Buzz
Paranormal experts often classify hauntings into distinct categories. Residual hauntings are typically harmless, as the spirits involved replay past events without engaging with their surroundings. Intelligent hauntings and poltergeist phenomena, however, are far more unsettling, as these entities are aware of and interact with living beings, often in hostile ways.
Among all hauntings, demonic hauntings are the most dangerous and malevolent. These involve nonhuman entities that aim to possess and torment individuals. Such hauntings are emotionally and spiritually exhausting and can persist for extended periods, as demons—entities that were never human—require specific religious rites to be driven away.
For skeptics, demonic hauntings might appear as manifestations of psychological disorders. Additionally, accepting the existence of demonic hauntings necessitates a belief in demons themselves. Nevertheless, the following 10 cases are chilling accounts of individuals who claim to have been targeted by malevolent, nonhuman forces.
10. The Demon House
Bob Cranmer, a former Allegheny County Commissioner in Pennsylvania, recounts in his book that his family endured 18 years in a home plagued by a demonic presence. The entity was eventually expelled through an exorcism in 2006.
Cranmer describes witnessing horrifying events, such as blood seeping from walls and unseen forces assaulting his family. By 2005–2006, the attacks escalated, prompting him to seek help from the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, which dispatched a priest to conduct an exorcism.
Legend has it that Cranmer’s Brentwood home was constructed on cursed land. The site witnessed brutal killings of European settlers by Native Americans in the 1700s, and during the house’s construction, a worker allegedly placed a curse on the property.
However, genuine malevolence emerged only after Dr. James C. Mahan Sr. entered the picture. Cranmer asserts that Dr. Mahan, a former resident of the house, was an alcoholic who performed numerous illegal abortions. These actions allegedly summoned a demon, often appearing as a “dark, misty cloud.”
Unlike typical demonic hauntings, Cranmer identifies the demon by name. He believes Moloch, the Canaanite deity referenced in the Old Testament, took hold of his home because both Dr. Mahan and the Malick family, previous owners, were said to worship Moloch. The connection is particularly chilling, as Moloch is associated with child sacrifices, and Dr. Mahan’s profession as an abortionist adds a sinister layer to the story.
9. Strange Symbols
Featured on Paranormal Witness, the residence at 20317 Fairway Drive in Springfield, Louisiana, is rumored to be haunted by an evil presence. In the episode, new homeowners Jeanine and A.J. relocate to a charming, affordable house in rural Louisiana, only to encounter terrifying phenomena.
Soon after moving in, Jeanine begins experiencing physical attacks from an invisible force. The assaults grow so severe that she and A.J. are compelled to abandon the house. Just before leaving, A.J. and his father-in-law lift a rug and uncover a room filled with satanic symbols.
The episode emphasizes the significance of the haunting occurring in Louisiana. New Orleans is renowned for its voodoo practices, and rural areas of the state are no stranger to satanic activities. A.J. and Jeanine conclude that their home was likely used by a satanic cult, whose rituals may have summoned a demonic presence.
8. Attack
In 2014, Fox43, a Pennsylvania-based news outlet, visited DeAnna Simpson’s home in Hanover. Simpson had reported years of disturbances caused by a nonhuman entity, prompting the news team to investigate.
Nick Petrillo, a Fox43 cameraman, experienced a sudden burning sensation in his hand while filming at Simpson’s residence. When he mentioned the unexplained pain to Simpson, she treated the area by applying holy water.
Featured on the Travel Channel’s The Dead Files, Simpson alleges that a demon has infiltrated her home. Alongside five other spirits, the entity reportedly torments DeAnna and her husband, Tom, both mentally and physically.
The demon typically manifests as a massive black shadow, which Simpson claims to have captured on camera. She attributes the haunting to a series of violent deaths that occurred on the property, though specifics remain unclear.
7. The Smurl Haunting
From 1974 to 1989, the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, endured relentless paranormal activity. Jack and Janet Smurl and their four children reported bizarre occurrences, such as their TV spontaneously catching fire, toilets flushing on their own, and electronics malfunctioning without explanation. At night, they heard unexplained footsteps and detected foul odors with no discernible source.
Even more alarming, claw-like marks began appearing in their bathroom. Soon, full-bodied apparitions hovered above beds, and in 1985, a ghostly figure dubbed “Old Hag” was seen passing through walls. The entity, or another demon, allegedly sexually assaulted both Jack and Janet. Despite approximately 50 exorcisms performed in 1985, the attacks only ceased when the family moved away in 1989.
Similar to the infamous Amityville haunting, skeptics question why the Smurl family’s demonic activity stopped after they moved. The involvement of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren added to the skepticism. In 1991, their story was adapted into a TV movie titled The Haunted.
6. The Bean Family
The Beans were an ordinary American family living in Glen Burnie, Maryland, during the 1970s. Their ranch-style home in Harundale, as described by Bill Bean in Dark Force, always exuded a sinister atmosphere filled with negative energy.
According to Bean, a demon possessed their home. The entity would grip family members with icy hands and mimic killing them. On one occasion, it took the form of a man in a black suit, revealing its true nature through its entirely black eyes. The family eventually fled their home in the 1980s.
Like many demonic hauntings, Bill Bean couldn’t pinpoint why his home was targeted, though Dark Force hints at possible extraterrestrial involvement. He claims to have photographic evidence of strange occurrences during their time in Harundale. However, subsequent owners reported no unusual activity in the house.
5. A Horde Of Demons
Latoya Ammons and her three children reportedly lived in a home so haunted that local authorities had to intervene. Ammons claims that shortly after moving into their small house on Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana, in November 2011, strange and unsettling events began to occur.
The first sign of trouble was an infestation of large, black flies that swarmed their screened-in porch. These incidents persisted even during winter months. At night, the family heard unexplained footsteps throughout the house, and Ammons once saw a shadowy figure crossing her living room.
Paranormal experts suggest that demons often appear as solid black shadow figures. Skeptics, however, attribute sightings of shadow people to sleep paralysis or other psychological phenomena.
Ammons recounts a particularly terrifying incident where her 12-year-old daughter was seen levitating above her bed at 2:00 AM. Desperate for help, the family consulted clairvoyants, who claimed the house was infested with 200 demons.
Ammons and her children underwent exorcisms to combat the supernatural threat but eventually had to abandon their home. The house gained notoriety for a photograph allegedly showing a demon near a window. However, many have disputed this claim by debunking the photo.
4. Halloween Demons
Tracey and Keiron Fry from New Tredegar, South Wales, became tabloid sensations after claiming their home was invaded by demons. They alleged that three demons began tormenting them starting on Halloween night, with one entity threatening to slit the throats of Tracey and Keiron.
Like many tales of demonic hauntings, the Frys believe a Ouija board they used to communicate with spirits allowed the demons to enter their home. Once inside, the entities became violently aggressive, leaving physical marks on the family. Keiron claims to have photographed one of the demons, which appeared as a small child dressed in white.
Since the Fry family’s story first appeared in sensationalist publications like the Daily Mail and The Sun, their claims should be approached with skepticism. Nevertheless, they managed to persuade a team of paranormal investigators and a Church of Wales vicar, Johnathan Widdess, to perform a cleansing ritual to rid their home of evil spirits.
3. The Sallie House
Despite its fame as one of America’s most haunted houses, the Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, appears to be an ordinary middle-class residence. Built in the 19th century and located at 508 N. Second Street, the house is named after a ghostly girl called Sallie.
In 1992, the Sallie House gained national attention through the TV show Sightings. During filming, residents Tony and Debra Pickman displayed unexplained scratch marks on their bodies, and crew members also reported being bumped, bruised, and scratched.
Tony and Debra claimed that the violent supernatural attacks began after the birth of their child. From that point on, they endured cuts and physical pain inflicted by invisible forces. Visitors to the house also experienced similar assaults.
Additional accounts describe full-body apparitions, objects levitating, and strange noises like animal sounds experienced by the household and their guests. To explore these phenomena, the Pickman family often invited paranormal experts and psychics to their home, some of whom used Ouija boards in attempts to communicate with the house’s spirits.
Alarmingly, Tony and Debra began to suspect that Sallie, the most active ghost in the house, acted as a conduit for darker entities. They theorized that Sallie might have opened a doorway for one or more demons to enter the home.
One such entity, referred to as a harpy, was known for its violent tendencies and its focus on Tony and Debra’s child. The couple moved out in 1994 but continue to share their experiences on a dedicated website.
2. The Armstrong Street House
In 1970, Ann and Roger Brock relocated their family to a four-bedroom house at 2220 N. Armstrong Street in Kokomo, Indiana. The home was a bargain at $5,000, ideal for a young couple with three daughters. However, once settled, the Brocks encountered a series of deeply unsettling events.
For years, daughters Lana and Lisa expressed discomfort in the shadowy house. However, it wasn’t until 1978, after the births of younger brothers Roger Jr. and James, that the family began encountering what they believed to be a nonhuman entity.
One night, after her bed and surroundings shook inexplicably, Lana saw a wet figure outside her window. Upon closer inspection, she concluded it wasn’t a man but a “creature.” Compounding the family’s fears, local rumors suggested a woman had been murdered in the house.
As featured on Paranormal Witness, the Brocks endured repeated attacks by what they believed was a demon, possibly targeting them because Roger Brock was a Baptist minister. In one incident, Lana answered a knock at her bedroom door only to have her mouth covered by an invisible hand, silencing her screams.
Fortunately, the family dog intervened, distracting the demon and allowing Lana to scream. In retaliation, the demon killed the dog by hurling it through a window. Today, Lana maintains a blog focused on paranormal investigations. She claims the house was later destroyed by a serial arsonist.
1. The Cage
One of Great Britain’s most infamous haunted houses, known as “the Cage,” is currently on the market. Situated in St. Osyth, Essex, this 16th-century building once served as a prison for witches. Former owner Vanessa Mitchell claims the witches left behind a terrifying legacy.
After moving into the Cage in 2004, Mitchell reported being assaulted by several ghosts. One ghost playfully slapped her rear, while another pushed her down during her pregnancy. She also discovered mysterious, blood-like stains on the floors.
In an ITV interview, Mitchell revealed that she encountered three ghosts—two men and one woman—during her three-year stay. She also made the startling claim that a goat demon haunts the property, and she believes she photographed this entity.
After moving out, Mitchell wrote A Modern Day Haunting to document her experiences. She identifies one of the ghosts as Ursula Kemp, a former prisoner of the Cage who was accused, tried, and executed for witchcraft.
