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The Smurl family moved back to Wilkes-Barre in 1988, after several years in the West Pittston duplex where they reported paranormal activity. Jack Smurl died in 2017. Beyond that, the public record does not reliably establish where Janet Smurl or the surviving daughters live today, so any address or personal detail you find online should be treated with caution. The family’s reports remain their own account, interpreted by investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren; a paranormal cause has never been established.
Where the family lived and when they left
Jack and Janet Smurl lived with their four daughters, Dawn, Heather, Carin, and Shannon, on one side of a duplex at 330 Chase Street in West Pittston. Jack’s parents lived on the other side. According to a Biography.com article by Tyler Piccotti, published April 23, 2026, the family moved to the house in August 1973 after being displaced from Wilkes-Barre. The family returned to Wilkes-Barre in 1988, and that move marks the end of the period most closely tied to the reported events.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Conjuring (Blu-Ray) | $8.02 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Conjuring 7-Film Collection, The (Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Conjuring, The: Last Rites (Blu-ray) | $14.77 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Conjuring 2 (Blu-ray) | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Conjuring Universe 9-Film Collection (Blu-ray) | $36.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What the family reported, and who disputed it
The family described activity that they said grew more intense over time. Their accounts included claims of physical assaults, moving objects, unexplained sounds, and odors. These are allegations made by the family and by the investigators who worked with them, not verified findings. Skeptics did not accept them. Paul Kurtz, a well-known critic of paranormal claims, called the case “a hoax, a charade, a ghost story,” as quoted in the Biography.com piece.
Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the house in 1986 and concluded that the events had a paranormal explanation. That conclusion reflects the Warrens’ interpretation of what they observed and reported. It is not independently verified evidence of a haunting, and no neutral body has confirmed it.
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What is known about the family today
The most reliable recent fact is Jack Smurl’s death in 2017, which Biography.com reports. The same article says that daughter Carin became a part-time paranormal investigator. The sources reviewed for this piece do not provide a reliable current location for Janet Smurl or for the surviving daughters, and we have not published one. Readers who want to contact the family should look for statements the family has made publicly rather than unverified profiles.
The book and the 1991 television movie
The case was first widely told in Robert Curran’s book The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare, which was published as a paperback in 1986. It was later adapted into a 1991 television movie. Both are primary-era accounts of the case, so they are useful for seeing how the story was presented at the time. Retail availability changes, so check current listings before buying a copy.
Rank #2
- The Conjuring Universe: 7 Film Collection
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
How The Conjuring: Last Rites differs from the reported case
The Conjuring: Last Rites draws on the Smurl case but is a dramatization, not a record of events. In an interview with Bloody Disgusting published August 28, 2025, director Michael Chaves said that the Smurl sisters worked with the production during development and filming. He also identified a specific departure. Speaking about the antique mirror featured in the film, he said, “It was not in the Smurl house.” According to Chaves, the mirror belonged to another Warren case.
The table below separates what the reported case contains from what the film adds or changes.
Rank #3
- Runtime: 137 minutes
| Element | Reported case (family and Warren accounts) | The Conjuring: Last Rites |
|---|---|---|
| Source of the events | Claims made by the family, interpreted by the Warrens; disputed by skeptics such as Paul Kurtz | Fictional dramatization that uses the case as a starting point |
| Family involvement | The Smurl family were the people who experienced and reported the events | Director says the Smurl sisters worked with the production during development and filming |
| Antique mirror | Not stated in the sources reviewed as part of the Smurl house | Featured in the film; director says it was not in the Smurl house and belonged to another Warren case |
| Paranormal cause | Asserted by the Warrens; not independently established | Presented as the film’s premise, not as a verified finding |
How to read the story
The Smurl case has two layers. The first is the family’s account and the Warrens’ interpretation, which can be traced to the 1986 investigation and the family’s later statements. The second is the film, which takes that material and reshapes it for the screen. Keep the two apart when you read or watch. The family’s experience is reported, not proven, and the film’s choices are the filmmakers’ decisions, not documented history. Streaming availability for the film changes by date and region, so check your local listings before watching.
The question of what happened in West Pittston does not have a settled answer. What the record supports is narrower: the family lived in the duplex, reported disturbing events, returned to Wilkes-Barre in 1988, and has since lost Jack Smurl.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Artist: FARMIGA,VERA
- Genre: Horror
- Product Type: Blu-Ray Disc
- Rating: R
- Release Date: 13-SEP-2016
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
