Shocking twist revealed after real-life Annabelle doll handler's unexpected death

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

Dan Rivera was travelling across America with the real-life Annabelle doll, believed to be one of the most haunted objects in the country, when he mysteriously died
A shocking twist has been revealed after the death of the real-life Annabelle doll's handler. Paranormal expert Dan Rivera was travelling across the United States when he died earlier this month.
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The US Army veteran, 54, had been hosting a tour across the country with the doll, which is believed to be the most haunted object in the country, when he suddenly died. Rivera had previously made a stop at the New England Society of Psychic Research (NESPR) in Pennsylvania, a coroner has heard.
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At the time of his death, he was visiting Gettysburg, where he was heading up the Devils On the Run tour alongside colleagues. But in a shocking twist, a coroner in Pennsylvania has confirmed that the haunted object that inspired films of the same name and The Conjuring was not present.
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Francis Dutrow, the Adams County coroner, confirmed to US media that Annabelle was not present when he arrived on the scene of Dan's death on July 13, after authorities had been notified. Dutrow revealed that the doll was not anywhere in the hotel room when he arrived.
The Pennsylvania State Police shared that Dan had been discovered, dead, in his hotel room. In a statement shared on social media, they said: "Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased W/H/M [man].
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"The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers. Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene." His cause of death was listed as pending. Dan had been with his colleagues in the hours leading up to his death but told them he was returning to his hotel as he felt unwell.
It's believed that his autopsy results are expected before the end of September. Months before the American tour, Dan had posted on social media about the "thrilling and terrifying adventure showcasing the most diabolical items from the infamous Warren's Occult Museum." However, he was given an eery warning from a woman just eight weeks ago.
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She said: "I don't understand why you guys would put yourself in danger like this, you really should put that doll back. And Lorraine Warren said it wasn't supposed to be touched or removed under no circumstances."
The haunted doll had been given to legendary paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who kept it in a glass case in their museum in Monroe, Connecticut, with a warning on its casing reading: "Warning: Positively Do Not Open," due to the "evil-spirited entity" living within it.. The Warrens also founded the NESPR in Monroe in 1952 in order to investigate suspected hauntings.
In their lifetime, they investigated more than 10,000 cases across America and worldwide and often documented their experiences, including their encounter with Annabelle. Speaking about the doll, Lorraine said: "It's not what the doll looks like that makes it scary. It is what has been infused within the doll. Evil."
The haunting Annabelle doll story is said to have begun in 1968 when a nursing student was gifted a Raggedy Ann doll as a gift. "She brings it home where she lives with a roommate," the NESPR say.
"Almost immediately, the roommates noticed strange occurrences with the doll, and they were introduced to a medium who told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle. The two roommates tried to accept the doll's spirit and please it only to have it reciprocate maliciousness and violent intent."