The Smurl Haunting

Jack and Janet Smurl lived in a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, with their children and Jack’s parents. From 1974 to 1989, they claimed to experience demonic infestation that included apparitions, foul odors, physical attacks, and sexual assault by an incubus. The case was investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren and resulted in multiple exorcisms.

The Duplex

The Smurl family moved into their duplex in 1974. Jack and Janet lived with their children on one side, while Jack’s parents, John and Mary Smurl, lived on the other. The house had been built in 1896, though no unusual history was known.

The activity reportedly began with minor incidents: a stain that reappeared no matter how many times it was painted over, odd sounds, a television that burst into flames. Over the years, the phenomena escalated dramatically.

Escalation

By the mid-1980s, the family described a full range of paranormal activity. Black forms were seen in the house. The family dog was thrown against a wall. Odors of rotting flesh filled rooms. Scratch marks appeared on walls.

Most disturbing were the physical attacks. Janet claimed to have been raped by a demonic entity on multiple occasions. Jack reported being assaulted by a succubus. Both described being held down, unable to move, while entities violated them.

The family’s German Shepherd would sometimes cower in fear, sometimes appear to track invisible presences through the house.

The Warrens

In 1986, the Smurls contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous demonologists who had investigated the Amityville Horror case and many others. The Warrens investigated the home and concluded that the family was dealing with at least four spirits, including a powerful demon.

Lorraine Warren claimed to sense an evil presence in the home and saw the demon in its true form during a trance—a description she refused to fully share.

The Warrens arranged for multiple exorcisms, performed by Catholic priests. The activity would temporarily subside after each ritual before returning.

Going Public

In 1986, frustrated by the continuing activity and the Church’s reluctance to perform additional exorcisms, the Smurls went public with their story. They appeared on television and gave newspaper interviews, hoping that publicity would pressure the Church to help.

The publicity brought skeptics and believers to West Pittston. Some neighbors supported the family’s claims; others believed they were perpetrating a hoax for financial gain or attention.

Resolution

The Smurls eventually moved to a new home, though they reported that some activity followed them. Over time, the phenomena diminished. A book about their experiences, “The Haunted,” was published in 1988 and later adapted into a television movie.

The family maintained until the end that their experiences were genuine. Jack Smurl died in 2009, having never recanted his account.

Assessment

The Smurl haunting presents difficulties for assessment. The family’s willingness to go public, when most victims of such experiences prefer privacy, has led some to question their motives. The involvement of the Warrens, who were controversial figures themselves, adds another layer of complexity.

However, the family maintained their account for decades, through ridicule, investigation, and scrutiny. Whether they experienced genuine demonic activity, psychological phenomena, or something else, their suffering appears to have been real.