jury in Riverhead handed up an indictment charging the 23yearold surviving son of the family Ronald Jr., with six courts of murder in the second degree. Ronald DeFeo at a court hearing in 1992 - he died on Friday at the age of 69 while serving life for the murders of his parents and four siblings in Amityville, New York Credit: Getty. The man had accumulated an arsenal of guns, using the stipend from his father and the money he'd stolen from the dealership. Ronald DeFeo Jr., center, leaves Suffolk County District Court in New York after a hearing Nov. 15, 1974. The cause of his death wasn't immediately known. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "I loved my family very much," he said at a 1999 parole hearing, where he also said he had gotten married while in prison. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. So what do you think about it? DeFeo was 69 years old at the time of his death and it's possible that he died of natural causes or some underlying health condition that wasn't public knowledge. His insanity plea wasn't accepted, however, and in 1965, he was found guilty on six counts of murder and sentenced to six separate 25-years-to-life sentences. They cant release the cause of death do to privacy laws, what bull shit, an actor just recently died yet their cause of death was released, I smell a cover up. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. [6] The DeFeo family had occupied 112 Ocean Avenue since purchasing it in 1965. An affidavit from Richard Romondoe was submitted to the court and it was asserted he could not be located to testify in person. His cause of death was not immediately available, but it will be determined and released by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office and is at that offices discretion whether the results will be made publicly available, the spokesperson said. In that regard, it could be all about the power of perception. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban Long Island. In 1997, it was purchased for $310,000 and then sold again in 2010 for $950,000. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who killed his four siblings and parents at their Amityville home, died Friday at the age of 69. The Albany County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released his cause of death. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Interesting take, with some factual errors. A spokesman for the familiy said that the services were to have been private but that the response from sympathizers was overwhelming. The pews were packed, and outside, watched by a heavy police detail, stood scores of bystanders. In a jailhouse interview in 2006, DeFeo claimed he only killed his father, his mother and his eldest sister, Dawn. DeFeo, 69, who was serving a 25-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility, was. Police said Ronald DeFeo Sr., 43; Louise DeFeo, 42; Dawn Defeo, 18; Allison Defeo, 13; Mark DeFeo, 11; and John Matthew, 7, were all found shot to death in their beds, with their hands above their . Try again later. It was only then that Mr. and Mrs. Michael BriganteMrs. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "[11], On November 21, 1975, DeFeo was found guilty on six counts of second-degree murder. DeFeo had pursued an insanity defense at his trial, saying he heard voices that drove him to kill his family. Murder Victim. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed the death on Monday and said that the cause would be determined by the Albany County coroner. DeFeo was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in the 1974 killings in Amityville, on suburban . In 1974, as his parents and four siblings slept in their three-story home in Long Island, New York, a 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. executed them. Thanks for your help! Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, who committed the murders at the heart of the Amityville Horror book and movies, has died in New York state custody. While all of these reasons seem probable, nothing was officially confirmed. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. The bodies were discovered by the couple's eldest son. All died face down in. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. [18], On November 30, 2000, DeFeo met with Ric Osuna, the author of The Night the DeFeos Died, which was published in 2002. It was reported that his cause of death would be determined and announced by the Albany County Medical Examiners Office officially. Daniel Lutz, who was a 10-year-old boy on January 14, 1976 when the family fled from the house , still insists that the family was menaced by spirits in the home. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Ronald DeFeo Jr. The following day, he confessed to carrying out the killings himself; and Falini, the alleged hitman, had an alibi proving he was out of state at the time of the killings. Best Known For: In 1974, Ronald DeFeo killed his entire family, including his parents, brothers and sisters, while they were sleeping in their beds. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_DeFeo_Jr.&oldid=1136376474, The film versions of the DeFeo murders contain several inaccuracies. Prison officials released the news to the public but did not reveal why he had been at the hospital in the first place or what his cause of death was. Savive had an expert evaluate Della Penna's assessment and the expert confirmed that he was correct. Mr. DeFeo confessed to killing his parents and four siblings in 1974 at their home in Amityville, N.Y. DeFeo's parentsbroke down. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Because of DeFeo's claims, however, many have believed that the Amityville house is haunted and that it can control its inhabitants. Published To get the father. While in the 1986 interview with Newsday, she asserted she married DeFeo in 1974, in Osuna's book, she alleges they married in 1970. Then the six coffins were carried out of the church to waiting hearses and from there to the St. Charles Cemetery in nearby Pinelawn. In support of his motion, DeFeo asserted that Dawn and an unknown assailant, who fled the house before he could get a good look at him, killed their parents and Dawn subsequently killed their siblings. At the time of DeFeo's 1974 confession of the murders, he claimed he had heard voices telling him his family was plotting against him and that he had to murder his parents and four siblings out of self-defense. There was a problem getting your location. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Officials didn't release the cause of his death at the time, which only led to people wondering more about his death, which appeared to be sudden and unexpected. Death: November 13, 1974 (43) (murdered by son) Immediate Family: Son of Rocco DeFeo and Antoinette "Nettie" DeFeo. Please try again later. Try again later. DeFeo, who was 69, was convicted of killing his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters inside their Amityville home in 1974, according to CNN affiliate WABC. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I dont think the truth of what happened in that house will ever be known. DeFeo was serving 25 years to life in prison at the. Mother of the DeFeo family and wife of Ronald DeFeo, Sr. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Ronald DeFeo (224476445)? All Rights Reserved. The psychiatrist for the prosecution, Dr. Harold Zolan, maintained that, although DeFeo was a user of heroin and LSD, he had antisocial personality disorder and was aware of his actions at the time of the crime. So what was his cause of death? The corrections department said it couldn't disclose why DeFeo was hospitalized, citing health privacy laws. Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. (born September 26, 1951) is an American mass murderer who was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters in Amityville, Long Island, New York. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. I think my mother and father are shot!" Ronald DeFeo Jr., the Long Island man serving a life sentence for slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a 1974 crime that would inspire The Amityville Horror book and movie franchise,. AMITYVILLE, L. I., Nov. 18Nearly 1,000 friends, relatives and village residents gathered here today at the funeral services for the six members of the DeFeo family who were found murdered in their beds last week. Ronald DeFeo Jr., the convicted killer whose 1974 murders spawned the "Amityville Horror" franchise, died last week while serving a 25 years-to-life prison term, officials said Monday. The home was listed as recently as 2016 for $850,000. At trial, his lawyer mounted an insanity defense, claiming DeFeo heard voices saying his family was plotting against him. Dead were parents Louise and Ronald DeFeo Sr., and his siblings 18-year-old Dawn, 13-year-old Allison, 12-year-old Marc, and nine-year-old John Matthew. Born to Ronald and Louise DeFeo, his father was a successful automobile salesman for his family's Brooklyn dealership. DeFeo, whose nickname was Butch, was convicted of killing his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers inside their Amityville home on Ocean Avenue on Nov. 13, 1974. Prison officials released the news to the public but did not reveal why he had been at the hospital in the first place or what his cause of death was. Subsequently, he drove to Amityville with Geraldine's brother, Richard Romondoe, who was with him at the time of the murders and could verify his story completely. Again, he asserted he was married to Geraldine and that her brother was with him at the time of the murders. The victims of DeFeo's family members included his parents, Ronald DeFeo, Sr. (43), and Louise (42), two brothers, John (9) and Marc (12), and two sisters, Allison [] Long after the mourners had gone and the coffins lowered into the ground, a black limou sine was still parked in the cemetery. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who served his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in upstate Fallsburg, died Friday at the age of 69, New York State officials confirmed. [2], Around 6:30p.m. on November 13, 1974, DeFeo, who was then 23, entered Henry's Bar in Amityville, Long Island, New York, and declared: "You got to help me! By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. What was Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s cause of death? Richard Drew/AP. The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's ( SDCCS) spokeswoman said she could not immediately comment on the case. The original address of the home when the murders took place was 112 Ocean Ave. but it was eventually changed to 108 Ocean Ave. in order to discourage tourists. However, it is announced that the Albany County Coroners Office is not able to publish Ronald DeFeos cause of death to anyone except relatives, over health privacy laws. He also called the police to report the deaths. Year should not be greater than current year. In a 1986 interview for Newsday, DeFeo claimed his sister Dawn killed their father and then their distraught mother killed all of his siblings, apparently with a rifle before he killed his mother. Mr. DeFeo, the oldest of the siblings, was 23 at the time. The title is misleading since the cause of death was not disclosed. Copyright 2023 Distractify. According to Osuna they spoke for about six hours. DeFeo unsuccessfully sought a retrial in 1992, claiming that his 18-year-old sister killed the five other family members and that he then shot her. The Albany County Coroner's Office, which is responsible for determining what caused his death, said it doesn't release such information except to relatives of the dead. Offers may be subject to change without notice. What happened to Ronald DeFeo? DeFeo, who went by the nickname Butch, was eligible for a parole hearing in July. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. More articles: Former NWA & WWE Star Don Kernodles Cause of Death at 71. Ronald DeFeo died on Friday. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Rumor Follows Taz Stereo Nations Cause of Sudden Death, Animator Burny Mattinsons Death Following a Short Illness, Joan Joyces Obituary is Silent about The Cause of Death, Coach Terry Hollands Death After a Period of Declining Health, Alec Baldwin Charged With Manslaughter in Rust Shooting, Vhong Navarros Rape Charges Led him Transferred to NBI, Fans Ask about Singer Daniel Levis Cause of Death, Shocking Story of AGT Contestant Nolan Neals Cause of Death, Maddie Ziegler and Eddie Benjamin Call it Quits After 3 Years, Are Eiza Gonzalez and Ben Simmons Dating? Although there have been other claims of the supernatural occurring at the Amityville house, there are former residents of the house who claim nothing of the sort happened to them. Ronald Joseph Butch DeFeo Jr. (born September 26, 1951) was an American mass murderer. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? . As far as hauntings go, however, there are ongoing conflicting reports. Another possible reason he might have killed his family members was for a possibly sizable life insurance policy. Resend Activation Email. They lived, loved, & then died by the hands of one of their own. A year after the slaughter, George and Kathy Lutz purchased the home but left 28 days later after reporting paranormal activity in the house, including strange sounds, voices and green slime oozing from the walls, according to real estate site 6sqft. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. In his own handwriting, Butch wrote, "it was cold-blooded murder. Be determined and announced by the hands of one of their own navigate through the.. Make the most of a memorial Amityville, on suburban violently with his father was successful... Medical Examiners Office officially to Ronald and Louise Brigante Griffiths cause of Related... Brothers inside their home in Amityville, N.Y. 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