Latest news with #Rivera
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Shock twist in Annabelle doll handler's sudden death after wild conspiracy blamed US's most infamous ‘haunted' object
A SHOCK twist has been revealed after the sudden death of a paranormal investigator while touring with a 'demonically possessed' doll. Creepy Annabelle has spooked believers for decades - despite the doll being encased in a glass box to 'contain the evil.' 5 Annabelle, the spooky Raggedy Ann doll, pictured sitting in a case inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Dan Rivera, 54, died of unknown causes on July 13 while handling the doll known as America's most haunted object Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr The US Army veteran was the lead paranormal investigator of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), which announced his 'sudden' death. Rivera had been showing the supposedly haunted doll - which inspired film franchise The Conjuring - across multiple states. At the time of his death he had been visiting Gettysburg, where he was leading the Devils on the Run Tour alongside NESPR colleagues. READ MORE US NEWS A Pennsylvania coroner has now confirmed to Francis Dutrow, the Adams County coroner, told the magazine that he didn't notice Dutrow also further confirmed that the doll had not been in Rivera's hotel room at all. The coroner told People that hours before he died, Rivera had been with NESPR colleagues. Most read in The US Sun However, he told them he was returning to his hotel room, as he was feeling sick. The Pennsylvania State Police said on July 16: 'Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. 'Annabelle doll' handler Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while touring with America's most infamous 'haunted' object_4 "The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers. 'Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene." Rivera's cause of death has not as yet been revealed. His autopsy results are expected before the end of September. The The chilling tale of "demonic The original doll, which was locked up inside Ed and Lorraine Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, was claimed to have unleashed a reign of terror on a group of flatmates in a chain of events that ended in a man's death Annabelle's chilling story began in 1970 when a mum bought the doll from a hobby shop for her daughter, student nurse Donna, as a birthday gift. Donna took the doll back to the flat she shared with her friend Angie and soon began to notice small hand movements, which they explained away. The doll was then claimed to have begun to move around the flat, appearing outside Angie's room after being placed on Donna's bed. Then things took an even more sinister twist. The girls' close friend, Lou, became very nervous around the doll, believing it to be possessed, but the girls dismissed his fears. Then notes written on parchment paper, reading "Help us" and "Help Lou" in a child's handwriting, began to appear around the flat. The girls finally called in a medium, after Donna came home from work to find the doll had 'blood' on her hands. Annabelle was on her usual spot on the bed but red liquid was seeping from her hands. After holding a séance the medium claimed the apartment was built on the site of a field, where a dead seven-year-old girl called Annabelle Higgins had been found many years before. When the doll was brought to the apartment Annabelle's spirit was apparently in the area and she became fond of the doll, opting to possess it. Donna later called in an Episcopal priest named Father Hegan, who suggested they contact occult experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The couple told the girls the doll was allegedly being manipulated by an "inhuman demonic spirit." Inanimate objects aren't possessed, they said, but spirits can become "attached." The apartment was 'cleansed' by Ed, using a special Episcopal blessing, and the couple took the doll away and housed it in their museum. A few hours after the priest left their museum, he rang the Warrens, claiming his brakes had failed as he turned on to a busy road. He'd been in an accident, his car was written off and he was lucky to have survived. Ed claimed the doll willed his car's brakes and steering to fail, before he stopped it by throwing holy water on it. Worried, the Warrens moved the rag doll in to a glass box at their museum, secured with a special set of prayers. Lorraine Warren later warned visitors against mocking Annabelle. But one man visiting the museum began bashing on her case, calling on her to scratch him if she was real. Ed threw him out, but later heard a chilling tale from his girlfriend. Lorraine recalled: "[The girlfriend] told us that they were both laughing and joking about the doll when the young man lost control of the bike and crashed head-on into a tree.' He was killed instantly and his girlfriend was in hospital for a year. In a lecture given at Rutgers University in 1987, the Warrens claimed that Annabelle could "slash" people's skin with her psychic powers. Ed Warren died in 2006, and Lorraine passed away in 2019, aged 92. The museum closed following her death. The couple's decades of ghost-hunting cases inspired such frightening films as The Conjuring series and The Amityville Horror. Annabelle also has movies in her own name, including Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), and Annabelle Comes Home (2019). HAUNTINGS The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in Monroe in 1952 to probe suspected hauntings. They investigated more than 10,000 cases in the U.S. and abroad, often writing about their experiences. One such case was that involving the rag doll, with huge black eyes. Lorraine Warren said: "It's not what the doll looks like that makes it scary. It is what has been infused within the doll. Evil." A student nurse who received the 5 A recreation of the doll was made for the movies Credit: Getty His in-laws pronounced the doll as being allegedly "demonically possessed." To protect people, they encased it in a glass box to contain the "evil spirited entity," according to the website. A chilling alert displayed on its case says: "Warning: Positively Do Not Open." US TOUR WARNING Rivera, who was mentored by the couple, took ownership of Annabelle after Lorraine's death in 2019, and hoped to continue their work with his research and tour. His sudden death came after the Warren family had to quash conspiracy theory-style claims that the doll had disappeared. Months before the US tour, Rivera had posted on Facebook about embarking on a 'thrilling and terrifying adventure showcasing the most diabolical items from the infamous Warren's Occult Museum.' Spookily, a woman warned him eight weeks ago: '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.' 5 Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera on his "haunted" Annabelle doll tour Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr But another wrote: 'So much superstitious nonsense. Grow up people.' Others said it was a mere 'coincidence' and that 'he didn't die because of a doll.' One woman admonished believers by writing: 'Seriously?! Do you think people are gullible or what?! "I'm sorry this man passed away, but come one, you guys are being silly here.' Dan Rivera's family statement "We as a family are in pieces as we share the news that Dan Rivera has passed away unexpectedly," Sarah Bond Rivera said. "He was the center of this family and a pillar of love and strength. "As a devoted husband, father of four sons, and a staunchly faithful friend, he always had a quiet source of resilience, strength and endless hope. "Daniel carried a light and a brave heart everyday through his life and his work. "We are currently at a loss for words as we process his loss but are extremely thankful for the love, support and respect during this unimaginable time." Source: However, one man claimed: 'When Annabelle got to Gettysburg, we went into a huge blackout for 911! "Everyone's phones were going crazy with the notification for 911 being out, and it's just odd that soon as Annabelle got to Gettysburg that happened, then he dies suddenly.' Another agreed, saying: 'On the day the tour started in Gettysburg, PA had a statewide 911 outage. That thing is evil.' One believer added: 'Most haunted doll on earth. "It was warned 'never to remove' the doll [from] where it was stored, and this guy not only moved the doll but took it on a US tour.' Another added: 'The Warrens kept Annabelle locked up for a reason.' 5 The late Lorraine Warren with Annabel, who she refused to look at inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: The Warren's Occult Museum
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Shock twist in Annabelle doll handler's sudden death after wild conspiracy blamed US's most infamous ‘haunted' object
The red-haired doll's real-life story dates back to the 1970s NOT IN SIGHT Shock twist in Annabelle doll handler's sudden death after wild conspiracy blamed US's most infamous 'haunted' object Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SHOCK twist has been revealed after the sudden death of a paranormal investigator while touring with a 'demonically possessed' doll. Creepy Annabelle has spooked believers for decades - despite the doll being encased in a glass box to 'contain the evil.' Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Annabelle, the spooky Raggedy Ann doll, pictured sitting in a case inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Dan Rivera, 54, died of unknown causes on July 13 while handling the doll known as America's most haunted object Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr Dan Rivera, 54, died on July 13 in Pennsylvania while leading a national tour of the allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle. The US Army veteran was the lead paranormal investigator of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), which announced his 'sudden' death. Rivera had been showing the supposedly haunted doll - which inspired film franchise The Conjuring - across multiple states. At the time of his death he had been visiting Gettysburg, where he was leading the Devils on the Run Tour alongside NESPR colleagues. A Pennsylvania coroner has now confirmed to People that the spooky doll was not in the hotel room where Rivera died. Francis Dutrow, the Adams County coroner, told the magazine that he didn't notice Annabelle upon his arrival at the scene on July 13. Dutrow also further confirmed that the doll had not been in Rivera's hotel room at all. The coroner told People that hours before he died, Rivera had been with NESPR colleagues. However, he told them he was returning to his hotel room, as he was feeling sick. The Pennsylvania State Police said on July 16: 'Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. 'Annabelle doll' handler Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while touring with America's most infamous 'haunted' object_4 "The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers. 'Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene." Rivera's cause of death has not as yet been revealed. His autopsy results are expected before the end of September. The doll had been given to late paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who kept it in their occult museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The chilling tale of "demonic The original doll, which was locked up inside Ed and Lorraine Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, was claimed to have unleashed a reign of terror on a group of flatmates in a chain of events that ended in a man's death Annabelle's chilling story began in 1970 when a mum bought the doll from a hobby shop for her daughter, student nurse Donna, as a birthday gift. Donna took the doll back to the flat she shared with her friend Angie and soon began to notice small hand movements, which they explained away. The doll was then claimed to have begun to move around the flat, appearing outside Angie's room after being placed on Donna's bed. Then things took an even more sinister twist. The girls' close friend, Lou, became very nervous around the doll, believing it to be possessed, but the girls dismissed his fears. Then notes written on parchment paper, reading "Help us" and "Help Lou" in a child's handwriting, began to appear around the flat. The girls finally called in a medium, after Donna came home from work to find the doll had 'blood' on her hands. Annabelle was on her usual spot on the bed but red liquid was seeping from her hands. After holding a séance the medium claimed the apartment was built on the site of a field, where a dead seven-year-old girl called Annabelle Higgins had been found many years before. When the doll was brought to the apartment Annabelle's spirit was apparently in the area and she became fond of the doll, opting to possess it. Donna later called in an Episcopal priest named Father Hegan, who suggested they contact occult experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The couple told the girls the doll was allegedly being manipulated by an "inhuman demonic spirit." Inanimate objects aren't possessed, they said, but spirits can become "attached." The apartment was 'cleansed' by Ed, using a special Episcopal blessing, and the couple took the doll away and housed it in their museum. A few hours after the priest left their museum, he rang the Warrens, claiming his brakes had failed as he turned on to a busy road. He'd been in an accident, his car was written off and he was lucky to have survived. Ed claimed the doll willed his car's brakes and steering to fail, before he stopped it by throwing holy water on it. Worried, the Warrens moved the rag doll in to a glass box at their museum, secured with a special set of prayers. Lorraine Warren later warned visitors against mocking Annabelle. But one man visiting the museum began bashing on her case, calling on her to scratch him if she was real. Ed threw him out, but later heard a chilling tale from his girlfriend. Lorraine recalled: "[The girlfriend] told us that they were both laughing and joking about the doll when the young man lost control of the bike and crashed head-on into a tree.' He was killed instantly and his girlfriend was in hospital for a year. In a lecture given at Rutgers University in 1987, the Warrens claimed that Annabelle could "slash" people's skin with her psychic powers. Ed Warren died in 2006, and Lorraine passed away in 2019, aged 92. The museum closed following her death. The couple's decades of ghost-hunting cases inspired such frightening films as The Conjuring series and The Amityville Horror. Annabelle also has movies in her own name, including Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), and Annabelle Comes Home (2019). HAUNTINGS The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in Monroe in 1952 to probe suspected hauntings. They investigated more than 10,000 cases in the U.S. and abroad, often writing about their experiences. One such case was that involving the rag doll, with huge black eyes. Lorraine Warren said: "It's not what the doll looks like that makes it scary. It is what has been infused within the doll. Evil." A student nurse who received the Raggedy Ann doll as a gift brought it home where she lived with a roommate, according to NESPR, which is overseen by the Warrens' son-in-law Tony Spera. 5 A recreation of the doll was made for the movies Credit: Getty His in-laws pronounced the doll as being allegedly "demonically possessed." To protect people, they encased it in a glass box to contain the "evil spirited entity," according to the website. A chilling alert displayed on its case says: "Warning: Positively Do Not Open." US TOUR WARNING Rivera, who was mentored by the couple, took ownership of Annabelle after Lorraine's death in 2019, and hoped to continue their work with his research and tour. His sudden death came after the Warren family had to quash conspiracy theory-style claims that the doll had disappeared. Months before the US tour, Rivera had posted on Facebook about embarking on a 'thrilling and terrifying adventure showcasing the most diabolical items from the infamous Warren's Occult Museum.' Spookily, a woman warned him eight weeks ago: '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.' 5 Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera on his "haunted" Annabelle doll tour Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr But another wrote: 'So much superstitious nonsense. Grow up people.' Others said it was a mere 'coincidence' and that 'he didn't die because of a doll.' One woman admonished believers by writing: 'Seriously?! Do you think people are gullible or what?! "I'm sorry this man passed away, but come one, you guys are being silly here.' Dan Rivera's family statement "We as a family are in pieces as we share the news that Dan Rivera has passed away unexpectedly," Sarah Bond Rivera said. "He was the center of this family and a pillar of love and strength. "As a devoted husband, father of four sons, and a staunchly faithful friend, he always had a quiet source of resilience, strength and endless hope. "Daniel carried a light and a brave heart everyday through his life and his work. "We are currently at a loss for words as we process his loss but are extremely thankful for the love, support and respect during this unimaginable time." Source: Facebook. However, one man claimed: 'When Annabelle got to Gettysburg, we went into a huge blackout for 911! "Everyone's phones were going crazy with the notification for 911 being out, and it's just odd that soon as Annabelle got to Gettysburg that happened, then he dies suddenly.' Another agreed, saying: 'On the day the tour started in Gettysburg, PA had a statewide 911 outage. That thing is evil.' One believer added: 'Most haunted doll on earth. "It was warned 'never to remove' the doll [from] where it was stored, and this guy not only moved the doll but took it on a US tour.' Another added: 'The Warrens kept Annabelle locked up for a reason.' 5 The late Lorraine Warren with Annabel, who she refused to look at inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: The Warren's Occult Museum
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
'Haunted' Annabelle doll wasn't in US hotel room where paranormal investigator died
A leading figure in the world of paranormal investigation was found dead in a Gettysburg hotel room on July 13 and, despite swirling rumours, the 'haunted' Annabelle doll - linked to decades of supernatural lore - was not present anywhere on the spot at that Rivera, 54, a longtime researcher with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), died while on tour in the US state of Pennsylvania, People reports. He participated in the 'Devils on the Run' paranormal tour, which featured alleged haunted objects, including the notorious Raggedy Ann-style doll said to be possessed by a sinister to People, Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow said that the Annabelle doll was not in the room when he arrived at the spot after the paranormal investigator's death. In fact, the doll was not in the hotel room at any point during his stay, Dutrow added. Rivera had told his colleagues earlier that morning that he was feeling unwell and planned to rest in his room. His cause of death remains undetermined, with autopsy results expected in the coming Pennsylvania State Police shared a report with People, wherein the agency said: 'Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene.'The Annabelle doll, according to NESPR, gained notoriety in the late 1960s after a nursing student claimed the doll in her home displayed disturbing behaviour. Paranormal legends say the toy moved on its own, left eerie messages, and turned violent - allegedly under the influence of a demonic entity. It was eventually secured by the society's founders, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who housed it in a locked display at their Connecticut tale later served as inspiration for The Conjuring universe of films, propelling Annabelle into pop culture as a symbol of cursed objects.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Dan Rivera mystery: No sign of Annabelle doll in hotel room; paranormalist's death leaves eerie silence
The mystery surrounding the death of American paranormal investigator Dan Rivera has taken a chilling turn, as Pennsylvania authorities confirm that the notorious Annabelle doll was not in the room where he died. But the eerie coincidence has only deepened the unease around his final hours. Rivera, 54, a lead investigator with the Connecticut-based New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, one of America's most haunted towns, for the Devils on the Run tour, accompanied by none other than Annabelle herself. But by Sunday morning, 13 July, he was found dead in his hotel room. The doll made famous by The Conjuring horror franchise is believed by many to be demonically possessed. Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow told People on Friday, 18 July, that Annabelle was not in the room at the time when he arrived at the site on Sunday. He further added that the doll had not been in the room at all. Still, the timing of Rivera's death, while on tour with the infamous artefact, has left believers of the paranormal rattled. According to a report released by Pennsylvania State Police on Wednesday, 16 July, Rivera was discovered by hotel workers in Straban Township. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo 'Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene,' it said. His cause of death remains under investigation, with autopsy results expected in 8–10 weeks. Dutrow also noted that Rivera had been with colleagues that morning before excusing himself, saying he felt unwell and was heading back to his room, only to never return. To some, it might sound like a tragic coincidence. But to those believing in the story of Annabelle, the circumstances feel almost too chilling to ignore. The doll's story dates back to 1968, when a young nursing student received it as a gift. What began as minor disturbances quickly escalated into disturbing paranormal activity. A medium later claimed the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle. But when the roommates tried to live peacefully with the doll, it responded with violence. Paranormal legends Ed and Lorraine Warren, founders of NESPR, eventually intervened, identifying the doll as demonically possessed. Since then, Annabelle has been kept locked in a glass case, sealed off from the world, or so it is believed. Dan Rivera had worked with NESPR for over a decade, dedicating his life to investigating what most dare not even whisper. In a heartfelt statement released Tuesday, 15 July, the society said: 'Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend.' 'His integrity, creativity, and generosity defined him. Dan's passion for the paranormal was rooted in a genuine desire to educate, help, and connect with others — whether through social media, conventions, or investigations with local families seeking understanding and peace.' The doll might have been absent from the room, but its origin is still rattling people over what the cause behind Rivera's death might have been.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
This cuisine is rare in the Bay Area. A chef just opened a restaurant devoted to it
When Eric Rivera was in solitary confinement in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, food kept him sane. He'd sit at a desk, alone, and pretend to be taking orders and cooking at a fantasy restaurant to pass the time. In his mind, he made the Puerto Rican dishes his mother taught him, and invented his own spins, like eggs benedict with slow-roasted pork. Now, the chef, who ran a beloved Puerto Rican food business out of an Oakland liquor store until his arrest in 2017, has started that restaurant. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine opened July 15 at 1430 23rd Ave. in Oakland with dishes including chicken encebollado and tostones, deep-fried plantains. Fans flocked to the takeout window, dancing to Puerto Rican music and hanging out on the sidewalk while they waited for their food. It sold out by the end of the day. Rivera, a native of New York, is best known for Borinquen Soul, which was born as a food truck before gaining a loyal following from inside the Two Star Market liquor store until closing in 2017, and W.E.P.A. — a nod to a Puerto Rican term for 'right on' and an acronym for Where Everybody Parties At — in Jack London Square, which was featured in an episode of Guy Fieri's Food Network TV show 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.' That same year, Rivera's rise came to an abrupt halt when he was arrested on a robbery he says he did not commit. He served nearly six years in jail, cooking for his fellow inmates and joining a hunger strike to protest poor food quality. When Rivera returned home, friends encouraged him to start cooking again. The reception to popups was 'overwhelming,' he said. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine serves staples such as pernil, empanadas filled with shredded chicken and rice topped with beans, squash and olives. Rivera said customers still ask for a dish highlighted on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives': canoa, a maximalist, loaded fried plantain filled with ground beef, peppers, onion and cheese. He plans to offer daily specials, such as fried pork chops or mofongo (mashed plantains with pork). Expect future events in the Oakland space's backyard, which is equipped with a large smoker. Puerto Rican cuisine remains underrepresented in the Bay Area. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine is now Oakland's only dedicated Puerto Rican restaurant, since the popular La Perla moved to Castro Valley last year. Two of the Bay Area's other Puerto Rican food businesses are run by Borinquen Soul alumni: Boriqua Kitchen, the region's only Puerto Rican food truck, and the vegan Casa Borinqueña, which operated in Oakland before moving to IKEA food hall Saluhall in San Francisco. Rivera hopes his current employees will launch the next wave of Puerto Rican restaurants. He also plans to teach cooking classes to local youth and says he's in talks to sell frozen foods in grocery stores. The East Oakland space will serve as a central hub, he envisions, for training cooks and opening takeout-only locations of Puerto Rican Street Cuisine throughout the Bay Area. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine is open for takeout and delivery from 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
