Latest news with #Santeria
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Annabelle handler Dan Rivera's death: Pennsylvania Police share new details about hotel room where he was found
Annabelle doll was not present at the hotel when Dan Rivera died. The Pennsylvania State Police released new information over the death of Dan Rivera, the paranormla investigator who was mysteriously found dead amid his ongoing tour with Annabelle, the haunted doll. The autopsy being pending, the cause of the death has not been ascertained yet but the police report said "nothing unusual or suspicious" was observed in the hotel room where he was found dead. The Annabelle doll was not present at the hotel room and Dan was alone. Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill said the doll might have been inside a van in the hotel parking lot, but he said he cannot officially confirm the doll's location. Rivera was found dead in his hotel room by his coworkers on July 13 in the Gettysburg area. The New England Society for Psychic Research, along with which, Dan was doing the Annabelle tour, said it was devastated by Rivera's death. "Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend," the statement read. Who was Dan Riviera? A US Army veteran, 54-year-old Dan Riviera, is survived by his wife and son. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Dan was one of the best-known faces on the 'Devils on the Run Tour'. NESPR said he was 'involved in paranormal research and investigations for over a decade. Born and raised in Bridgeport, CT, at an early age, he was introduced to haunting phenomena, having witnessed paranormal events occurring in his home. Dan is a US Army veteran and is an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria. ' Who is Annabelle? According to NESPR, Annabelle is a doll which was given to a daughter Donna by her mom. When the doll was in Donna's possession, she and her roommate, Angie, purportedly noticed weird paranormal activity occurring around the apartment, which began to escalate. The doll became famous in the 2013 film "The Conjuring", The doll was put on display in Lorraine Warren's occult museum in Connecticut.
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Paranormal expert dies on tour with 'possessed' original Annabelle doll
Dan Rivera, 54, suddenly died while hosting a US tour with the doll. A paranormal expert has died while travelling on tour with the original Annabelle doll. Dan Rivera died suddenly following a stop at the New England Society of Psychic Research in Pennsylvania. The 54-year-old had been hosting a US tour with the doll, which inspired the character in the horror film The Conjuring. As reported in the Mirror, lead investigator at the society, Chris Gilloren, announced Dan's death on social media. He wrote: "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." In his statement, Chris went on to speak of Rivera's legacy. "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." Rivera's cause of death is yet to be shared publicly. The Adams County Coroner listed it as "pending," according USA Today. According to Adams County dispatch scanner archives, authorities were called to a Gettysburg hotel on July 13. They are said to have responded to a report of a CPR in progress of a 54-year-old man. Just a day before his death, NESPR hosted a showing of the Annabelle doll. The doll is normally kept at the Warrens' Occult Museum in Connecticut, which was created by demonist Ed Warren and trance medium Lorraine Warren. The story of the haunting Annabelle doll story is said to have begun in 1968 when a nursing student was given a Raggedy Ann doll as a gift. NESPR says: "She brings it home where she lives with a roommate. 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." The Warrens were called to investigate the doll, which they removed from the house and encased it in a glass box. As part of the Annabelle doll tour, the NESPR state it has "reportedly brought misfortune, injury, and even death to those who have interacted with it improperly." Rivera had been involved in paranormal research for over a decade before his death. His bio reads: "At an early age he was introduced to haunting phenomena, having witnessed paranormal events occurring in his home." The US Army veteran considered himself to be "an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria." He was part of the Devils on the Run Tour, hosted by NESPR, as they travelled with the Annabelle doll.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dan Rivera dead: Paranormal expert dies on tour with 'possessed' Annabelle doll
Paranormal expert Dan Rivera has died aged 54 while travelling with the original Annabelle doll. The investigator had been hosting a US tour with the doll that inspired the character in horror film The Conjuring. He died suddenly following a stop at the New England Society of Psychic Research in Pennsylvania. Lead investigator at the society, Chris Gilloren shared the sad news on the group's Facebook page. Chris wrote: "It's with deep sadness that Tony, Wade, and I share the sudden passing of our close friend and partner, Dan Rivera." He added: "We are heartbroken and still processing this loss." In his statement, Chris went on to speak of Rivera's legacy. "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." Rivera's cause of death is yet to be shared publicly. The Adams County Coroner listed it as "pending," according to records viewed by USA Today. According to Adams County dispatch scanner archives, authorities were called to a Gettysburg hotel on July 13. They are said to have responded to a report of a CPR in progress of a 54-year-old man. Just a day before, NESPR hosted a showing of the Annabelle doll. It is normally kept at the Warrens' Occult Museum in Connecticut, which was created by demonist Ed Warren and trance medium Lorraine Warren. They were played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the films. The haunting Annabelle doll story is said to have began 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." The Warrens were called to investigate the doll, which they removed from the house and encased it in a glass box. As part of the Annabelle doll tour, the NESPR state it has "reportedly brought misfortune, injury, and even death to those who have interacted with it improperly." Rivera had been involved in paranormal research for over a decade before his death. His bio reads: "At an early age he was introduced to haunting phenomena, having witnessed paranormal events occurring in his home." The US Army veteran considered himself to be "an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. Advertisement '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Advertisement Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' A pair of dead chickens were bizarrely found on an Upper West Side curb median on Broadway over the weekend. J.C. Rice Advertisement By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Advertisement The dead chickens (not pictured) being found occurred less than a year after another pair were discovered three blocks away, as animal activists believe these are sacrificial killings. Hanoi Photography – Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
