Paranormal investigator dies suddenly while on tour with haunted Annabelle doll
Sadly, Rivera died at the age of 54 at the weekend while touring with the doll. The respected investigator was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on on Sunday evening.
Rivera was in town for a sold-out event as part of his Devils on the Run tour, a controversial cross-country series showcasing the real Annabelle doll, an object infamous for its connections to demonic possession and its role in The Conjuring film series.
Australian horror filmmaker James Wan, who catapulted Annabelle into global fame through his 2013 blockbuster 'The Conjuring' and its 2014 spin-off, paid tribute to Rivera on social media. He expressed his sadness over the sudden passing of Rivera, which occurred shortly after the death of Wan's close associate, producer Jason Constantine. The "Annabelle" doll (Image: Boston Globe via Getty Images)
While the official cause of Rivera's death has not been disclosed, emergency dispatch records confirmed a CPR-in-progress call was made for a man fitting his description. Rivera was a lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), and the organisation has confirmed his death, reports the Mirror.
Rivera's untimely death has triggered a wave of grief from fans and fellow investigators worldwide. A cult figure in the paranormal world, Rivera had amassed a loyal following through his investigations.
Annabelle, the notorious Raggedy Ann doll that allegedly terrorised people in the 1970s, has returned to public attention. Renowned for its spine-chilling behaviour, including stalking its owners throughout their residence and unnervingly positioning itself near the entrance to welcome them home from work, the doll has remained synonymous with supernatural activity.
The possessed plaything even allegedly scribbled unsettling messages, leaving the inhabitants so frightened they called for outside help to address the disturbing communications. American ghost hunters Lorraine and Ed Warren
A psychic medium informed the horrified owners that the doll housed the soul of a departed six-year-old girl called 'Annabelle'. Believed to be under demonic control, Annabelle was ultimately handed over to renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who established NESPR in 1952.
The Warrens, persuaded that the doll served as a gateway for evil entities, secured it within a glass enclosure inside their personal Occult Museum, where it stayed for years. Though earlier this year, Rivera and NESPR transported the terrifying relic on a travelling exhibition.
Metro reported that a Pennsylvania State Police document, released by Trooper Megan Frazer, confirmed that 'nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene'. The paranormal investigator died on Annabelle haunted tour (Image: dan_rivera_nespr/Instagram)
The official statement explained: "Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers."
Abrams County Coroner Francis Dutrow disclosed to People Magazine that Rivera had been socialising with colleagues on Sunday morning but had complained of feeling poorly and opted to retreat to his room.
The specifics of his ailment and its cause are still unclear as investigations continue.
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