Melanie Benson
Background
Melanie "Mel" Benson is a resident of New York. Her parents are Douglas Benson and Virginia Benson and her siblings are Tyler Benson and Lori Benson.
During the events of The Amityville Haunting (2011) played by Gracie Largent
Douglas, Virginia, Tyler, Lori, and Melanie meet with Prunella Weldon to look at a home for sale. Tyler records the entire thing as the Benson's take a tour of the house. They agree to purchase the house and when they go to tell Prunella, they find her lying dead on the driveway.
Day 1, June 12, 2008. The family moves in to the house and Melanie tells Lori that she was just talking to her friend John Matthews, but no one is there. They meet their neighbors Greg and Kristen. While Steve is carrying a heavy box, he falls down the stairs and dies. During the evening, Tyler catches Melanie showing her imaginary friend the contents of the fridge.
Day 2, June 13, 2008. Douglas sends Virginia, Lori and Melanie out to see a movie while he and Tyler install security cameras inside the house.
Day 3, June 14, 2008. Douglas hears Melanie talking to her make believe friend and asks her who told her about John Matthews.
Day 5, June 16, 2008. Douglas catches Melanie talking to John Matthews and watches the video feed and sees the ghost of a boy sitting across from Melanie. He tells John Matthews to stay away from Melanie and punches and kicks at where John Matthews was.
Day 6, June 17, 2008. Virginia tells Tyler, Lori and Melanie that they are going to stay at Linda and Eddie's house. Douglas comes home with a large amount of religious items and places them all around the house and also uses them to try and cleanse the house. Tyler sees Melanie speaking to John Matthews and asks her to ask him what he wants. She tells him that John Matthews wants him, Douglas, Virginia and Lori to leave, but her to stay. Douglas has a family meeting and talks about the family being at war and the gates of hell. Between 3 and 4 a.m., almost all of the family is killed, Virginia is burned to death, Tyler is mutilated, and Lori's spine is broken, except for Melanie, who disappears after stabbing Douglas to death.