Jack Smurl May 2026

If you consider yourself a fan of paranormal horror, you’ve probably heard of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The famous demonologists are responsible for investigating cases that became The Amityville Horror and The Conjuring . But there is one case from their heavy file cabinet that doesn’t get a Hollywood blockbuster—yet it might be the most terrifying of them all.

According to the Warrens' notes, when they arrived, they didn't find a ghost. They found a demon. Ed Warren identified the entity as a "razor," a low-level demonic force that enjoys chaos and terror rather than outright possession. jack smurl

The entity, which the family nicknamed "The Old Man," became brazen. It would manifest as a tall, hulking shadow in the hallway. It would whisper obscenities. It attempted to physically drag Jack’s daughter down the stairs. If you consider yourself a fan of paranormal

Here is the chilling account of the Smurl Haunting. It started small. In 1984, Jack and Janet Smurl began hearing strange noises. At first, it was easy to rationalize: settling wood, creaking pipes, or a stray animal under the porch. But soon, the sounds evolved into scratching. Long, deliberate fingernails dragging across the inside of their bedroom walls. According to the Warrens' notes, when they arrived,

The Smurl case remains one of the most documented—and controversial—hauntings in American history. Whether you believe it was a demon, a delusion, or geology gone wild, one thing is certain: Have you ever experienced something in your home that you couldn’t explain? Share your story in the comments below. And if you want to dive deeper, check out the 1991 film The Haunted , which features a cameo by Ed Warren himself.

Then the smells arrived. A foul, sulfurous stench that would waft through specific rooms and then vanish as quickly as it came.