User:VampireKen/High Hopes

High Hopes: The Amityville Murders is a book written by Gerard Sullivan and Harvey Aronson and tells the story of Ronald Defeo Jr. and how he murdered his family. This book does not mention that any paranormal forces made Defeo murder his family.

Plot
The book is based on trial testimony of the 1974 murder of the Defeo family and takes place from the prosecutor's point of view. Gerard Sullivan was the prosecutor in the case. The book tells of Ronnie's nine year stay at the house on Ocean Ave. It tells how Ronnie starts to get mentally unstable, using drugs, getting into fights. It goes up to how Ronnie killed his family. Then it goes to the aftermath and the court and eventually his conviction. The book does not deal with anything supernatural and is only about the Defeos. It also talks about the insanity plea. A very controversial event is also mentioned in the book. The event which is now unverifiable, tells of a 1972 drowning that may have been caused by Ronald Defeo Jr.

Title
The title of the book came from author Harvey Aronson. The name of the book came from a infamous sign posted in the Defeo's front lawn which read "High Hopes". Arnoson's explanation for the naming of the title is "When they moved from Brooklyn and when they bought that house that they had High Hopes."

Reception
The book recieved good reviews. The Boston Herald called it "more frightening than any ghost story". The book was well received for ignoring the alleged haunting of the property and being based only on court testimony.

Criticism
Access to Death certificates is limited under New York State Law weather or not there was a drowning in 1972 has yet to be verified. The claim contradicts the Cromatrys' claim that there was no drowning. This claim was later made by the Lutz family as another tradgedy at 112 Ocean Ave. however if it was Defeo who commited the crime it may mean he was on drugs at the time.