Smurl Family Members | 2024 |
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.
John and Mary SmurlThe Smurl family lived in a double-block house (a duplex). While Jack and Janet lived in one half, Jack’s parents, John and Mary, lived in the adjoining unit. The haunting was not confined to one side of the wall. John and Mary reported hearing loud banging, scratching, and the sound of heavy furniture moving in the other unit when they knew Jack and Janet were away. Mary Smurl, in particular, was a witness to several manifestations and shared the family’s deep Catholic faith, which they used as their primary defense against the entity through prayer and house blessings. Key Figures in the Smurl Case smurl family members
The Smurl family members eventually moved out of the Chase Street home in 1988. They relocated to a new home in Wilkes-Barre, hoping to leave the nightmare behind. While reports state that the activity followed them briefly, it eventually subsided. Living in the duplex with their son and
The Smurl ChildrenThe haunting allegedly targeted the Smurl’s four daughters—Dawn, Heather, and twins Carin and Shannon. The children were reportedly subjected to terrifying sights, such as seeing the entity manifest as a rotted, human-like figure or a large, wolf-like creature. Their parents frequently reported that the girls were scratched or pushed while they slept. Because the children were young during the height of the activity, the Smurls were often accused by skeptics of "infecting" their children with their own fears, though the girls maintained their accounts of the events into adulthood. The Extended Family at 108 Chase Street While the haunting was concentrated heavily on Jack
Ed and Lorraine WarrenWhile not family members by blood, the famed demonologists became an extension of the Smurl family’s life for several years. They were the ones who officially "classified" the entity as a demon. Lorraine, a medium, claimed to sense a dark presence that used the family’s proximity and shared walls to gain strength.
Since "Smurl" is a relatively uncommon surname, it is most famously associated with the , one of the most well-documented and terrifying alleged paranormal cases in American history.