ARCHIVE

On this page, there is a near-complete archive of the various documents, audio archives, and photos scattered throughout The Amityville Murders Website. Please be advised that an attempt has been made to protect an individual’s privacy by blocking some personal information, such as addresses, signatures, and phone numbers. Broadband is recommended.

AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING DAWN DEFEO

An affidavit from William Davidge, who was the boyfriend of Dawn DeFeo at the time of the murders. Davidge's affidavit paints a picture of a girl in love, who was out of control.

AFFIDAVITS IN SUPPORT

Two affidavits vouching for Geraldine DeFeo's authenticity along with the birth of Butch DeFeo's daughter in 1974.

ARTICLE

MURDERERS HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE FREE, BY PETER FALKENBERG BROWN, COURTESY OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY JOURNAL

SEE THE ARTICLE

BACKYARD 1974

Depicting the back of 112 Ocean Avenue, this photo was taken prior to the murders and comes from Geraldine DeFeo's personal photo collection.

BUTCH DEFEO CONFESSES

In Butch's own handwriting, he admits that he, and two others, were party to the crime. Butch wrote, "...it was cold-blooded murder. Period. No ghosts. No demons. Just three people in which I was one." The letter was sent to a producer that Butch was trying to get to pay him money for an interview. The black bars appear over portions of the letter to censor private information.

BUTCH DEFEO'S AFFIRMATIONS

Affirmations from Butch DeFeo that he made in court to affirm the authenticity of Geraldine and Stephanie, his wife and daughter.

BUTCH DEFEO'S TESTIMONY

Testimony from Butch DeFeo describing the killings. Since the commission of the crimes, Butch has always contended his sister, Dawn, had a hand in the killings, even during the course of feigning insanity.

BUTCH TO NAME NAMES

Prior to his November 2000 meeting with author Ric Osuna, Butch DeFeo indicated his willingness to name one of the suspects in the murder of his family.

BUTCH WANTS A DEAL!

The following is an excerpt of Butch DeFeo's handwritten letter to Geraldine DeFeo wanting Ric Osuna to make them an offer.

BUTCH'S CASE DISMISSED

The decision and order from a judge dismissing a libel lawsuit brought by Butch DeFeo against his ex-wife Geraldine. The judge found for Geraldine and dismissed the case against her. Geraldine stands behind the fact that she told author Ric Osuna the truth about her relationship with Butch DeFeo in 1974. The judge's decision strengthens this assertion. All personal information was censored upon request.

BUTCH'S PAST DEALS

An interesting series of letters regarding the commercialization of the Amityville Murders. With the help of William Weber, Butch DeFeo willingly played a part with profiting off his family's murder, as indicated his assignment below. These letters became exhibits in the DeFeo vs. Weber litigation and are now public record through US District Court depository in Kansas City, Missouri.

CARD TO RIC OSUNA

On November 30, 2000, author Ric Osuna and Geraldine DeFeo met with Butch DeFeo, who invited them both to the Green Haven Correctional facility. Below, a letter from Butch DeFeo inviting Ric Osuna, followed by an official letter from Green Haven Correctional Facility confirming the visit. After Butch DeFeo discovered that he was not going to profit from Ric Osuna's book--Osuna refused to be pressured into paying money to a convicted mass murderer--DeFeo decided to deny ever meeting with Osuna. Then, DeFeo changed his story again and decided to say he terminated the visit because Osuna wanted to discuss Amityville. In fact, DeFeo was very forthcoming with information on Amityville and the visit lasted many hours with Butch DeFeo offering his short-lived support. The last image is a copy of the Christmas card that Butch DeFeo sent Ric Osuna only days after the visit. Interestingly enough, DeFeo says "thank you" for the visit and invites Osuna back. Obviously, the visit went well. As for the other allegations DeFeo makes in the card, Osuna would later learn they were untrue.

COURT DOCUMENTS ON PRIEST

Below are court documents from the legal case the Lutzes brought against William Weber in 1977. These documents show that the Catholic Priest, Father Ralph Pecoraro, who appeared as Father Mancusco in Jay Anson's novel, did not have as much of a connection to the Amityville story and did not know the Lutz family as long as Jay Anson would have readers believe. George and Kathy Lutz cleared up the confusion with their answers to Weber's interrogatories--see paragraph nine on the second page, and question 43 and answer 43 to each of the interrogatories. The priest never even met the Lutzes prior to their marriage on July 4, 1975.

 

COURT DOCUMENTS WRITTEN BY BUTCH DEFEO

Here is an official court document that contains the notarized signature of Ronald "Butch" DeFeo, dated October, 25 1990. Butch wanted the court to know that Geraldine's marriage to Gerald Gates was not valid and that his daughter, Stephanie, was, in fact, his because the father on the birth certificate could not have children. Today, of course, Butch DeFeo has once again changed his tune for the simple reason that Geraldine refused to go along with his scheming ways. Therefore, he has disavowed her.

 

CROMARTY NEWS CONFERENCE

The following audio clip is from a press conference held in 1979 by then-Amityville home owners Jim and Barbara Cromarty.

Cromarty News Conference (1979)

DEFEO 1999 PAROLE HEARING

 

Click below to access Butch DeFeo's 1999 parole hearing transcripts. In them, Butch blames, once again, his sister for committing the crime alone, which he also admits is impossible. More important, Butch confesses that there were other people in the house that night. The latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader is required to view the transcripts.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE TRANSCRIPTS

   

DEFEO DEED JUNE 1965

The deed dated June 28, 1965 that shows, beyond a doubt, that the DeFeos purchased their home in June 1965 and not July 1964--a erroneous date spread through questionable sources on the Net.

DEFEO GRAVE

The following information and pictures pertain to the DeFeo grave located at St. Charles Cemetery only minutes away from Amityville. The first document is the record of ownership (courtesy of St. Charles Cemetery and Geraldine DeFeo) to show that Rocco DeFeo purchased the plot, which has now passed onto his immediate family. This dispels the myth that Ronald Butch DeFeo Jr. has any ownership in the grave. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be buried along with his family, the ones he was convicted of murdering, after he dies.

The second image is of the St. Charles sign that visitors will pass entering the front gates of the cemetery. The third image is of a derelict grave forgotten and dirty until Geraldine DeFeo and Ric Osuna took it upon themselves to restore it beginning in August 2000.

Author Ric Osuna, with the assistance of a couple of donors, had the DeFeo grave professional cleaned to remove the mold and mildew, as indicated by the receipt below. Although wild and crazy rumors circulate the Net, as often is the case, Ric Osuna has NEVER been banned from the grave or St. Charles Cemetery, which, according to the owners of St. Charles, is a public place.

The final images taken by Ric Osuna are of a grave cleaned for the holidays and a semi-recent shot of it during late summer.

 

DEFEO GRAVE 1974

Depicting the DeFeo grave, this photo was taken in 1974/75 by Geraldine DeFeo and comes from Geraldine DeFeo's personal photo collection.

DEFEO POOL 1974

Depicting the pool area of 112 Ocean Avenue, this photo was taken prior to the murders and comes from Geraldine DeFeo's personal photo collection.

DIAGRAMS

Recreated diagrams of the DeFeo crime-scene by Rip Holly.

DOUG SPERO INTERVIEW

The following audio clip is from an interview with Emmy-award winning journalist Doug Spero. Spero researched the Amityville story for a news piece that ran in the late 1970s on NBC.

Interview w/ Reporter Doug Spero

 

ESTATE DOCUMENTS ON GERALDINE DEFEO

A letter written by Butch DeFeo to his family's estate lawyer requesting that monies go to Geraldine and his daughter "both equally."

The letter also mentions a hit put out on DeFeo by relatives. Even the prosecutor for the DeFeo trial contended that the DeFeos were involved with criminal activities as an FBI tape was handed to the prosecution that consisted of Michael Brigante Sr. discussing a hit on Butch. Regarding the FBI tape, Prosecutor Sullivan wrote in his book that Brigante told a Mafia capo about Butch, saying, "He's a nut job...If somebody killed this kid, he's better off. You understand my language...if they kill that kid in prison...you better get it squared away." Later, the capo responded, "This kid can hang everybody...he knows what was in that house." In Talking with Serial Killers, author Christopher Berry-Dee discussed FBI agent Robert Sweeney's offer to Butch DeFeo to turn state's evidence to testify against his family's Mob connections. Butch refused, so the hit was called off.

 

FRONT OF HOUSE 1974

Depicting the front of 112 Ocean Avenue, this photo was taken prior to the murders and comes from Geraldine DeFeo's personal photo collection.

GERALDINE'S IDENTIFICATION

The 1985 Cayuga County Sheriff's identification card issued under the name of Geraldine DeFeo. The letter serves to authenticate the identification card. The black bars appear over portions of the letter to censor private information.

HANS HOLZER ON GERALDINE

The following audio clip is from an interview with Dr. Hans Holzer conducted on October 26, 2001 by author Ric Osuna. In this interview, Dr. Holzer confirms his knowledge of Geraldine and Butch DeFeo's relationship prior to the 1974 murders.

Interview w/ Hans Holzer

HANS HOLZER'S LETTER ON WIFE

A letter from parapsychologist Dr. Hans Holzer requesting to be put in contact with Butch DeFeo's wife. Dr. Holzer was very aware of Geraldine and Butch DeFeo's marriage prior to the 1974 murders. In his book, Murder in Amityville, Dr. Holzer, during his interview with Butch DeFeo on page 269, asked, "Did you on occasion say you had a wife and children?" DeFeo answered, "Maybe I did. I don't recall." Check out Dr. Holzer's audio interview with author Ric Osuna to hear Dr. Holzer confirm his knowledge that Geraldine and Butch DeFeo had a relationship prior to the 1974 murders. The black bars appear over portions of the letter to censor private information.

IN SUPPORT OF GERALDINE

An affidavit from a friend of Butch DeFeo's that describes his assertion that Geraldine was married to him and was the mother of his child in 1974. All personal information has been blocked upon request. The latest version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader is required to view the transcripts.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE AFFIDAVIT

JUDGE'S ORDER

Judge Jack B. Weinstein unsealed the remainder of the Lutz v. Weber files on May 17, 2001. What was sealed was nothing extraordinary, as it was only Father Pecoraro's affirmation to his testimony.

LAB REPORT REGARDING DAWN DEFEO

The official police laboratory reports that show Dawn DeFeo had partially burnt powder particles on her body, which meant she may have fired a weapon the night of the murders. This evidence helps support Butch DeFeo's contention that his sister Dawn was involved in the murders.

LACK OF CONFESSION TESTIMONY

Testimony from Lt. Robert Dunn, one of the detectives that interrogated Ronald "Butch" DeFeo. From the testimony, it starts to be substantiated that Butch DeFeo never admitted to the crime, even though the prosecution's star witness, another police detective, said otherwise. This same star witness would be caught fabricating testimony in later cases.

 

LEGAL DECISION ON WEBER CASE

The following is a court decision on the Lutz v. Weber, which included other defendants, such as Good HousekeepingNew York Sunday Daily News and Hearst Corporation. Although the Lutzes' suit alleged that the Good Housekeeping article was factual, it was, at the same time, an invasion of their privacy. The presiding judge thought otherwise and dismissed the suit against the news organizations, basing his decision on the story being a news story.

LETTER FROM THE DIOCESE

The Rockville Centre, the diocese responsible for Amityville, went on the record to discuss the claims made by Jay Anson in his novel.

LOVE LETTERS TO GERALDINE

The first letter below, with a date of 10/16/82 in Butch's handwriting, is further evidence that Geraldine knew Butch prior to 1985. All of the letters below are in Ronald "Butch" DeFeo's handwriting. The excerpts below show that Butch DeFeo never wanted to give Geraldine the divorce she requested, which resulted in her abandoning their marriage. Furthermore, the rumor that the two never had intimate relations is proved false by DeFeo's own words, in his handwriting. Finally, it is clear that DeFeo was madly in love with Geraldine and needed her in his life badly.

NOTE: The envelope below is from a recent mailing to show the public that up until recently, Butch DeFeo was calling Geraldine his wife. THE 1982 LETTER DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM THE ENVELOPE BELOW.

MEDICAL EXAM ON DEFEO

Paragraph 23 above illustrates the injuries discovered on Butch DeFeo on November 18, 1974, five days following his interrogation. To cover their tracks, the police and the district attorney concocted a story that Butch and his father had a fight on November 11, 1974 in the basement of the DeFeo house. However, testimony at trial proved to be less than credible for the prosecution's needs.

 

MOTHER'S DAY CARD FROM BUTCH

An interesting mother's day card dated by Butch DeFeo May 12, 1982. The handwriting is that of Butch DeFeo's. More important, Butch DeFeo wishes Geraldine DeFeo a "Happy Mother's Day." This would be an odd occurrence, if they had not had a child together in 1974. Furthermore, it helps to disprove that Butch DeFeo only knew Geraldine in 1985.

MUG SHOTS

Mug shots of Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. The first one was taken when Butch DeFeo was arrested for Grand Larceny in September 1973. The bottom two were taken at the time he was arrested and arraigned for the murder of his family.

NO SUPERNATURAL VOICES

Testimony from Ronald "Butch" DeFeo that shows--under cross-examination from prosecutor Gerard Sullivan--that no supernatural voices played a part in the DeFeo murders. Although Butch DeFeo was feigning insanity for the trial, one has to wonder if his heart was really into it.

PUBLIC RECORDS ON THE AMITYVILLE HORROR

Interesting text regarding claims over the validity of Anson's book. Records obtained from the California court presiding over Lutz V. DeLaurentiis case.

RECEIPTS FOR MATERIALS

The receipts (two of many) above show that author Ric Osuna paid the Suffolk County Police Department for reproductions of photos and the Suffolk County Treasurer for reproductions of transcripts of the DeFeo trial. After years of inquiries, Osuna was finally invited by the Suffolk County Police Department and District Attorney's offices to review their files on the case.

 

 

REPORTS FROM SUFFOLK COUNTY

Pictured above are the covers of two reports that helped author Ric Osuna substantiate that a real problem existed in the justice system of Suffolk County, where innocent men would be made to confess to crimes they did not commit. District attorneys and judges often turned a blind eye. That all changed when one judge, Judge Stuart Namm, took a stand and requested an official investigation that shook the foundations of the county's corrupt system. In the case of Butch DeFeo, there was substantial evidence the police tortured him. Although the police's methods were deplorably, Butch DeFeo was guilty of assisting in the murder of his family. Chapter Six of The Night the DeFeos Died expands greatly on Suffolk County's problems with police brutality.

REQUEST TO REMARRY FROM BUTCH

Here is one reason why Butch DeFeo has gone ahead and labeled Geraldine DeFeo a fraud: She broke his heart because she would not remarry him in 2000/2001. The first image is of a letter from Green Haven Correctional Facility regarding DeFeo's marriage request. The second image is of a letter to Geraldine from Butch discussing marriage plans.

SIDE VIEW 1974

Depicting the front door of 112 Ocean Avenue, this photo was taken prior to the murders and comes from Geraldine DeFeo's personal photo collection.

TESTIMONY FROM HERMAN RACE

Below is testimony from Herman Race, a retired New York City police detective that served as the criminologist for the defense. The testimony helps substantiate other factors of the crime other than the widely popular theory Butch DeFeo was the lone killer. In fact, Prosecutor Gerard Sullivan admitted that DeFeo probably had an accomplice. Although William Weber fought valiantly for his client for adjournment to show other accomplices were involved, the judge, once again, ruled against the defense.

 

TESTIMONY FROM MEDICAL EXAMINER

A page of testimony from Dr. Howard Adelman's examination and cross-examination conducted by the defense and the prosecution at the DeFeo trial. From the text, it is clear that the medical examiner was mystified at how a single gunman could have ever committed the crime.

THE PROSECUTOR'S OPENING STATEMENT

Additional testimony from the prosecutor's opening statement that indicates Mr. DeFeo (Big Ronnie) had awaken during the murders and Marc DeFeo had to be ordered face down before his death. These facts clearly shows that the DeFeos, though all found face down in bed, had actually awoken from the first shots from the high-powered, .35-caliber Marlin rifle.

 

TRANSCRIPT OF 911 CALL

Operator: "Suffolk County Police. May I help you?"

Man: "Hah?" Operator: This is Suffolk County Police. May I help you?"

Man: "We have a shooting here. Uh, DeFeo."

Operator: "Sir, what is your name?" Man: "Joey Yeswit."

Operator: "Can you spell that?"

Man: "Yeah. Y-E-S W I T." Operator: "Y-E-S-W. .

Man: "Hah?"

Operator: "Y-E-S . .

Man: "Y-E-S-W-I-T."

Operator: ". . . W-I-T. Your phone number?"

Man: "I don't even know if it's here. There's, uh, I don't have a phone number here."

Operator: "Okay, where you calling from?"

Man: "It's in Amityville. Call up the Amityville Police, and it's right off, uh . . ."

Man: "Ocean Avenue in Amityville."

Operator: "Austin?"

Man:  "Ocean Avenue. What the ... ?"

Operator: "Ocean ... Avenue? Offa where?"

Man: "It's right off Merrick Road. Ocean Avenue."

Operator: "Merrick Poad. What's ... what's the problem, Sir?"

Man: "It's a shooting!"

Operator: "There's a shooting. Anybody hurt?"

Man: "Hah?"

Operator: "Anybody hurt?"

Man: "Yeah, it's uh, uh-everybody's dead."

Operator: "Whattaya mean, everybody's dead?"

Man: "I don't know what happened. Kid come running in the bar. He says everybody in the family was killed, and we came down here."

Operator: "Hold on a second, Sir." (Police Officer now takes over call)

Police Officer: "Hello."

Man: "Hello."

Police Officer: "What's your name?"

Man: "My name is Joe Yeswit."

Police Officer: "George Edwards?"

Man: "Joe Yeswit."

Police Officer: "How do you spell it?"

Man: "What? I just ... How many times do I have to tell you? Y-E-S-W-I-T."

Police Officer: "Where're you at?"

Man: "I'm on Ocean Avenue.

Police Officer: "What number?"

Man: "I don't have a number here. There's no number on the phone. "

Police Officer: "What number on the house?"

Man: "I don't even know that."

Police Officer: "Where're you at? Ocean Avenue and what?"

Man: "In Amityville. Call up the Amityville Police and have someone come down here. They know the family."

Police Officer: "Amityville."

Man: "Yeah. Amityville."

Police Officer: "Okay. Now, tell me what's wrong."

Man: "I don't know. Guy come running in the bar. Guy come running in the bar and said there-his mother and father are shot. We ran down to his house and everybody in the house is shot. I don't know how long, you know. So, uh . . ."

Police Officer: "Uh, what's the add ... what's the address of the house?"

Man: "Uh, hold on. Let me go look up the number. All right. Hold on."

Man: "Hello. Hello?"

Police Officer: "Yes."

Man: "One-twelve Ocean Avenue, Amityville."

Police Officer: "One-what?"

Man: "One-twelve Ocean Avenue, Amityville."

Police Officer: "Is that Amityville or North Amityville?"

Man: "Amityville. Right on ... south of Merrick Road."

Police Officer: "Is it right in the village limits?"

Man: "No, it's uh ... you know where the high school is?"

Police Officer: "Yeah."

Man: "It's in the village limits, yeah."

Police Officer: "Yeah. That's the village hmits, right?"

Man: "Yeah."

Police Officer: "Eh, okay, what's your phone number?"

Man: "I don't even have one. There's no number on the phone. "

Police Officer: "All right, where're you calhng from? Pubhc phone?"

Man: "No, I'm calling right from the house, because I don't see a number on the phone."

Police Officer: "You're at the house itself?"

Man: "Yeah."

Police Officer: "How many bodies are there?"

Man: "I think, uh, I don't know-uh, I think they said four."

Police Officer: "There's four?" (They hadn't found the girls, yet)

Man: "Yeah."

Police Officer: "Alright, you stay right there at the house, and I'll call the Amityville Village P.D., and they'll come down."

Man: "Okay."

UNANIMOUS GUILTY VERDICT

A guilty decision handed down by a unanimous jury that convicted Ronald "Butch" DeFeo of six counts of second-degree murder.

WEBER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS

An interesting series of letters regarding the commercialization of the Amityville Murders. With the help of William Weber, Butch DeFeo willingly played a part with profiting off his family's murder, as indicated his assignment below. These letters became exhibits in the DeFeo vs. Weber litigation and are now public record through US District Court depository in Kansas City, Missouri.