The Smurl Family -

This report details the events surrounding the Smurl family of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, who claimed to be victims of a prolonged supernatural disturbance between 1974 and 1989. The case is notable for the high level of media exposure it received, the involvement of the Catholic Church, and the controversial investigative work of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Smurl case remains a polarizing subject in the field of paranormal research, balanced between testimonies of devout belief and accusations of hoaxing.

Ed Warren was blunt: "You don't have a ghost. You have a demonic infestation." the smurl family

Terrified for their children’s safety, the family turned to the Catholic Church. When traditional blessings failed to quiet the house, they reached out to Ed and Lorraine Warren in 1986. After investigating, the Warrens concluded that the home was occupied by four distinct spirits: three minor ghosts and one powerful "demon" that was manipulating the others to break the family's will. The Media Circus and Church Involvement This report details the events surrounding the Smurl

The story broke into the mainstream media in the late 80s, turning the quiet neighborhood of West Pittston into a tourist attraction. Skeptics, including Paul Kurtz of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), argued the family was suffering from "delusions" or "hallucinations," possibly triggered by stress or brain chemistry. Ed Warren was blunt: "You don't have a ghost

Jack Smurl initially dismissed these events as quirks of an old house. But as the years passed, the activity grew more aggressive. The family reported the smell of rotting flesh and sour milk permeating the rooms, followed by the chilling sound of a disembodied voice calling out their names. Escalation to Violence

So, what happened?