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On the evening of November 13, 1974, twenty-three-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. burst through the door of Henry’s Bar in Amityville, Long Island, frantically yelling for help and telling the patrons that someone had killed his parents. When a small group returned to the house with DeFeo, they discovered that not only had his parents, Louise and Ronald Sr., been killed, but so had his four brothers and sisters—all shot to death in their beds with a .35 caliber rifle.
During a police interview that night, investigators became suspicious of Ronald DeFeo. Not only was his story of a mob hit difficult to believe, but he seemed incapable of keeping certain aspects of his story straight during the interview. The next day, DeFeo broke down and confessed to the murders, explaining that he had hated his father and telling investigators, “Once I started [shooting], I just couldn’t stop.”
Ronald DeFeo’s trial was one of New York’s biggest news stories of 1975 and attracted considerable attention due to his attempt to mount an insanity defense and his frequent outbursts in the courtroom. In the end, the defense was unsuccessful and DeFeo was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life in prison. DeFeo’s conviction should have been the end of the story, but it turned out it was only the beginning of what would eventually become one of the most notorious supernatural claims in American history.
Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!!
References
Carter, A.J., Soper Susan , Dallas Gatewood, and Sam Washington. 1974. "DeFeo son is accused." Newsday, November 15: 3.
Incantalupo, Tom, and Sam Washington. 1974. "A quiet drink turns into an invitation to disaster." Newsday, November 14: 3.
—. 1974. "Six in Amityville family slain, each in bed, 1 bullet in back." Newsday, November 14: 1.
New York Times. 1974. "Six in family found slain in bedrooms in L.I. home." New York Times, November 14: 97.
Smith, Don. 1975. "Attack mounted on DeFeio's insanity plea." Newsday, October 25: 16.
—. 1975. "Cellmate says DeFeo had insanity plan." Newsday, November 11: 6.
—. 1975. "Cop quotes DeFeoL 'I... couldn't stop'." Newsday, September 24: 4.
—. 1975. "Cop: DeFeo altered story." Newsday, October 22: 9.
—. 1975. "DeFeo charges police beat him into confessing." Newsday, September 27: 13.
—. 1975. "DeFeo defended as psychotic killer." Newsday, November 19: 17.
—. 1975. "DeFeo guilty of family murder." Newsday, November 22: 3.
—. 1975. "Doctor: DeFeo knew it was wrong." Newsday, November 13: 19.
—. 1975. "Family clash is cited in DeFeo trial." Newsday, October 15: 22.
—. 1975. "I killed a dozen others, DeFeo says." Newsday, November 7: 21.
—. 1975. "'I left the room in awe of the horror'." Newsday, October 23: 17.
Smith, Don, and Sam Washington. 1975. "DeFeo a heroin user, cop testifies." Newsday, October 18: 16.
Stark, Thomas M. 2021. Horrific Homicides: A Judge Looks Back at the Amityville Horror Murders and Other Infamous Long Island Crimes. New York, NY : Archway Publishing.
Sullivan, Gerard, and Harvey Aronson. 1981. High Hopes: The Amityville Murders. New York, NY: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.
Vecsey, George. 1974. "L.I. slayings suspect had used drugs." New York Times, November 16: 18.
—. 1974. "Neighbors recall DeFeos as 'nice, normal family'." New York Times, November 15: 80.
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In our season four finale, we talk about what justice looks like for survivors of abuse and how to recover from the loss of an abusive parent. We examine the importance of confronting the reality of what happened as a crucial first step in a survivor’s healing and ask what feels like an impossible question–when the systems fail, as they so often do–what do you do about someone like Jo’s mom Donna?
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Links/Resources:
Preorder Andrea's new book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
Click here to view our sponsors. Remember that using our codes helps advertisers know you’re listening and helps us keep making the show!
Subscribe on YouTube where we have full episodes and lots of bonus content.
Follow Andrea on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop
Buy Andrea's books here.
To support the show, go to Patreon.com/NobodyShouldBelieveMe or subscribe on Apple Podcasts where you can get all episodes early and ad-free and access exclusive bonus content.
For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines can be downloaded here.
Learn more and follow therapist Carly Oster.
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While visiting their hometown, Jo reconnects with their older sister, Crystal, to have the deeply honest and heart-wrenching conversation their mother never wanted them to have: one where they share the hard truths about the abuse they both suffered at her hand. Crystal and Jo reach a new level of understanding of their shared experiences and their love for each other. We also speak to Munchausen by proxy expert Bea Yorker to talk about the process of discovery and recovery for survivors.
***
Links/Resources:
Preorder Andrea's new book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
Click here to view our sponsors. Remember that using our codes helps advertisers know you’re listening and helps us keep making the show!
Subscribe on YouTube where we have full episodes and lots of bonus content.
Follow Andrea on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop
Buy Andrea's books here.
To support the show, go to Patreon.com/NobodyShouldBelieveMe or subscribe on Apple Podcasts where you can get all episodes early and ad-free and access exclusive bonus content.
For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines can be downloaded here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Case Files is back with the first episode of a multi-part series on the Justina Pelletier case. Andrea and Dr. Bex covered this case in the subscriber feed, but, due to popular demand, decided to bring it to the main podcast.
Justina Pelletier was a 14-year-old girl whose hospitalization at Boston Children's Hospital sparked a significant legal and media frenzy. Andrea and Dr. Bex’s discussion covers the medical background of Justina's condition, including mitochondrial disease and somatoform disorder, the treatment plans proposed by the hospital, and the escalating conflict between her family and medical professionals.
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Links/Resources:
The Battle for Justina Pelletier: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-battle-for-justina-pelletier/5657866397468499112
Read about Justina Pelletier in The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2020/01/12/pelletier/0I2dQrYlZFJ9tNzscaXdAO/story.html
Join Patreon for a look at Andrea and Dr. Bex’s previous coverage of the Justina Pelletier case: https://www.patreon.com/collection/507935
Preorder Andrea's new book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
Click here to view our sponsors. Remember that using our codes helps advertisers know you’re listening and helps us keep making the show!
Subscribe on YouTube where we have full episodes and lots of bonus content.
Follow Andrea on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop
Buy Andrea's books here.
To support the show, go to Patreon.com/NobodyShouldBelieveMe or subscribe on Apple Podcasts where you can get all episodes early and ad-free and access exclusive ethical true crime bonus content.
For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines can be downloaded here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
