The Smurl family was at the center of one of the most famous alleged demonic hauntings in American history. Between 1974 and 1989, Jack and Janet Smurl claimed their duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was inhabited by malevolent spirits. Their story gained national attention, eventually becoming the inspiration for the 2025 film The Conjuring: Last Rites . 🏚️ The Haunting Timeline
The family claimed to see an old, gnarled woman with black eyes standing in the corner of the basement. They also saw a tall, man-shaped beast with matted hair that smelled of decay. The house had become a spiritual war zone.
The Smurl case remains a cornerstone of paranormal lore. It was immortalized in the 1986 book The Haunted and a 1991 made-for-TV movie of the same name. Whether viewed as a genuine demonic encounter or a psychological phenomenon, the Smurl family’s story continues to fascinate those looking for answers in the dark corners of the unknown. the smurl family
The family, including Jack, Janet, their four daughters, and Jack’s parents, moved into the home after their original house was destroyed by Hurricane Agnes.
The Warrens attempted to secure an exorcism through the Diocese of Scranton. The Smurl family was at the center of
Demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated and concluded the home was occupied by four spirits: three human ghosts and a powerful demon. 📽️ Media and Modern Legacy
So, what happened?
By 1986, the Smurls were desperate. They called in the Warrens, who brought a team of priests, psychics, and parapsychologists. Using electromagnetic field meters and thermal cameras (cutting edge at the time), the team recorded massive fluctuations in the basement. Lorraine Warren claimed she saw a "portal" in the foundation—a spot where the soil itself felt corrupted.
The haunting was categorized by an escalation of activity, often categorized into three phases: 🏚️ The Haunting Timeline The family claimed to
The Warrens performed a "progressive blessing" of the home. For a few weeks, the violence stopped. But then it returned, worse than before. The Church was hesitant to authorize a full Exorcism of a place (rather than a person). The Vatican’s position was that buildings cannot be possessed, only oppressed.