Furthermore, some investigators noted that the Smurl home was built on a known coal mine tunnel, leading to ground shifts and natural gas seepage—perfectly mundane explanations for the sounds and smells.

Jack Smurl passed away in 2018. Until his death, he never recanted his story. He lived in that house for decades after the haunting, a testament to his stubborn grit. He often said that the entity fed on fear, and he refused to give it the satisfaction of moving out.

Jack Smurl, a man of immense courage (or stubbornness), reportedly stood in the hallway one night and yelled, "If you want someone, come after me! Leave the women and children alone!"