The Smurl haunting dragged on for years between 1974 and 1989, eventually causing the desperate family to call in Ed and Lorraine Warren for help.

Nearly 40 years ago, the story of the Smurl haunting created a media firestorm. Jack and Janet Smurl’s claim of paranormal phenomena such as levitations, foul stenches, and blood-curdling screams in the middle of the night drew international attention to the small Pennsylvania town of West Pittston — including that of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The Warrens visited the Smurl home in 1986, which Ed confirmed was possessed by a “very powerful” demon. He and Lorraine spent months at the home, collecting what they claimed to be evidence — mostly in the form of audio recordings — of the demonic presence.

The Smurl haunting and subsequent

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