I recently watched the Conjuring: Last Rites movie. The movie was based on the Smurl Family from a small town in Pennsylvania.

There was a claim from the family that from 1974 until 1989, their home was taken over by a demon who wanted to cause harm and destruction to them.

The allegations about the demons were made by Jack and Janet Smurl, who went to the press. And the hauntings and possessions became a worldwide sensation, which caused Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate these allegations that were made by the family.

The Smurl family claimed that their house had been inhabited by a demon who created uncomfortable smells and loud sounds throughout the house. The demon was also terrorizing their dog, shaking various items throughout their home, making one of the family members fall down the stairs, and, lastly, different family members were assaulted both physically and sexually.

Ed and Lorraine Warren first started investigating the family and house around 1986. While investigating, Ed Warren believed that the demon that took over the Smurl house and its occupants was an extremely powerful demon.

The demon also did not tolerate music that surrounded religion and any prayers that took place in the house. The Warrens were an unwelcome presence in the house by the demon because it would give them signs on the mirrors in the house, informing them to leave.

There were also critics of the Warrens and the Smurl family during this time, especially Professor Paul Kurtz from the State University of New York at Buffalo, who happened to be the chairperson of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.

Professor Kurtz believed that the Warrens were not credible people regarding investigating the Smurls’ claims of Demonic possession. And also that the Smurl family was going through the throes of “delusions, hallucinations, and brain impairment.” (Wikipedia, 2025).

The Smurl family finally had enough ridicule from the press and non-believers of their claims and decided to co-author a book with Ed and Lorrain Warren called The Haunted.

In 1987, things with the Smurl family regarding the demonic nightmare had lessened immensely. The family felt it was because they had escalated their praying, and they decided to move from the house in 1987. When a new owner moved into the house in 1988, into the old Smurl family house, she informed others that she never felt or saw any demons in the dwelling.

What are your thoughts about this? Comment below!

Until next time!

Source: Wikipedia