Dennis William Hauck

The Smurl haunting refers to the claims made by Jack and Janet Smurl, who alleged their West Pittston, Pennsylvania home was inhabited by a demon between 1974 and 1989. They reported a range of paranormal events, including physical assaults and disturbances. Their story attracted significant media attention and was examined by various individuals and groups, including demonologists, clergy, psychologists, and scientific skeptics.

While demonologists like Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated and supported the family's claims, others offered alternative explanations. Skeptics, such as Professor Paul Kurtz, suggested the events could be attributed to psychological factors like delusions or hallucinations, particularly noting Jack Smurl's past health issues. Clergy from the Roman Catholic Church and theologians offered less definitive conclusions, with some priests finding no unusual activity during their visits and blessings. Despite claims of ongoing disturbances, some priests reported normalcy during their stays, and a later resident of the home reported no supernatural encounters.

The Smurl family's experiences were documented in a 1986 paperback titled "The Haunted," co-authored with paranormal investigators and a newspaper writer. This book faced criticism for its one-sided presentation. The story was further adapted into a 1991 made-for-TV movie and has been referenced in later media, including a loosely adapted portrayal in the 2025 film "The Conjuring: Last Rites."

The Smurl family, Jack and Janet, relocated to a West Pittston, Pennsylvania home in August 1973. Shortly thereafter, they began reporting a series of disturbing phenomena, which they attributed to a demonic presence. Their accounts included loud noises, foul odors, physical aggression towards their dog and family members, and sexual assaults. These claims garnered widespread media coverage, leading to investigations by various parties. Ed and Lorraine Warren, known paranormal investigators, were involved in 1986, describing the entity as powerful and documenting phenomena like shaking furniture and temperature drops. Their involvement, however, was met with skepticism from scientific groups.

Scientific and psychological perspectives offered alternative explanations for the Smurl family's experiences. Professor Paul Kurtz, representing the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, characterized the claims as a potential hoax, suggesting that psychological factors such as delusions or hallucinations could be at play. He pointed to Jack Smurl's history of meningitis and subsequent brain surgery in 1983, which reportedly caused short-term memory loss. Psychologists suggested that people sometimes turn to demonology to explain personal or familial tensions. The Roman Catholic Church's representatives expressed uncertainty, while some priests who visited the home reported no unusual activity, and blessings did not seem to resolve the alleged issues.

The Smurl family's narrative was significantly amplified through media. In 1986, they co-authored a book titled "The Haunted" with paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and journalist Robert Curran. This publication was criticized by reviewers for presenting a biased, one-sided account. Later that year, the family expressed weariness with media attention but continued to engage with it. The story was adapted into a two-hour television movie, also titled "The Haunted," released in 1991. More recently, the 2025 film "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is noted as offering a loosely adapted portrayal of the events. A YouTube video by Sam and Colby also attempted to debunk the claims. The Smurls eventually moved from the house, and a subsequent resident reported no supernatural experiences.