Smurl ((install)) | Janet

These early incidents were initially dismissed as normal household mishaps, but they began to accumulate into a pattern that the family could not ignore.

The Smurls eventually moved in 1988, claiming that while the haunting had been "cleared" by intense prayer and exorcisms, the emotional toll was permanent. Notably, subsequent residents of the home reported no unusual activity, leaving the "Smurl Haunting" as a localized, deeply personal phenomenon that continues to fascinate as a study of trauma, faith, and the enduring power of the unexplained. janet smurl

These investigations culminated in a high‑profile press conference in June 1991, after which the Smurl family reportedly experienced a dramatic decrease in activity, which they attributed to a final prayer ritual. These early incidents were initially dismissed as normal

| Year | Investigator(s) | Key Findings | |------|------------------|--------------| | | Penn State Paranormal Research Group (PSPRG) – led by Dr. Alan McLeod | Recorded unexplained electromagnetic spikes; documented temperature drops of up to 12 °F in the living room. | | 1986 | U.S. Air Force “Project Starlight” (unofficial, rumor‑based) | No conclusive data released; the claim contributed to the “government cover‑up” mythos. | | 1987 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints (LDS) investigators – including a former police officer and a former seminary student | Conducted a 48‑hour vigil; reported hearing “voice‑like whispers” and “footsteps” on a second‑floor hallway. | | 1989 | John Zaffis (Paranormal Investigator & Author) | Captured a “low‑frequency hum” on a handheld recorder and noted a “strong, oppressive feeling” in the basement. | | 1991 | The Smurl family’s own recordings – audio, video, and written logs | Released a 90‑minute video compilation to the media, showing what they claimed were “paranormal phenomena” (e.g., moving curtains, unexplained lights). | | | 1986 | U

: Janet claimed to have been pinned down by invisible forces and physically harmed within her own home.

The name has become synonymous with one of the most publicized hauntings in modern American folklore. From the mid‑1970s through the early 1990s, the Smurl family of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, reported a series of unsettling, allegedly supernatural phenomena that attracted the attention of paranormal investigators, the media, and skeptics alike. While the story is often told as a classic “haunted house” narrative, a deeper examination reveals a complex interplay of personal trauma, community dynamics, media sensationalism, and the evolving field of paranormal research. This essay provides a comprehensive look at Janet Smurl’s role in the case, the timeline of events, the investigative efforts undertaken, and the broader cultural ramifications.

Overall, while some data were intriguing (e.g., sporadic temperature dips), there was no reproducible, scientifically robust evidence confirming a paranormal presence.