Latest news with #NESPR
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Ghost Hunters' Star Talks Annabelle Rumors Over Dan Rivera Cause of Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ghost Hunters star Jason Hawes addressed a rumor that Dan Rivera's death was tied to Annabelle—a doll that inspired the 2013 film The Conjuring and is said to be possessed by evil spirits. Newsweek reached out to Hawes' representative via email for comment on Friday. The Context Rivera died suddenly on Sunday at the age of 54 in a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, hotel room, the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) said. The paranormal investigator's death came just one day after he hosted a viewing of the Annabelle doll during NESPR's sold out "Devils on the Run Tour." According to the Pennsylvania State Police report, "nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene." Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill added in a statement to Today that Rivera's death "was nothing suspicious" and said that an autopsy, which will likely be available in 60 to 90 days, is "pending." Jason Hawes (left) and Steve Gonsalves from the TV series "Ghost Hunters" are seen at Seminole Casino Hollywood on October 6, 2012, in Hollywood, Florida. Jason Hawes (left) and Steve Gonsalves from the TV series "Ghost Hunters" are seen at Seminole Casino Hollywood on October 6, 2012, in Hollywood, Florida. Vallery Jean/WireImage What To Know In a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday, Hawes wrote that "the World lost a good man," adding that Rivera "was an Army veteran, a father of four, a husband, and someone who truly cared about people." He continued: "What's even harder to see right now are the posts blaming his death on things like the Annabelle doll and attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours and other locations for having events. That needs to stop. His family shouldn't have to read that kind of nonsense while they're grieving. Some people are using his passing to push an agenda for profit, and it's just disgusting. Dan was a family man, a respected paranormal investigator, and he left this world way too soon." Hawes concluded his message: "Let's focus on remembering Dan for who he was, not turning his death into some made up bullshit story to get clicks or attention. Honor the man. Forget the garbage." Dan Rivera is pictured in an Instagram photo from 2023. Dan Rivera is pictured in an Instagram photo from 2023. Dan Rivera/Instagram Annabelle was gifted to a nursing student in 1968, but she and her roommate soon "noticed strange occurrences with the doll," NESPR's website states. "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." NESPR's founders, Ed and Lorraine Warren, "pronounced the doll demonically possessed" and "removed the doll from the house and encased it in a glass box to contain the evil spirited entity." Normally, Annabelle is kept at the Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, but it has been on tour. What People Are Saying The NESPR wrote in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday: "It's with deep sadness that Tony, Wade, and I share the sudden passing of our close friend and partner, Dan Rivera. We are heartbroken and still processing this loss. Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal. His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him. Thank you for your support and kind thoughts during this difficult time." Ghost Adventures star Zak Bagans said in a statement to Us Weekly on Wednesday: "My thoughts and prayers go out to [Rivera's] family and friends. I can only speak to my experiences with Annabelle. I did have the opportunity to investigate Annabelle when the owner brought her to my museum in 2017. I got very affected by her and it kind of caused me to touch the doll. The owner didn't like that too much. It was a demonic infestation and severely affected me, and I was literally in the hospital the next day. It was a two-month-long attachment and one of the worst experiences of my life." What Happens Next? The newest film in The Conjuring franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites, will be released in theaters in September.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Annabelle Doll Handler Dan Rivera's Nature of Death Revealed
Originally appeared on E! Online Police do not believe foul play was involved in the death of Dan Rivera, the paranormal researcher who passed away while traveling with the supposedly haunted doll Annabelle. In a Pennsylvania State Police report released July 16, authorities listed the nature of the incident as "death natural." Furthermore, the department said "nothing unusual or suspicious was observed" at the hotel room where Rivera's body was found on July 13. "The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by coworkers," the report stated. "This case is pending autopsy results." His cause of death has yet to be shared. Ghost Hunters' Jason Hawes also does not believe emerging conspiracies that Rivera's death is somehow linked to Annabelle, whose spooky backstory serves as the inspiration behind the popular The Conjuring movies. 'Recently the World lost a good man,' Hawes wrote in a July 16 Facebook post. 'Dan Rivera was an Army veteran, a father of four, a husband, and someone who truly cared about people. What's even harder to see right now are the posts blaming his death on things like the Annabelle doll." Likewise, Ghostly Images of Gettysburg manager Christina Rowand is brushing off speculation that Rivera's death is related to the allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann toy, telling Inside Edition in a July 17 interview, "There is a logical reason for this. Dan has handled this doll for decades. Why now? Could it not just be natural causes?" Rivera had been with the NESPR for more than 10 years when he died. According to the organization, he was a "constant presence" for cofounder Lorraine Warren—who first investigated Annabelle with her demonologist husband Ed Warren in the late '60s and early '70s—before her death in 2019. More from E! Online Coldplay's Chris Martin Shared Remorse Over Affair Joke in Viral Concert Video Chris Hemsworth's Mini-Me Twin Sons Steal Spotlight in Rare Red Carpet Appearance Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans Was "Very Affected" by Annabelle Doll Before Dan Rivera's Death Calling the unfounded theories "disgusting," he also encouraged people to stop "attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg," where Rivera and the New England Society of Psychic Research (NESPR) hosted a viewing of Annabelle shortly before his passing. "Dan was a family man, a respected paranormal investigator, and he left this world way too soon," Hawes added. "Let's focus on remembering Dan for who he was." Likewise, Ghostly Images of Gettysburg manager Christina Rowand is brushing off speculation that Rivera's death is related to the allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann toy, telling Inside Edition in a July 17 interview, "There is a logical reason for this. Dan has handled this doll for decades. Why now? Could it not just be natural causes?" Rivera had been with the NESPR for more than 10 years when he died. According to the organization, he was a "constant presence" for cofounder Lorraine Warren—who first investigated Annabelle with her demonologist husband Ed Warren in the late '60s and early '70s—before her death in 2019. "He worked closely with Lorraine Warren and remained by her side even as her health declined, always offering a steady hand and unwavering support," the firm noted in a July 15 statement. "His caring nature and sense of purpose made a deep impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him." The NESPR added that they have no immediate plans to cancel the remaining dates in their national tour of Annabelle, who the Warrens deemed to be "demonically possessed." "We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue," the group added in their statement. "We will carry his spirit with us in everything we do." Keep reading for public figures sharing their supernatural experiences. Courteney CoxDemi LovatoJoey KingAriana GrandeOctavia SpencerJennifer AnistonMiley CyrusKeanu ReevesVanessa HudgensHugh GrantBrian Cox For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Paranormal investigator dies suddenly while on tour with haunted Annabelle doll
The supernatural community is mourning the loss of esteemed ghost hunter Dan Rivera, who was also the guardian of the notoriously 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Screen Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Screen Geek
Paranormal Investigator Dan Rivera Dies During Annabelle Haunted Doll Tour
The allegedly haunted doll known as 'Annabelle,' that horror fans may recognize from The Conjuring and its follow-ups, was the focus of a ' Devils on the Run Tour ' when the paranormal investigator hosting the tour suddenly died. Dan Rivera, who was only 54-years-old, passed away unexpectedly during the tour. As reported by the NY Post, the US Army Veteran was hosting the tour in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the time of his death. Firefighters and medics were dispatched to his hotel, and while CPR was performed on Rivera, attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Dan Rivera is said to have been the lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research. Additionally, the exact cause of his unexpected death has yet to be confirmed. Fans may have recognized Rivera for being involved with the Travel Channel's Most Haunted Place as a paranormal investigator. He was also a producer for other similar shows including the Netflix series 28 Days Haunted . The New England Society for Psychic Research, aka NESPR, reported that Rivera was one of several members from the organization giving tours surrounding the doll known as Annabelle. The outlet adds that Rivera's 'death came after he finished a three-day sellout stop in Gettysburg from Friday through Sunday.' The tour was hosted by the ' Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours ' at the Soldiers National Orphanage. Prior to its popularity in The Conjuring , which featured a fictionalized version of the doll, Annabelle was a Raggedy Ann doll investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren in the 1970s. In fact, the Warrens founded the NESPR organization as far back as 1952. The doll was eventually placed in the Warrens' occult museum, and it has since been under the ownership of their daughter Judy and son-in-law, Tony Spera, who have toured the doll with their museum in recent years. Dan Rivera is survived by his wife Sarah and four children. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any potential updates regarding the situation as we have them.
CNN
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Coroner says ‘Annabelle' doll was not present in the hotel room where paranormal investigator Dan Rivera suddenly died
A Pennsylvania coroner is revealing new details surrounding the sudden death of Dan Rivera, a noted paranormal investigator who was on tour with the Raggedy Ann doll known as Annabelle, made famous by 'The Conjuring' horror film franchise, when he died. Francis Dutrow, coroner in Adams County, PA, told CNN on Thursday that the doll was not present in the hotel room where Rivera died earlier this week in Gettysburg. He was reportedly 54. Ever since the death was reported by the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) via a press release posted to Facebook on Tuesday, horror and supernatural fans have theorized about a possible connection between the Annabelle doll, which Rivera was seen handling during the 'Devils on the Run Tour' over the weekend, and his death. The case remains an'active investigation,' according to the coroner, with autopsy results expected in eight to ten weeks. Pennsylvania State Police public information officer Megan Frazer shared a report on Wednesday citing details that match Rivera's case, and stated that 'nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene.' On Tuesday, NESPR posted to social media announcing 'the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our dear friend and colleague' Rivera. 'Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend.' Rivera was affiliated with the Warren Occult Museum in Connecticut, which shared on its Facebook page that he 'played a vital role in the museum's operations, often responsible for transporting and safeguarding Annabelle during public appearances and private events.' 'He was respected for his careful approach and deep respect for the artefact's (sic) alleged supernatural reputation. Rivera's sudden passing has shocked both colleagues and paranormal enthusiasts worldwide.' NESPR's statement also said Rivera was a US Army veteran, and that he 'worked closely with' Lorraine Warren – the late famed paranormal investigator who determined that the real-life Annabelle doll was demonically possessed in 1968. Warren was portrayed by actor Vera Farmiga in the 'Conjuring' films, an immensely successful horror franchise that has also seen sequels and standalone spinoffs, including 2014's 'Annabelle' and 2018's 'The Nun.' A new sequel starring Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, titled 'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' is due in September.
