Living in the duplex with their son and his family were Jack’s parents, Jack Sr. and Mary. They occupied the other side of the duplex structure. While the haunting was concentrated heavily on Jack and Janet’s side, the grandparents were not immune. Mary Smurl reported seeing shadowy figures and hearing strange noises, though they often tried to rationalize the events to avoid frightening the children further. Their presence added a layer of generational fear to the home.
Regardless of one's stance on the supernatural, the story of the Smurl family members is a compelling look at how a single household stayed united in the face of what they believed to be pure evil. smurl family members
The family moved into the Chase Street home in the early 1970s, but the activity didn't start violently. It began as it often does: subtly. Living in the duplex with their son and
To understand the scope of the case, it is essential to look at the Smurl family members who were at the center of this decade-long nightmare. The Core Family at 106 Chase Street While the haunting was concentrated heavily on Jack
The Smurl family eventually moved out of the West Pittston home in the late 1980s, seeking peace in a new location. Jack Smurl passed away in 2017, but the legacy of the family's experiences lives on. The case remains a cornerstone of paranormal research, often debated between those who believe the family was truly besieged by a demon and skeptics who suggest the events were the result of mass hysteria or environmental factors.
Janet SmurlJanet Smurl was the emotional anchor of the family. Like her husband, she reported terrifying encounters, including being pulled out of bed by her hair and hearing disembodied voices calling her name. Janet was instrumental in reaching out to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren after local clergy were unable to provide a permanent solution. Her detailed accounts of the "black shadow" that moved through their home provided much of the narrative for the 1986 book, The Haunted.