The Smurl Family Haunting

For fifteen years, the Smurl family of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, claimed to be tormented by demonic forces that invaded their home, possessed family members, and resisted all attempts at expulsion. Their case attracted national attention and the involvement of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators. Whether the Smurls genuinely experienced supernatural persecution or were victims of psychological disturbance and exploitation remains debated.

The House

Jack and Janet Smurl purchased a duplex on Chase Street in West Pittston in 1973. They lived on one side while Jack’s parents, John and Mary Smurl, occupied the other. The extended family arrangement seemed ideal until strange things began happening.

The disturbances reportedly began in 1974 with minor anomalies: strange stains appearing on carpets, unusual odors, and unexplained sounds. The family initially attributed these to normal problems with an older house. Over time, however, the phenomena escalated dramatically.

Escalation

By the early 1980s, the Smurls reported increasingly disturbing events. They claimed to see apparitions, including a dark, human-shaped shadow and a woman in white. Objects moved on their own. The temperature would drop suddenly in certain rooms. Their dog was repeatedly thrown against walls by invisible forces.

The family also reported physical attacks. Janet Smurl claimed to have been levitated and thrown. Both she and Jack reported being scratched by unseen claws. Most disturbing were Jack’s claims that he was sexually assaulted by a demonic entity, a phenomenon sometimes called spectral rape.

The phenomena were not confined to the house. The family reported that the entity followed them when they tried to escape, manifesting at a campsite where they had fled and even appearing in their car.

The Warrens’ Involvement

In 1986, the Smurls contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, who had gained fame for their investigation of the Amityville Horror case. The Warrens investigated the Chase Street house and concluded that it was infested with multiple demonic entities, including a powerful demon they believed was attempting to destroy the family.

The Warrens conducted rituals and brought in priests to perform blessings, but reported that the demons resisted. They claimed the case was one of the most severe they had encountered. Ed Warren described the Smurl haunting as “diabolical” in nature.

Media Attention

The Smurls went public with their story in 1986, appearing on television programs and giving newspaper interviews. They stated that they were coming forward in hopes that public attention might force the Church to perform a formal exorcism.

The publicity brought both believers and skeptics. Some observers noted that the Smurls had financial difficulties and suggested the haunting might be a bid for attention or profit. Others pointed out that no independent witnesses had seen the most dramatic phenomena.

The Exorcism Attempts

After sustained pressure, the Catholic Church authorized exorcisms of the Smurl home. Multiple rituals were performed in 1986 and 1987. The Smurls reported temporary relief after each ritual, followed by renewal of the attacks.

The demons, according to the family, were particularly enraged by attempts to expel them. The attacks allegedly became more violent following each exorcism. Jack Smurl claimed to have been pushed down stairs, Janet reported continued levitations, and the children were reportedly terrorized.

The Book and Movie

The Smurls’ story was told in the 1991 book “The Haunted,” written by Robert Curran with Ed and Lorraine Warren. A television movie based on the book was broadcast in 1991, bringing the case to a wider audience.

Critics noted that the book relied entirely on the family’s accounts and the Warrens’ interpretations. No independent verification of the phenomena was presented. The financial benefit the Smurls received from the book and movie raised questions about their motivations.

Skeptical Analysis

Skeptics have proposed various explanations for the Smurl case. Psychological explanations include shared delusion, suggestion, and attention-seeking behavior. The involvement of the Warrens, who critics argue encouraged and validated supernatural interpretations, may have escalated the family’s beliefs.

No physical evidence of the haunting was ever produced. Photographs and video shot at the house showed nothing unusual. The phenomena were witnessed only by family members and the Warrens, never by skeptical observers or scientific investigators.

Later Years

The Smurls eventually moved from Chase Street to another town in Pennsylvania. They reported that the new home was free of demonic activity. They attributed this to either the move leaving the demons behind or to a final successful exorcism.

The family maintained their story throughout their lives, continuing to appear at paranormal conferences and in interviews. They insisted that their experiences were genuine and that they had no motive to fabricate such a disturbing narrative.

Legacy

The Smurl case remains controversial in paranormal circles. Believers cite the duration and intensity of the reported phenomena as evidence of genuine demonic activity. Skeptics point to the lack of independent verification and the family’s financial gain as reasons for doubt.

The case is significant as one of the most publicized American possession cases of the late twentieth century and as an example of how paranormal claims interact with media attention, financial interests, and religious belief.