One thing is certain: The haunting of Jack and Janet Smurl remains one of the most polarizing, fascinating, and terrifying stories in American paranormal history.
This is the story of 208 Chase Street in West Pittston. For Jack and Janet Smurl, the home on Chase Street was supposed to be a fresh start. A solid, three-bedroom duplex in a quiet neighborhood. By 1974, they had moved in with their three daughters, and for a while, life was normal. Jack worked for the county, Janet managed the household, and the biggest problem was the usual suburban chaos. jack janet smurl
Suddenly, Jack and Janet Smurl were celebrities. They appeared on talk shows. Skeptics circled. The media camped outside 208 Chase Street. One thing is certain: The haunting of Jack
The Warrens performed a series of blessings and advised the Smurls to request an official exorcism from the Catholic Church. When the Church reportedly declined (citing insufficient evidence), the Warrens conducted their own rites. The haunting became a national sensation. In 1988, author Robert Curran published The Haunted: The True Story of One Family’s Nightmare , which detailed the Smurls’ ordeal and was later adapted into a TV movie. A solid, three-bedroom duplex in a quiet neighborhood