New 'Amityville Horror' house owners dread Halloween
The home at 108 Ocean Ave. in Amityville is better known as the "Amityville Horror" house. Credit: Kevin Wohlers for Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
The D'Antonios cringe about what Halloween will be like at their new house in Amityville. They bought the waterfront Dutch Colonial at 108 Ocean Ave. because it's "gorgeous," says Caroline, who purchased the house with husband, David. But others know it better as the "Amityville Horror" house.
"We almost didn't close until after Halloween," says Caroline, adding, "It's going to be very hard to live there for a while."
The five-bedroom, 3.5- bath home is where Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed his parents and four siblings in 1974 as they slept. Three years later, the Lutzes, who moved into the house after the shooting, claimed in "The Amityville Horror: A True Story" that the house was haunted. That inspired a series of horror movies.
When it came out in August that the D'Antonios were buying the house, Caroline says her e-mail account was hacked. Strangers started calling. She has learned to screen calls.
Then there are gawkers. On Sunday when the D'Antonios were at the house, three people walked up to the front door, which Caroline says was not locked. "They didn't get in," says David, a retired math teacher.
The house went on the market in May for $1.15 million. The D'Antonios confirmed that they closed last week and paid $950,000.
Despite their frustration with the publicity, the D'Antonios say they do not have any regrets.
"It is my dream house - our dream house," says David. "There's nothing the matter with it other than the outside people."