This is a famous case, documented in a book called The Haunted, which was not bad. It was also dramatized in a movie, which was kind of bad, mostly due to cheesy special effects. As this case was investigated by the Warrens, demons were, of course, blamed for the phenomena. Since the exorcisms were ineffective, I suspect the spirits were likely NOT demons or demonic in nature.
The book details events that occured over a period of ten years. How this family endured what they chronicle in the book is beyond me. They obviously had strong faith.
The Warrens claimed there were 4 demons in residence that had been somehow attracted by the teenage daughters enetering puberty.
Paul Kurtz, chairman of CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) offered to look into the phenomena, but the Smurls and the Warrens declined because they thought CSICOP were too skeptical. Does this cause anyone else to wonder why?
This was after the Warrens and the Smurls went public, claiming that in spite of repeated attempts at exorcism, they were unable to end the phenomena. Since the Warrens seem to approach every case they are involved in with an assumption, aren't they prejudiced?? I have so many unanswered questions about this case. I doubt that we will ever know what really happened.
Since the Warrens assume everything is happeneing as described, and that demons are ALWAYS the cause, they neglect to rule out many possibilities that could provide a natural explanation for the events that transpired. Approaching any investigation with ANY assumption is ill-advised at best. Operating under an assumption leads one to make the evidence fit the theory and does not evaluate the evidence on its own merit. Homestly, I have nothing against the Warrens personally, but I recently had an experience involving them that just made me want to scream! How can any investigator conduct an investigation when the Warrens or their followers have alreasy assured the people that it is demonic, and worse, that any investigator that tells them it is not demonic is basically in league with the demons! Arrrrrrgh....
Anyway, back to the Smurls. There are a few possibilities I would like to put out there for those of you who are curious to keep in mind when reading about this case. The following possibilities were NEVER, to my knowledge entertained or investigated during the "investigation" of the case.

1. Pittston is an area full of coal mines,underground caverns, and sink holes. No geographic survey was ever attempted to determine if this could have caused some of the phenomena.

2. The plumbing in the house was not inspected fpr leaks, nor was the sewer line inspected as a possible cause for settling, leaks, etc.

3. Admittedly , this is remote, but it is possible that one of the above things cause some phenomena which is often mistaken for ghosts - and then hysteria took over.

Read more about this case:

delcoghosts@hotmail.com