The Smurl Haunting

Jack and Janet Smurl’s ordinary life in northeastern Pennsylvania became a fifteen-year nightmare when their duplex home became the center of what paranormal investigators called one of America’s most severe cases of demonic infestation. The case involved physical attacks, apparitions, and phenomena that persisted despite repeated exorcisms.

The Family and Home

In 1973, Jack and Janet Smurl purchased a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. Jack’s parents, John and Mary Smurl, lived in one half; Jack, Janet, and their daughters (eventually four children) occupied the other.

The home had no known history of paranormal activity, and the family had no prior interest in the supernatural.

Early Activity (1974-1985)

Subtle Beginnings

The first signs were easy to dismiss:

• A stain on new carpet that kept returning after cleaning
• Plumbing problems that defied explanation
• Strange sounds in empty rooms
• Foul odors without source

Escalation

By the early 1980s, the phenomena intensified:

• Footsteps throughout the house
• Unplugged radios playing
• A bathtub filling with human-like feces
• Violent scratching sounds inside walls
• Temperature drops to freezing in specific areas

The Demons Manifest (1985-1986)

Physical Appearances

Family members began seeing entities:

• The Black Form: A shadowy humanoid figure that appeared in hallways
• The Woman in White: An apparition seen floating near the ceiling
• The Pig: A grotesque creature with pig-like features witnessed by multiple family members
• The Human Figure: A demonic entity that appeared human but radiated malevolence

Physical Attacks

The entities became violent:

• Jack was repeatedly thrown against walls
• Janet was sexually assaulted by an invisible force
• Scratches appeared on family members’ bodies
• Objects were hurled at people
• Furniture moved violently across rooms

Other Phenomena

• Foul odors that made the home nearly uninhabitable
• Mysterious fires igniting spontaneously
• Dogs levitating before family members
• Apparitions appearing to neighbors outside the home
• Voices speaking in unknown languages

The Warrens Investigate

In 1986, the Smurls contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, famed paranormal investigators. The Warrens conducted an extensive investigation and concluded:

• At least four spirits were present
• One was a minor demon
• Three were human spirits controlled by the demonic entity
• A major demon oversaw the infestation

Evidence Gathered

The Warrens documented:

• Recordings of unexplained sounds and voices
• Photographs of strange lights and forms
• Testimony from multiple witnesses
• Physical evidence of attacks

Exorcisms

Catholic Church Involvement

The Warrens brought the case to the Catholic Church. Father Robert McKenna, a traditionalist Catholic priest, performed exorcisms on the property.

First Exorcism (1986) The ritual temporarily reduced activity, but phenomena returned stronger within weeks. The entity allegedly manifested during the ritual, speaking in Latin.

Subsequent Exorcisms Multiple exorcisms were performed over the following years:

• Activity would decrease temporarily
• Each return brought more violent phenomena
• The entity seemed to grow stronger from the attention

The Entity Follows

When the Smurls vacationed in the Pocono Mountains to escape, the entity appeared at their campsite. It also manifested at Jack’s workplace, demonstrating it was attached to the family rather than the location.

Public Controversy

Media Attention

The Smurls went public in 1986, appearing on national television. This decision was controversial:

Supporters argued:

• The family needed help and resources
• Public awareness might bring solutions
• Other victims might come forward

Critics suggested:

• Publicity motivated the claims
• The phenomena were exaggerated
• Mental health issues should be explored

Skeptical Response

Investigators from CSICOP (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry) visited but were not permitted full access to investigate. They noted:

• No controlled scientific observation occurred
• Evidence relied heavily on witness testimony
• Natural explanations weren’t adequately ruled out

Resolution

In 1989, the Smurls moved from the duplex. The activity eventually subsided, though not immediately. By the early 1990s, the family reported the phenomena had largely ceased.

Whether the entity was defeated by the multiple exorcisms, weakened by their departure, or simply moved on remains unknown.

Media Adaptations

The case inspired:

• The Haunted (1991), a television movie
• The Haunted (1991), a book by Ed and Lorraine Warren with Robert Curran
• Continued coverage in paranormal documentaries

Analysis

The Smurl case remains divisive:

Supporting Factors:

• Multiple witnesses over fifteen years
• Physical evidence of attacks
• Consistency of testimony
• The Warrens’ involvement and documentation

Challenging Factors:

• No independent scientific investigation
• Media involvement raises profit motive questions
• Lack of controlled observation
• Reliance on testimony of interested parties

Legacy

Regardless of interpretation, the Smurl haunting represents one of the most extensively documented alleged demonic infestations in American history. The family endured fifteen years of terror, went public despite ridicule, and ultimately prevailed - or at least escaped.

For believers, it demonstrates the reality of demonic attack and the power of faith to resist evil. For skeptics, it illustrates how alleged hauntings can persist and grow through expectation and belief. For the Smurl family, it was simply their life for fifteen long years - a nightmare they survived together.