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History Daily

1241: The Amityville Murders

History Daily

History Daily

History

4.42.1K Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

November 13, 1974. Ronald DeFeo Jr. shoots six members of his family at their home in suburban New York, inspiring the book and movie versions of The Amityville Horror.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:04.1

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0:06.0

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0:10.6

or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com.

0:32.3

Thank you. It's just after 6 p.m. on November 13th, 1974, in Amity Bay, Long Island.

0:38.5

Trees and houses Witt Pass as 24-year-old Bobby Kelski presses his foot down on the gas pedal.

0:43.5

He's probably doing twice the speed limit, but Bobby doesn't care because this is an emergency.

0:50.9

Just moments ago, Bobby was drinking at a local bar when his best friend, Ronald Butch Defeo, burst in.

0:58.0

Butch had appalling news. He had just discovered his mother and father had been shot in their home, and he thought they were both dead.

0:59.0

Bobby could hardly believe it.

1:01.0

Amitylil just isn't that kind of place.

1:03.0

But he and four other men from the bar didn't hesitate to help.

1:08.0

Now Butch and the other men are packed into Bobby's car and are racing the short distance to the Defeo family home.

1:15.0

Bobby pulls up outside the house and doesn't wait for the others as he dashes up the path to the door.

1:21.7

It's unlocked, and heading inside, Bobby finds the large house dark.

1:27.4

The family dog is barking furiously somewhere,

1:30.5

but Bobby ignores that and crosses the marble foyer to the stairs.

1:34.7

He takes the steps two at a time,

1:36.8

then hurries along the hall toward Butch's parents' bedroom.

1:40.9

The blinds are drawn, but there's a wet and metallic edge to the air. Bobby fumbles for the light switch.

1:48.4

And when the bulb flickers on, it reveals a horrifying scene. Butch's parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise

1:54.6

lie face down on the bed. Ronald has a bullet wound in his back and is clearly dead.

...

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