Janet Smurl is best known for her role in one of the most high-profile and harrowing paranormal investigations of the 20th century: The Smurl Haunting . Living in a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania , Janet and her husband Jack reported nearly 15 years of terrifying disturbances that eventually drew international media attention and the involvement of famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren . Life in the West Pittston Duplex The haunting began shortly after the Smurls moved into their home on Chase Street in the early 1970s. What started as minor annoyances—unexplained odors, strange noises, and cold spots—escalated into a violent domestic siege. According to Janet’s accounts: Physical Assaults : Janet claimed to have been pinned down by invisible forces and physically harmed within her own home. Shadowy Entities : The family reported seeing tall, shadowy figures and hearing disembodied voices. Psychological Toll : The constant activity took a heavy toll on Janet, Jack, their four daughters, and Jack's parents, who lived in the other half of the duplex. The Warren Investigation By the mid-1980s, the situation had become unbearable. Janet reached out to Ed and Lorraine Warren , who, after investigating, concluded that the home was occupied by a powerful demonic entity. The Warrens brought in several priests to perform exorcisms, but the activity allegedly persisted even after these rituals. The Smurls' claims were unique at the time because of the sheer duration of the activity and the physical nature of the attacks, which Jack Smurl famously claimed included sexual assault by a succubus. Media Presence and Legacy The Smurl case became a media sensation, documented in the 1986 book The Haunted by Robert Curran and later adapted into a 1991 television movie of the same name. Unlike many "haunted house" stories that end with a dramatic cleansing, the Smurls eventually felt forced to move in 1987 to escape the phenomena. Janet Smurl remained a private figure in the years following the move, though her story continues to be a cornerstone of paranormal lore. The case is often cited alongside the Amityville Horror and the Perron Family (The Conjuring) as one of the most significant investigations in the Warrens' career. The Smurl Family Haunting - Philly Ghosts
Quick Summary (The "Elevator Pitch") Janet Smurl is the central figure in the Smurl Haunting , one of the most famous and controversial demonic infestation cases in American paranormal history. Along with her husband Jack, Janet claimed her family home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was terrorized for nearly two years (1985–1987) by a violent, malevolent entity. The case gained national fame due to the involvement of renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Detailed Content Breakdown 1. Who Was Janet Smurl?
Role: Wife of Jack Smurl, mother of three daughters. Setting: A modest duplex at 207 Chase Street, West Pittston, PA (the other half occupied by her in-laws, John and Mary Smurl). The Claim: The haunting began subtly (knocks, a phantom dog, a disembodied female voice singing) and escalated into full-blown demonic aggression: physical assaults, moving furniture, foul odors, and terrifying apparitions.
2. The Core Phenomena (According to Janet)
The "Dark Figure": Janet described seeing a hunched, black, shadowy figure that eventually manifested as a "goat-like" demonic form. Physical Attacks: Janet reported being shoved, slapped, scratched, and dragged out of bed by an invisible force. On one famous occasion, she was thrown from a moving car. Audible Torment: She heard the entity taunt her by name, mock her Catholic faith, and threaten her daughters. Sexual Assault: In the most graphic and disputed claim, Janet alleged the demon sexually assaulted her —a hallmark of extreme infestation cases (incubi/succubi).
3. The Warrens’ Involvement Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the Smurl case in 1986. They concluded it was a case of "demonic infestation and oppression" (short of full possession).
Their "Proof": Lorraine claimed to see the demon psychically; Ed recorded EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena). The Failed Exorcism: The Warrens performed at least two exorcisms (assisted by a Catholic priest, though the Church denied official sanction). The hauntings would temporarily stop, only to resume worse. The Final Outcome: The Warrens eventually stopped visiting. The family sold the house and moved in 1988. Janet claimed the demon followed them to their new home but eventually faded.
4. The Skeptical View (Why the Controversy?)
No Objective Proof: Despite claims of scratches, flying objects, and voices, no photographs, video, or independent recordings conclusively document the activity. The "Haunted" Movie Connection: The 1991 film The Haunted (based on the Smurl case) dramatized the events, potentially embellishing or fixing details for narrative effect. Financial Motive: The Smurls sold their story to the Warrens and later to a publisher. Skeptics argue the haunting provided a financial lifeline. Psychological Explanation: Stress, sleep paralysis (explaining bed attacks), family conflict (living next to in-laws), and a shared belief system could have generated the experience.
5. Janet Smurl’s Legacy
Janet died in August 2016 at age 76. Jack died in 2018. Their daughter, Lori Smurl, has stated she believes the haunting was real, though she was young at the time. The case remains a Rorschach test for paranormal belief: believers cite it as proof of demonic reality; skeptics call it a well-performed hoax.