Ronald DeFeo | Biography

• By Stone Palmer
• Original : April 07, 2025

Who is Ronald DeFeo?

Ronald DeFeo Jr., born on September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, was the eldest of five children in a middle-class family. His father, Ronald Sr., was a car salesman who maintained a domineering presence and engaged in heated conflicts with his wife and children. Growing up in an environment filled with tension and expectations, DeFeo faced emotional challenges, which escalated throughout his adolescence due to bullying in school and conflicts at home. Despite receiving psychiatric help, his family ultimately chose to shower him with material gifts in a misguided attempt to address his troubles, which may have only exacerbated his issues.

On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo shocked the nation by committing an unthinkable crime; he murdered six members of his family while they slept. Using a .35-caliber Marlin rifle, he executed his parents, two brothers, and two sisters in a brutal act that took just 15 minutes. After the crime, DeFeo attempted to cover his tracks, initially presenting a fabricated scenario involving a robbery. However, inconsistencies in his narrative led investigators to uncover the truth, resulting in his arrest. At his trial in 1975, DeFeo pleaded insanity, claiming he heard voices directing him to kill. Ultimately, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to six life terms in prison.

Early Life and Education

Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr. was born on September 26, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, into an upper-middle-class family. As the oldest of five children, he was raised in a household where his father, Ronald Sr., was a successful car salesman. Despite the comforts afforded by his family's financial security, DeFeo's childhood was marked by emotional turmoil. Ronald Sr. was not only a dominating figure but also prone to violent outbursts, often targeting Butch. This familial strife, combined with bullying at school due to his weight and demeanor, exacerbated DeFeo's emotional distress and left him feeling isolated and troubled.

As DeFeo transitioned into his teenage years, his difficulties intensified. The psychological issues that plagued him were insufficiently addressed by the psychiatrist his family consulted, leading to the cessation of therapy sessions. Instead, his parents attempted to "buy" Butch's affection and compliance through gifts, including a significant cash allowance and expensive toys. However, this only facilitated his descent into drug use and antisocial behavior. At the age of 17, he was expelled from school due to violent outbursts, and despite having a job at his grandfather's car dealership, DeFeo's life was spiraling out of control, setting the stage for the tragic events that would follow.

Conflicts with His Father

Ronald DeFeo, known as "Butch," had a tumultuous relationship with his father, Ronald Sr., which marked much of his troubled youth. His father was a domineering figure who often subjected the family to heated arguments and emotional abuse, especially targeting Butch, the eldest child. The constant pressure of expectations compounded by the emotional turmoil at home led to many violent outbursts from DeFeo. Their relationship grew increasingly strained, culminating in an incident during a family confrontation where an altercation almost turned fatal—DeFeo attempted to shoot his father with a shotgun, which malfunctioned, highlighting the escalating conflict and foreshadowing the grave violence that would later transpire.

As DeFeo ventured into adulthood, his conflicts with his father took on a more serious tone. Irritated by what he perceived as a meager salary from the family car dealership, DeFeo plotted to embezzle funds, which created further tension. Ronald Sr. began to suspect his son's involvement in dishonest activities, leading to confrontations where DeFeo threatened his father with violence. This environment of fear and anger was a breeding ground for DeFeo's deepening instability, eventually culminating in the horrific act of violence he committed against his entire family. The strained father-son dynamics not only highlighted the dysfunction within the DeFeo family but also set the stage for the unimaginable tragedy that would follow.

Murder of the DeFeo Family

In the early hours of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. committed an atrocity that would forever mark the Amityville community. Armed with a .35-caliber Marlin rifle, DeFeo methodically murdered his entire family as they lay asleep in their beds. The victims included his parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise DeFeo, as well as his four siblings: Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John. The brutal killings occurred within a mere 15 minutes, with DeFeo displaying chilling calmness as he disposed of evidence and fabricated an alibi. He would later claim it was a robbery gone wrong, shifting suspicion to a purported mafia hitman.

The aftermath of the murders led to a swift investigation that ultimately unraveled DeFeo's deceptive narrative. Initially portraying himself as a shocked survivor, he soon became the prime suspect when police discovered inconsistencies in his account. Under intense interrogation, DeFeo's facade crumbled, resulting in a confession where he admitted, “Once I started, I just couldn't stop.” This revelation shocked the world and laid the groundwork for a sensational trial, where the prosecution identified DeFeo's motives as rooted in anger and mental instability rather than external pressures.

Investigation

In the aftermath of the horrific murders, the investigation into the DeFeo family deaths quickly became a priority for Suffolk County authorities. Ronald DeFeo's initial response raised suspicions almost immediately. He attempted to deflect blame by suggesting that a mafia hitman, Louis Falini, was responsible for the killings. DeFeo claimed that Falini held a grudge against his family and even suggested that he had been a victim himself, kidnapped and forced to witness the brutality that unfolded. Such claims, however, lacked credible evidence and soon began to crumble as investigators meticulously pieced together the timeline of events.

As investigators searched the DeFeo home, inconsistencies in Ronald's alibi emerged. The discovery of a box for the .35-caliber rifle, linked directly to the murders, raised significant doubts about DeFeo's fabricated stories. With each questioning, his narrative changed, leading detectives to grow increasingly skeptical. Ultimately, the pressure of the investigation proved too much for DeFeo, and he confessed to the crime, expressing remorse that was painfully absent in his previous accounts. His admission highlighted both his psychological deterioration and the complexities surrounding the family's tragic fate, marking the beginning of a legal saga that would grip the public’s attention for decades.

Trial and Imprisonment

Ronald DeFeo Jr."s trial began on October 14, 1975, nearly a year after the horrific murders of his family. During the proceedings, DeFeo's defense attorney, William Weber, attempted to use an insanity plea, arguing that DeFeo was not in control of his actions at the time of the killings. DeFeo even claimed to have heard voices instructing him to commit the murders. Supporting this defense was psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Schwartz, who assessed DeFeo as suffering from a dissociative disorder. However, the prosecution's psychiatrist, Dr. Harold Zolan, countered this claim, diagnosing DeFeo with antisocial personality disorder, indicating he was fully aware of his actions.

The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution's narrative, and on November 21, 1975, Ronald DeFeo was found guilty on all six counts of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences and transferred to Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York. Despite several attempts at appeals for parole over the years, DeFeo's requests have been persistently denied. His conviction and the gruesome details surrounding the case garnered extensive media attention, subsequently inspiring numerous books and films, notably the infamous "The Amityville Horror," which documents the aftermath of the tragedy and the haunting experiences reported by the Lutz family, who moved into the DeFeo home afterward.

Personal Life: Relationships and Family

Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as 'Butch", was born into an upper-middle-class family in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest of five children in the DeFeo family, with a domineering father, Ronald Sr., and a mother, Louise, who was less of an authoritative figure. The family dynamics were strained, marked by frequent disputes and a chaotic home environment. Ronald Sr.’s intense expectations and volatile temperament particularly impacted DeFeo's development, instilling in him deep-seated emotional and psychological issues that would later manifest in horrific ways. His relationships with his siblings were overshadowed by the fraught atmosphere at home, contributing to his rebellion and eventual descent into violence.

As DeFeo matured, his relationships became increasingly troubled. His attempts to bond with peers were hindered by his volatile personality, exacerbated by drug use and violent tendencies. DeFeo’s interactions often included threats and aggression, which alienated him further from those around him. Reports of sporadic friendships gave way to deep isolation, leading to a reliance solely on his immediate family, despite the dysfunction that characterized those relationships. This isolation, combined with rising tensions within his family, cultivated a toxic environment that contributed significantly to the tragic events of November 13, 1974, where he committed the brutal murders of his parents, siblings, and ultimately severed any remaining ties of familial affection.

Net Worth and Earning: Salary

Ronald DeFeo, infamous for the tragic murder of his entire family in 1974, has led a complex and troubled life that intersects with the realms of crime and popular culture. Following his conviction, his earnings and financial situation underwent significant changes. DeFeo was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences, which naturally curtailed any opportunity for traditional income. While media narratives surrounding the Amityville Horror continue to generate interest, DeFeo himself has not reaped financial benefits from these adaptations, as he remains incarcerated without the ability to capitalize on his notoriety.

In his early years, DeFeo received several financial privileges stemming from a comfortable upbringing, with his father providing him with cash allowances and gifts, including a car and a speedboat. However, these financial incentives did little to improve his mental well-being or his trajectory in life. Instead, he became increasingly embroiled in drug use and conflict, ultimately leading to his desperate measures that culminated in the unthinkable act of violence against his family. Today, discussions about DeFeo’s financial status remain largely tied to the profits generated by books and films based on the grim events of his past, a reminder of the tragic intersection between crime and commerce.