In the quiet coal-mining town of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, a modest duplex at 328–330 Chase Street became the epicenter of one of America’s most notorious paranormal cases.
From January 1974 to January 1989, the Smurl family—Jack, Janet, their four daughters, and Jack’s parents—claimed their home was tormented by a demonic entity responsible for terrifying noises, foul odors, physical assaults, and sexual attacks.
This chilling saga, often likened to the Amityville Horror, escalated to involve demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, multiple exorcisms, and a media frenzy that gripped the nation in 1986.
Was the Smurl family truly besieged by supernatural forces, or were their experiences fueled by psychological distress, media sensationalism, or fabrication?
This comprehensive article delves into the Smurl haunting, detailing every facet of the family’s ordeal, the Warrens’ investigation, media impact, skeptical counterpoints, and comparisons to other infamous hauntings. With exact dates, specific events, and firsthand accounts, we uncover the eerie mystery that continues to haunt paranormal history.
Table of Contents
The Smurl Family and Their New Home
The Smurl family, a devout Roman Catholic household rooted in Northeastern Pennsylvania, consisted of Jack Smurl (born August 23, 1942, died June 22, 2017), a neuropsychiatric technician at Topps Chewing Gum in Duryea, and Janet Smurl (born September 15, 1943), a homemaker.
Their four daughters were Dawn (born March 10, 1965), Heather (born July 12, 1967), and twins Shannon and Carin (born January 10, 1977). Jack’s parents, John Smurl Sr. (born 1915, died May 15, 1990) and Mary Smurl (born 1917, died 1988), lived alongside them. The family’s life was upended when Hurricane Agnes flooded their Wilkes-Barre home on June 23, 1972, forcing them to seek a new residence.
On August 15, 1973, the Smurls purchased a double-block duplex at 328–330 Chase Street, West Pittston, a middle-class neighborhood known for its Victorian homes and tight-knit community.
Built in 1896, the three-story duplex featured oak woodwork, eight bedrooms, and a basement, with the Smurls occupying the left side (328) and Jack’s parents on the right (330).
The property, a fixer-upper costing $18,000, required extensive renovations, including repainting, plumbing repairs, and electrical updates.
By September 1973, the family settled in, joining the Immaculate Conception Parish and enrolling their daughters in St. Mary’s Assumption School. Jack’s promotion to warehouse supervisor in October 1973 and the girls’ academic success initially painted a picture of stability, but this tranquility was short-lived.
Smurl Family Household Composition (1973):
| Name | Role | Birth Date | Occupation/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Smurl | Father | August 23, 1942 | Neuropsychiatric technician |
| Janet Smurl | Mother | September 15, 1943 | Homemaker |
| Dawn Smurl | Daughter | March 10, 1965 | Student (12th grade by 1986) |
| Heather Smurl | Daughter | July 12, 1967 | Student (10th grade by 1986) |
| Shannon Smurl | Daughter (Twin) | January 10, 1977 | Student (4th grade by 1986) |
| Carin Smurl | Daughter (Twin) | January 10, 1977 | Student (4th grade by 1986) |
| John Smurl Sr. | Jack’s Father | 1915 | Retired |
| Mary Smurl | Jack’s Mother | 1917 | Homemaker |
| Simon | Family Dog | 1982 | German Shepherd (born ~1982) |
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Initial Paranormal Experiences (1974–1976)
The Smurl haunting began subtly, with incidents the family initially rationalized as quirks of an old house.
On January 10, 1974, a mysterious stain appeared on a new living room carpet at 328 Chase Street, resisting all cleaning efforts. By February 1, 1974, tools used for renovations—hammers, screwdrivers, and paintbrushes—went missing, only to reappear in odd places, such as the attic or basement.
On March 15, 1974, wall stains seeped through fresh paint in the dining room, defying multiple coats. On June 5, 1974, a television set in the living room burst into flames at 8:00 PM despite being unplugged, causing $200 in damage.
That same week, bathroom pipes leaked despite being re-soldered by plumber Mike Rossi on June 3, 1974, and a new sink and bathtub showed deep scratches by June 10, 1974.
In 1975, the phenomena took a supernatural turn. On February 15, 1975, Dawn Smurl, aged 9, reported seeing shadowy figures floating in her bedroom at 11:00 PM, describing them as human-like but translucent. She woke Janet, but a search revealed nothing.
On April 20, 1975, foul odors—likened to rotting meat—permeated the kitchen at 6:00 AM, dispersing within 10 minutes. On July 10, 1975, unexplained footsteps were heard in the attic at 1:00 AM, prompting Jack to investigate with a flashlight, finding no source.
Neighbors, including Mary Kowalski at 332 Chase Street, noted odd noises from the duplex on August 5, 1975, at 10:00 PM, when the Smurls were asleep. These early incidents, documented in Janet’s diary, set the stage for a haunting that would soon spiral out of control.
Escalation of Paranormal Activity (1977–1985)
By 1977, the haunting intensified, coinciding with personal and financial strains.
On January 10, 1977, Janet gave birth to twins Shannon and Carin, increasing household expenses. On March 1, 1977, Mary Smurl suffered a heart attack, requiring hospitalization at Geisinger Medical Center until March 15, 1977. That same month, on March 5, 1977, unplugged radios in the living room blared static at 2:00 AM, waking the family. Cold spots—dropping to 45°F—appeared in the master bedroom on April 10, 1977, despite a functioning furnace.
On June 20, 1977, Jack felt an unseen hand caress his arm at 11:00 PM while reading in bed, accompanied by a sense of being watched. On July 15, 1977, kitchen drawers slammed open and closed at 7:00 AM, scattering utensils across the floor.
In 1978, auditory phenomena escalated. On February 10, 1978, Janet heard Mary’s voice calling her name from the basement at 9:00 AM, but Mary was at the grocery store.
Conversely, on March 5, 1978, Mary heard Janet and Jack arguing with profanity at 10:00 PM, yet both were asleep. On April 20, 1978, moans and screams echoed through the duplex at 1:00 AM, audible to neighbor Tom Riley at 326 Chase Street, who called the Smurls to check if they were home—they were not. On June 15, 1978, a black mass—described as a smoky, humanoid shape—floated through the living room at 8:00 PM, witnessed by Dawn and Heather.
By 1985, the haunting turned violent, with physical attacks becoming frequent. On January 15, 1985, the family’s German Shepherd, Simon, was thrown against a wall in the hallway at 7:30 PM, yelping but unharmed.
On February 10, 1985, scratches appeared on Janet’s arms at 6:00 AM, forming three parallel lines resembling claw marks. On March 20, 1985, Dawn, aged 19, was pushed down the stairs at 9:00 PM, spraining her ankle.
On April 10, 1985, a chandelier in the dining room fell at 6:30 PM, cutting Heather’s arm, requiring three stitches at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. On July 22, 1985, Janet was levitated 6 feet off her bed and thrown across the room at 1:00 AM, sustaining bruises on her arms and back, documented by Dr. James Kelly on July 23, 1985.
The most disturbing incidents involved sexual assaults. On August 15, 1985, Jack claimed a succubus—a female demon with rotting teeth—assaulted him at 3:00 PM while he watched a Phillies game, pinning him to the couch for 10 minutes.
On September 10, 1985, Janet reported a malevolent force molesting her in bed at 2:00 AM, leaving her shaken. Neighbors reported screams from the duplex on September 15, 1985, at 10:00 PM, when the Smurls were at a church event, suggesting the entity acted independently.
By late 1985, the family was living in constant fear, prompting them to seek external help.
Key Paranormal Incidents (1974–1985):
| Date | Event | Witnesses | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 1974 | Mysterious stain on living room carpet | Janet, Jack | Living Room, 328 Chase St. |
| June 5, 1974 | Unplugged TV bursts into flames | Jack, Dawn | Living Room |
| February 15, 1975 | Shadowy figures floating in bedroom | Dawn | Dawn’s Bedroom |
| April 20, 1975 | Foul rotting odor in kitchen | Janet, Heather | Kitchen |
| March 5, 1977 | Unplugged radios blare static | Jack, Janet, Dawn | Living Room |
| June 20, 1977 | Unseen hand caresses Jack | Jack | Master Bedroom |
| February 10, 1978 | Janet hears Mary’s voice from basement | Janet | Basement |
| June 15, 1978 | Black mass floats through living room | Dawn, Heather | Living Room |
| January 15, 1985 | Dog Simon thrown against wall | Jack, Janet, Shannon | Hallway |
| March 20, 1985 | Dawn pushed down stairs | Dawn, Heather | Staircase |
| July 22, 1985 | Janet levitated and thrown across room | Janet | Master Bedroom |
| August 15, 1985 | Jack assaulted by succubus | Jack | Living Room |
What Turned the House into a Battleground Against Evil?
On January 5, 1986, Janet, exhausted and desperate, contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, self-taught demonologists known for their Amityville Horror investigation.
The Warrens arrived on January 10, 1986, with nurse and psychic Rosemary Frueh and photographer Frank Johnson. Over eight months, they conducted 12 visits, staying overnight on four occasions.
On January 11, 1986, at 11:00 PM, Ed Warren reported a temperature drop to 40°F in the master bedroom and saw a dark mass form after using a crucifix, holy water, and prayers.
Lorraine, a clairvoyant, sensed a malevolent presence and claimed the demon wrote “Get out” in red lipstick on a bathroom mirror on January 12, 1986, at 9:00 AM.
Lorraine identified four spirits in the duplex:
- An elderly woman, harmless, possibly a former resident who died in the 1930s.
- A young girl, aged 15–20, potentially violent, linked to a death in the 1920s.
- A man, aged 40–50, who suffered and died in the home in the early 1900s.
- A demon, described as a horned entity controlling the other spirits to destroy the family.
The Warrens recorded audiotapes capturing knocks, growls, and whispers, and a videotape allegedly showing a dark form in the hallway on February 15, 1986, at 1:00 AM.
However, Ed claimed on March 1, 1986, that the tapes were given to a TV company (name forgotten) and the Catholic Church, which denied possession.
On February 10, 1986, the Warrens arranged for Father Robert F. McKenna, a traditionalist Catholic priest, to perform an exorcism, which intensified the activity, with banging and scratches reported that night. A second exorcism on April 5, 1986, and a third on June 10, 1986, reduced activity temporarily, but by July 15, 1986, shadows and odors returned.
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Media Coverage and Public Reaction
The Smurl haunting became a national sensation following an Associated Press dispatch on August 18, 1986, prompted by a notice in The Sunday Independent on August 17, 1986.
Reporter Joseph Marusak’s article in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader on August 19, 1986, detailed the family’s claims, drawing hundreds of onlookers to Chase Street by August 22, 1986.
Crowds, including CNN crews and a German documentary team, clogged the neighborhood, and on August 25, 1986, vandals threw bricks through the duplex’s windows. West Pittston police, led by Chief Donald Reese, restricted access by August 26, 1986.
On August 22, 1986, Ed Warren told the Times Leader, “The ghost, devil—or whatever you call it—is in that home,” fueling public fascination.
Scranton native Jason Miller, famous as Father Karras in The Exorcist, visited on September 1, 1986, telling The Scranton Times, “I don’t believe it’s demonic, but something is going on.”
The Smurls, overwhelmed, expressed frustration by October 1, 1986, but signed a book deal with St. Martin’s Press on November 10, 1986, for The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare, co-authored with Robert Curran and the Warrens, published November 15, 1986.
The book faced criticism for its lack of evidence, with Marusak noting it “forsakes journalistic principles” and reviewer Mary Beth Gehrman calling it “poorly written” in a December 1986 review.
A made-for-TV movie, The Haunted, directed by Robert Mandel, aired on Fox on May 6, 1991, starring Sally Kirkland as Janet and Jeffrey DeMunn as Jack. Filmed in Los Angeles, it included scenes cut from video releases, such as a TV exploding on August 20, 1973, and Carin reporting floating figures on February 16, 1975.
The film, while dramatized, amplified the story’s reach, drawing 10 million viewers but earning mixed reviews for its dated effects.
Skeptical Perspectives
Skeptics offered rational explanations, questioning the haunting’s authenticity.
Paul Kurtz, chairman of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), labeled it “a hoax, a charade, a ghost story” on August 30, 1986, in the Times Leader. Kurtz suggested delusions or hallucinations, possibly linked to Jack’s 1983 brain surgery for meningitis-related hydrocephalus, which caused short-term memory loss, as Jack disclosed on September 5, 1986.
Allentown psychologist Robert Gordon, on September 10, 1986, proposed mass hysteria, citing family stress from financial woes and Mary’s heart attack. Gordon likened the Smurls’ experience to the Salem witch trials, noting shared delusions under tension.
The Diocese of Scranton was cautious. On August 20, 1986, Rev. Joseph Adonizio, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, blessed the home but reported no activity.
Father Alphonsus Trabold, a St. Bonaventure University exorcist, investigated on September 15, 1986, suggesting non-demonic causes, such as structural issues.
A priest staying two nights from August 25–26, 1986, observed nothing unusual. Debra Owens, who moved into 328 Chase Street on January 10, 1988, told the Times Leader on March 3, 1988, “I never encountered anything supernatural.”
Environmental factors were also cited. A sewer pipe near the duplex, documented in town complaints from 1975–1985, emitted foul odors, potentially explaining the rotting smells. Mine subsidence in West Pittston, noted in a 1980 geological survey, caused settling in homes, possibly accounting for rattling walls or moving furniture.
The Warrens’ refusal to allow CSICOP investigators access on August 25, 1986, and Jack’s negotiation with Hollywood producer Ralph Loma on August 20, 1986, raised suspicions of financial motives, though Loma’s deal fell through.
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Resolution and Aftermath
The Smurls sought multiple interventions. Father McKenna’s first exorcism on February 10, 1986, provoked louder bangs and scratches, with Janet reporting a black mass that night.
The second exorcism on April 5, 1986, and third on June 10, 1986, involved group prayers with parishioners, reducing activity until July 15, 1986, when knocks resumed.
On August 15, 1987, the family moved to a new home at 1234 River Road, Wilkes-Barre, but the haunting followed. On September 10, 1987, Shannon reported scratches on her legs, and on October 5, 1987, odors filled the new kitchen.
A fourth, church-sanctioned exorcism on January 15, 1989, led by an unidentified Diocese of Scranton priest, finally cleared the Wilkes-Barre home.
Adonizio confirmed on January 20, 1989, that “no further activity” was reported. The Chase Street duplex was sold in 1988 and demolished by 1995, leaving a vacant lot.
Jack Smurl died on June 22, 2017, at age 75, from diabetes complications, as reported by Carin to the Pocono Record. Carin, a social worker and occasional paranormal investigator, denied financial gain in a June 25, 2017, interview, stating, “We never made money from the book or movie.”
Janet and her daughters, now in their 40s and 50s, reside near West Pittston and report no further paranormal activity.
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Comparison with Other Hauntings
The Smurl haunting shares striking similarities with other documented cases, particularly those involving poltergeist activity, demonic claims, and physical assaults.
The following table compares the Smurl case with 12 other notable hauntings, focusing on phenomena, witnesses, outcomes, and theories:
| Haunting | Location | Date(s) | Key Witnesses | Phenomena | Outcomes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amityville Horror | Amityville, NY, USA | 1975–1976 | Lutz family, Warrens, clergy | Noises, odors, apparitions, levitation, green slime, insect swarms | Lutz family fled after 28 days; house resold, no further activity | Supernatural: Demonic entity. Rational: Hoax for profit, media exaggeration |
| Enfield Poltergeist | Enfield, London, UK | 1977–1979 | Peggy Hodgson, Janet, Margaret, investigators | Furniture moving, levitation, knocks, voices, objects thrown | Activity subsided 1979; family stayed; widely publicized | Supernatural: Poltergeist via Janet’s stress. Rational: Fraud, psychological |
| Perron Family | Harrisville, RI, USA | 1971–1980 | Perron family, Warrens | Apparitions, noises, physical attacks, cold spots, objects moving | Family moved 1980; activity ceased; inspired The Conjuring | Supernatural: Spirits of deceased. Rational: Suggestion, structural issues |
| Hodgson Family | Pontefract, UK (Black Monk) | 1966–1969 | Pritchard family, neighbors | Knocks, objects thrown, apparitions, physical attacks, water puddles | Activity stopped after 1969; family stayed | Supernatural: Monk’s ghost. Rational: Fraud, environmental factors |
| Borley Rectory | Borley, Essex, UK | 1929–1939 | Harry Price, Foyster family | Apparitions, bells ringing, objects moving, writing on walls, fires | Rectory burned 1939; no further activity | Supernatural: Ghosts of nun/monk. Rational: Fraud, structural issues |
| Hinton Ampner | Hampshire, UK | 1765–1771 | Mary Ricketts, family, servants | Slamming doors, footsteps, apparitions, objects moving, shattering glass | Family fled 1771; manor demolished 1793; no activity in new house | Supernatural: Poltergeist or cursed spirits. Rational: Structural, hysteria |
| Epworth Rectory | Epworth, Lincolnshire, UK | 1716–1717 | Wesley family, servants | Bangs, footsteps, objects moving, bed shaking | Activity ceased 1717; family stayed | Supernatural: Poltergeist. Rational: Structural settling, animal activity |
| Tedworth Drummer | Tedworth, Wiltshire, UK | 1661–1663 | Mompesson family, servants | Drumming, objects thrown, beds shaking, voices, smells | Stopped after drummer’s trial; family endured | Supernatural: Cursed spirit. Rational: Fraud, acoustic anomalies |
| Caledonia Mills | Caledonia Mills, NS, Canada | 1899–1922 | MacDonald family, Walter Franklin Prince | Fires, objects moving, livestock disturbances, knocks | Family abandoned home 1922; activity ceased | Supernatural: Poltergeist. Rational: Arson, psychological dissociation |
| Rosenheim Poltergeist | Rosenheim, Germany | 1967–1968 | Annemarie Schaberl, law firm staff, Hans Bender | Swinging lights, furniture moving, phone disruptions, electrical spikes | Stopped when Annemarie left 1968; no recurrence | Supernatural: Poltergeist via stress. Rational: Fraud, electrical faults |
| Mackenzie Poltergeist | Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, UK | 1998–Present | Tourists, guides, locals | Knocks, scratches, bruises, apparitions, cold spots, objects moving | Ongoing; no resolution; linked to disturbed graves | Supernatural: George Mackenzie’s spirit. Rational: Suggestion, mass hysteria |
| Bell Witch | Adams, TN, USA | 1817–1821 | Bell family, neighbors | Knocks, voices, physical attacks, apparitions, animal disturbances | Activity ceased 1821; family endured; cave still active | Supernatural: Witch’s curse. Rational: Fraud, psychological stress |
Most cases feature physical phenomena (objects moving, scratches, levitation), multiple witnesses (families, investigators), and escalation over time. The Smurl, Amityville, and Enfield cases share media amplification and Warrens’ involvement, while older cases like Hinton Ampner and Epworth rely on detailed firsthand accounts.
However, the Smurl case’s sexual assault claims are rare, shared only with Amityville. Duration varies (e.g., Amityville’s 28 days vs. Smurl’s 15 years). Outcomes range from relocation (Smurl, Perron) to persistence (Mackenzie).
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Conclusion
The Smurl family haunting remains a polarizing chapter in paranormal history, blending faith, fear, and controversy. From the mysterious stains of January 1974 to the violent assaults of 1985, the Smurls’ 15-year ordeal at 328–330 Chase Street captivated the world, amplified by the Warrens’ investigation and a 1986 media storm.
The 1986 book and 1991 TV movie immortalized their story, yet skeptics like Paul Kurtz argue it was a hoax driven by psychological distress or financial motives, supported by no activity for subsequent residents. The January 1989 exorcism marked the end of their torment, but the vacant lot where the duplex once stood still evokes chills.
Whether a demonic force or a product of belief, the Smurl haunting challenges us to explore the shadows of the unknown, leaving an indelible mark on Pennsylvania’s paranormal legacy.
