The case also gained widespread media attention, with numerous news outlets and television shows covering the story. The Smurl family's experiences were featured on shows such as "Unsolved Mysteries" and "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson."
Smurl family ’s story has returned to the spotlight with recent horror films like The Conjuring: Last Rites , the real family behind the legend has mostly transitioned into quiet, private lives. As of April 2026, many family members have passed away, while the daughters remain largely out of the public eye. Janet Smurl
—are still alive and living primarily in the Pennsylvania area.
Decades after their terrifying ordeal made international headlines, many still wonder:
(Died June 2017): The family patriarch died at age 75 on June 22, 2017. He spent much of his post-haunting life working for the Topps Chewing Gum company and remained a devout member of his local church. The four Smurl daughters—
The immediate Smurl family consists of the daughters——who are all alive, well, and leading quiet lives in Pennsylvania. However, both the family patriarch, Jack Smurl , and matriarch, Janet Smurl , have passed away. What Happened to Jack and Janet Smurl? Jack Smurl (1942 – 2017)