Dennis Hauck

The Smurl haunting refers to claims made by Jack and Janet Smurl about a supposed demonic presence in their West Pittston, Pennsylvania home between 1974 and 1989. They alleged the entity caused disturbances including loud noises, bad odors, and physical assaults. Their story attracted significant media attention and was investigated by various parties, including demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who supported their claims.

Skeptics, including psychologists and scientific investigators, offered alternative explanations such as delusions or charades, and some clergy members found no unusual activity during their investigations. Despite the controversies and differing perspectives, the Smurls' account was popularized through a 1986 book, "The Haunted," and a subsequent 1991 made-for-TV movie. A 2025 film, "The Conjuring: Last Rites," is also loosely based on these events. The family eventually moved from the house, with a subsequent resident reporting no supernatural experiences.

In August 1973, Jack and Janet Smurl relocated to a double-block house on Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, where they reported experiencing paranormal phenomena. Their accounts detailed a range of disturbances attributed to a demon, including loud noises, unpleasant odors, and the aggressive behavior of their dog. They also claimed the entity physically affected family members, such as pushing a daughter down stairs and engaging in physical and sexual assaults. These claims formed the basis of their widely publicized story.

The Smurl case drew the attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who claimed to have documented significant demonic activity, including temperature drops and apparitions. However, their findings were challenged by critics like Professor Paul Kurtz, who labeled the claims a hoax and suggested psychological explanations such as delusions or hallucinations. Psychologists noted that people sometimes interpret family tensions through the lens of demonology. Investigations by local clergy, including blessings of the home and stays by priests, did not yield evidence of harmful supernatural activity, with some priests reporting nothing unusual during their visits.

Despite expressing fatigue with media attention, the Smurls co-authored a book titled "The Haunted" with Ed and Lorraine Warren and Robert Curran in 1986, which presented their version of events. This book faced criticism for its one-sided narrative and lack of empirical evidence. The story was further amplified by a 1991 made-for-TV movie of the same name, also written by the Smurls, the Warrens, and Curran. More recently, the 2025 film "The Conjuring: Last Rites" offers a loosely adapted portrayal, and a YouTube video by Sam and Colby attempted to debunk the haunting.