Latest news with #GhostCityTours
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Handler Dies, Jailbreak And Fire Follow: Haunted Annabelle Doll Sparks New Panic
The notorious Annabelle doll, long associated with paranormal legends, is once again making headlines following a series of bizarre and tragic events during its US tour. Dan Rivera, handler of the doll during the "Devils on the Run" paranormal exhibit, was found dead in his hotel room under mysterious circumstances this week. Rivera, a cult figure in the ghost-hunting world, had been touring with Annabelle, a supposedly demon-possessed Raggedy Ann doll made famous by The Conjuring films. The tour, which began in May, stopped in New Orleans just days before a fire destroyed the historic Nottoway Plantation and ten inmates escaped from a nearby jail. Rumours quickly swirled that Annabelle had gone missing and may have been connected to the disasters. However, Tony Spera, owner of the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, refuted these claims. "You know, it's easy for rumours to start. The fact of the matter is that doll was never out of our sight, never out of our control," Spera told NBC News this week. "It's in a protective case and many precautions were taken to make it safe." Paranormal investigator Ryan Buell supported this by posting a video from the museum on May 24, showing Annabelle secured behind him. Despite these reassurances, conspiracy theories and fear have spread rapidly online. Ghost City Tours founder Tim Nealon said, "I didn't realise people were actually taking this seriously." Annabelle's legend traces back to the 1970s, when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed it was used by a demonic entity to manipulate and harm humans. Plans for the doll's future appearances remain uncertain following Rivera's death.
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Deaths, fires and prison breaks: The mystery behind the eerie Annabelle doll
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A cursed doll rumoured to have gone missing while touring the US with a travelling exhibit is being blamed for local disasters, including a fire and a jailbreak. Annabelle, a doll which some believe is demon-possessed and was featured in The Conjuring horror films, is on a paranormal tour along with other items belonging to her ghost hunter owners. She's dominating headlines again after her handler on the tour, Dan Rivera, was found dead in his hotel in mysterious circumstances. Rivera had become a cult figure in the paranormal world, gaining a devoted following through his eerie investigations, viral content, and direct work with some of the world's most notorious haunted objects. The Devils on the Run tour, which began in May, brought Annabelle to cities across the U.S., sparking massive interest as well as widespread concern. Critics accused Rivera of exploiting fear and superstition, while some believers warned that removing the doll from its sealed case could unleash dangerous energy. At the centre of it all was Annabelle, a seemingly innocuous Raggedy Ann doll believed to be possessed by a malevolent spirit, or worse. Odd things began happening in mid-May, however. The doll vanished while stopping at the Ghost City Tours office in New Orleans – the same week that a fire tore through a nearby plantation and 10 prisoners escaped from a jail. But Tony Spera, the owner of the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, said that Annabelle was 'safely back' in the museum, locked in her display case. 'You know, it's easy for rumours to start. The fact of the matter is that doll was never out of our sight, never out of our control,' Spera told NBC News this week. 'It's in a protective case and many precautions were taken to make it safe.' Paranormal investigator Ryan Buell sought to further quell rumours by posting a video on Facebook on May 24 of himself at the museum. 'She's not in Chicago, she never was in Chicago, and she's not missing because she's right behind me,' said Buell, while pointing the camera towards him with the doll sitting in the case over his shoulder. Still, social media users and conspiracy theorists have been sceptical about those accounts of Annabelle's whereabouts. A blaze destroyed the Nottoway Plantation House between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on May 15, and the very next day, inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Centre. Annabelle was touring in New Orleans on May 13 and 14, and among the precautions that were taken was having a Catholic priest alongside the doll. Some people are 'absolutely convinced' that Ghost City Tours is at fault for the fire and jailbreak, said its founder, Tim Nealon. One Facebook user asked why Annabelle wasn't left at the Connecticut museum and wrote on Ghost City Tours' page: 'Did it cross your mind maybe she was there for a reason? Some things are better left alone.' 'I did not think people were taking it seriously, I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok,' Nealon told USA Today. 'But, I didn't realise people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit.' Spera said he doesn't blame people for being sceptical: 'If people don't know about the demonic, it's very difficult to believe that these things are happening,' he said. 'But they do happen.' Annabelle has been on sold-out tours across the US, and Buell previously said that plans were underway for her to be at the Rock Island Roadhouse Esoteric Expo in Illinois on October 4. Those plans have been made uncertain by Rivera's sudden death this week. Annabelle's legend dates back to the 1970s, when a young nurse claimed the doll moved on its own and left frightening handwritten messages. The events began in 1970, when a nursing student named Donna received the doll as a gift from her mother. Shortly after, Donna and her roommate Angie reported unusual activity involving the doll, including changes in its position and location within their apartment. They also discovered handwritten notes on parchment paper with disturbing messages such as 'Help me,' despite not having such paper in the apartment. Seeking an explanation, the women consulted a medium who claimed that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased girl named Annabelle Higgins. More Trending However, the Warrens, upon investigating, concluded that the presence associated with the doll was not that of a human spirit but a malevolent, demonic entity using the doll as a conduit to ultimately possess a human host. Following their investigation, the Warrens removed the doll and placed it in a secure glass case in their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, with a warning label reading, 'Warning: Positively Do Not Open.' The doll is also associated with a supposed curse. The Warrens recounted an incident in which a museum visitor mocked the doll and challenged its power. According to their account, the visitor died in a motorcycle accident shortly after being asked to leave the museum. This story has contributed to the belief that Annabelle carries a dangerous curse, although no verifiable evidence supports these claims. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Ali went for a walk to clear his head – but what happened next is a mystery MORE: 'I shared a prison dorm with Ghislaine Maxwell – she isn't suicidal in the least' MORE: Seven officers investigated after man 'in crisis' dies during Boston arrest
Metro
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Haunted doll's handler says it's not responsible for disasters while on tour
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A cursed doll rumored to have gone missing while touring the US with a traveling exhibit is being blamed for local disasters including a fire and a jailbreak. The 'Annabelle' doll, which some believe is demon-possessed and was featured in The Conjuring horror films, is on a paranormal tour along with other items belonging to her ghost hunter owners. Word on the street in mid-May was that Anabelle vanished while stopping at the Ghost City Tours office in New Orleans. It happened to be the same week that a fire tore through a nearby plantation and 10 prisoners escaped from a jail. But Tony Spera, the owner of the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, said that Annabelle is 'safely back' there locked in her display case. 'You know, it's easy for rumors to start. The fact of the matter is, that doll was never out of our sight, never out of our control,' Spera told NBC News this week. 'It's in a protective case that many precautions were taken to make it safe.' Paranormal investigator Ryan Buell sought to further quell rumors by posting a video on Facebook on May 24 of himself at the museum. 'She's not in Chicago, she never was in Chicago, and she's not missing because she's right behind me,' said Buell, while pointing the camera towards him with the doll sitting in the case over his shoulder. Still, social media users and conspiracy theorists have been skeptical about those accounts of Annabelle's whereabouts. A blaze destroyed the Nottoway Plantation House between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on May 15, and the very next day, inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center. Annabelle was touring in New Orleans on May 13 and 14, and among the precautions that were taken were having a Catholic priest alongside the doll. Some people are 'absolutely convinced' that Ghost City Tours is at fault for the fire and jailbreak, said its founder Tim Nealon. One Facebook user asked why Annabelle wasn't left at the Connecticut museum and wrote on Ghost City Tours' page: 'Did it cross your mind maybe she was there for a reason. Some things are better left alone.' 'I did not think people were taking it seriously, I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok,' Nealon told USA Today. 'But, I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit.' More Trending Spera said he doesn't blame people for being skeptical. 'If people don't know about the demonic, it's very difficult to believe that these thing are happening,' he said. 'But they do happen.' Annabelle has been on sold-out tours across the US – and Buell said that plans are underway for her to be at the Rock Island Roadhouse Esoteric Expo in Illinois on October 4. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Family business '£10,000 out of pocket' after Meta blocks their accounts for 12 weeks MORE: British journalist Charlotte Peet who vanished in Brazil four months ago has been found MORE: FDA tomato recall elevated to highest level due to salmonella risk
New York Post
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Demonic ‘Annabelle' doll ‘safely back' in custody after claims it escaped, caused havoc in NOLA
The real-life 'Annabelle' doll was blamed for a string of alarming incidents by conspiracy theorists that claimed it escaped while on tour in New Orleans — but its owner confirmed it's safely back home and 'was never out of control.' The diabolical — and supposedly demonic — Raggedy Ann doll fictionalized in 'The Conjuring' movie series made a pit stop at Ghost City Tours office in the Big Easy in mid-May — the same week of a dating prison breakout and a devastating fire at a former plantation nearby. The timing led to speculation that the doll was behind the chaos. Advertisement 3 The 'Annabelle' doll is back in Connecticut after a brief tour. Matthew McDermott But she's 'safely back' behind lock and key at the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, owner Tony Spera told The Post. 'The doll was taken on a brief tour to several locations to show the doll to enthusiasts of the paranormal,' Spera said. Advertisement 'The doll was never out of our control. We take extreme precautions when handling or transporting the doll.' The precautions, which included having a Catholic priest traveling with Annabelle, apparently weren't enough for some observers who believe the doll's stint in New Orleans on May 13 and 14 was a bad omen. An inferno destroyed the historic Nottoway Plantation House between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on May 15 and the next day 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center. Most inmates have since been recaptured. 'I did not think people were taking it seriously, (because) I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok,' Ghost City Tours founder Tim Nealon told USA Today. Advertisement 'But, I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit.' 3 Fire crews took on the fire at the Nottoway Plantation on Thursday, May 15. AP He said some people are 'absolutely convinced' Ghost City Tours is culpable in the prison break and fire. 'Why didn't you just leave her where she was at,' one person asked the Ghost City Tours on their Facebook page. 'Did it cross your mind maybe she was there for a reason. Some things are better left alone.' Advertisement 'You shouldn't have moved her,' another social media user chimed in. Late husband and wife Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators, owned Annabelle along with other haunted relics at the museum before their deaths. 3 The inmates escaped from the NOLA prison. Spera, the Warren's son-in-law, has carried on their work as leader of the New England Society for Psychic Research. He said in his email that one of his workers used blessed holy water and holy oil, which was mixed into the stain that was then applied to the wood case. Other religious fixtures, including crosses cut into each side of the case, were also affixed to the case for the tour. 'The doll is blessed by a Catholic priest, before moving it, while on tour and after it is returned to the museum,' Spera said. Advertisement 'On the tour, a Catholic priest, Father Bob, traveled with us the entire trip.' With Post wires
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dark tourism expert reveals chilling details amid Annabelle doll's vanishing rumours, ‘We may be dealing with…'
Amidst fears and speculations over Annabelle's US tour, one specialist in dark tourism has uncovered the eerie past of the 'demonically possessed' doll. Horror enthusiasts went into a frenzy last week following rumors that the haunting doll vanished during her ongoing '2025 Devils on the Run Tour.' Annabelle and other ghostly items have been on display for fans throughout the US during this tour. The renowned Raggedy Ann doll has appeared in several iconic horror films, including Annabelle and The Conjuring. Following her track record of evil behavior, many followers were terrified to learn that she had reportedly been lost during her transportation in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also Read: Elon Musk's viral 'hallucinating' video sparks buzz on social media; 'Somebody clocked him' Rumors circulated that Annabelle disappeared during a sold-out event held at the Ghost City Tours office in New Orleans from May 13 to May 14. Ten prisoners fled from the Orleans Justice Center, and a fire erupted at the Nottoway Plantation. The origin of the fire is still unknown. Many horror enthusiasts assumed Annabelle was responsible for this series of frightening incidents. Matthew Bartels, a content strategist for US Ghost Adventures and an expert in the dark tourism sector, discussed this strange coincidence with The Mirror US, saying: 'Her disappearance raises many questions about her true capabilities following the chaos that ensued as she visited New Orleans.' 'The Warrens warned the general public to never let her leave her case. Now that she has, we may be dealing with greater paranormal powers than we are prepared for,' Bartels added. Annabelle's caregivers have since refuted these speculations, but horror enthusiasts have recently developed a renewed interest in her past. While Robert the Doll is the most notorious haunted doll in the world, Annabelle ranked at second, as per the US Ghost Adventures website. According to reports by US Ghost Adventures, the main target of Annabelle's fury was Donna's friend Lou, who felt uncomfortable in its presence. 'Notes to Lou were left on scraps of parchment paper despite neither Donna nor Angie ever having any on hand. Things escalated when Annabelle physically assaulted Lou, scratching him across the chest as she tried to strangle him.'
