For those unfamiliar: In the mid-1980s, the Smurl family (Jack, Janet, and their three daughters) claimed that their duplex home on Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was under siege by a malevolent demonic entity. The case was investigated by renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. The family reported horrifying events: disembodied voices, furniture moving, foul odors, shadow figures, physical assaults (scratching, biting), and even a demonic nun.
Decades later, the question remains on the lips of paranormal enthusiasts: are the smurls family still alive
If you are a fan of paranormal documentaries, classic horror films like The Conjuring universe, or the golden age of “true scare” TV shows from the 80s and 90s, you know the name . The Smurl family haunting is one of the most famous—and most controversial—alleged demonic infestations in American history. For those unfamiliar: In the mid-1980s, the Smurl
Critics, including the late investigator Joe Nickell and the local West Pittston historical society, have pointed out that the Smurl haunting coincided with a massive financial and emotional stress period for the family. Jack was a hard-working garbage truck driver and maintenance man. The family needed money. The Warrens needed a new case after Amityville fell apart. A book deal and a TV movie ( The Haunted , 1991) followed. Skeptics argue the remaining Smurls are alive but silent because the claims were exaggerated or fabricated. Decades later, the question remains on the lips
Sources: The Haunted (Warren & Smurl, 1988), local Pennsylvania obituaries (2017), interviews with Jack Smurl prior to his death, and the documentary “The Devil’s Road.”