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The Guardian
17-07-2025
- The Guardian
Paranormal investigator dies on US tour with allegedly haunted doll Annabelle
A paranormal investigator who was helping lead a national tour of the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll has suddenly died over the weekend. On Tuesday, the New England Society for Psychic Research announced the 'sudden' death of 54-year-old Dan Rivera, the organization's lead paranormal investigator and an army veteran. Rivera's death occurred on Sunday during his visit to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was leading the Devils on the Run Tour. As part of the tour, Rivers and other NESPR members were bringing the supposedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll across multiple states. The doll, which was popularized through the 2013 horror movie The Conjuring and its subsequent franchise, was first purchased in 1970 from a hobby store by a mother and given to her daughter, a nursing student, in Connecticut. Annabelle was reported to have moved around on its own, leaving notes and 'psychic slashes' on victims. The doll was subsequently given over to the late paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who kept it in their occult museum based in Monroe, Connecticut. Rivera, who said that Lorraine Warren had mentored him, told participants gathered at Gettysburg's Soldiers National Orphanage over the weekend about the precautions he had taken to protect them from the doll's supposed hauntings. 'What Lorraine would say to protect yourself … is to close your eyes and envision yourself in a halo of white light,' Rivera told participants, the Evening Sun reports. In a statement to the outlet, Francis Dutrow, the Adams county coroner, F confirmed that as of Tuesday afternoon, Rivera's cause of death remains undetermined pending an autopsy. According to county dispatch scanner archives reviewed by the Evening Sun, firefighters and medical personnel responded to a call at a Gettysburg hotel after 8pm on Sunday 'for a report of CPR in progress on a male patient of Rivera's age'. The coroner's office further added that Rivera's death was not suspicious and that he was found alone in his hotel room, the Evening Sun reports. In its statement online, NESPR mourned Rivera's death, saying: '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.' 'As we navigate the days ahead, we want to share that although we do not know what the future of NESPR will look like without Dan, we do plan to move forward with the events previously scheduled for this year. We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue – bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and honoring the memory of Ed & Lorraine Warren,' the organization added. The Guardian has sought a comment from Rivera's family.
AsiaOne
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Handler of real-life Annabelle doll that inspired The Conjuring character dies while on tour with cursed toy, Entertainment News
Dan Rivera, the handler of the real-life Annabelle doll that inspired The Conjuring character, has died while on tour with the cursed toy. Paranormal investigator Rivera was the primary caretaker of the Annabelle doll, a possessed Raggedy Ann doll that was housed in the now closed Occult Museum of Ed Warren and his wife Lorraine Warren located in the back of their house in Monroe, Connecticut. Rivera was on a tour of the US, titled Devils on the Run Tour, hosted by Ghostly Images of Gettysburg and the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) — which was founded by the late Warrens — when he unexpectedly died at the age of 54. No cause of death has yet been released. A post on the New England Society For Psychic Research official Facebook page read: "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." Despite his death, the doll will continue to tour on the remaining dates. The haunted Raggedy Ann doll — which is based on the character featured in a series of books by American writer Johnny Gruelle — is connected to paranormal events in the 1970s. It had come into the possession of Donna, a 28-year-old student nurse, from Hartford, Connecticut, who reported the doll behaving strangely and would move around her apartment on its own. A psychic medium informed Donna and her roommate that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased six-year-old, but after it began exhibiting malicious behaviour they contacted the Warrens who pronounced it was demonically possessed and took it away to store in a glass case in their occult museum. The Warrens claimed the doll could give "psychic slashes" to people she didn't like, drawing blood as if she had used a knife. The Conjuring Universe movies, which are based on the real-life paranormal investigations of the Warrens, made Annabelle a horror icon, albeit with a different design due to copyright issues with the Raggedy Ann doll. The demon doll is the main protagonist in Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017) and Annabelle Comes Home (2019), whilst also appearing in The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Michael Chaves' The Curse of La Llorona (2019) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2020). The Conjuring: Last Rites, the final movie in the current Conjuring Universe, will hit cinemas this September. [[nid:720309]]
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Paranormal Investigator Known For Work With Allegedly Haunted Annabelle Doll Dies At 54
Dan Rivera, a paranormal investigator and one of the handlers of the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll that inspired 'The Conjuring' film franchise, died last Sunday in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was 54. The New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) confirmed Rivera's death in a statement shared Tuesday on its social media platforms. 'We understand that Dan's work inspired fascination and curiosity for many, but above all, he was a father, devoted husband and loyal friend, someone who meant the world to those closest to him,' the statement read in part. 'Dan gave so many pieces of himself ― through his kindness, his strength, his faith ― and those pieces will live on in all of us.' Before his death, Rivera had been participating in the NESPR's 'Devils on the Run Tour,' which celebrated the work of late supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were his mentors. During his appearances, the Connecticut native presented Annabelle to 'those brave enough to face her,' according to press notes. Watch an E! News report on Dan Rivera's death below. Though Rivera's cause of death has not yet been publicly confirmed, Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill told NBC's Today it was 'nothing suspicious.' He also clarified that Annabelle was not present in the hotel room where Rivera's body was found, though he was unaware of the doll's location. 'The coroner's office and the state police were called to the scene on Sunday night,' Pennewill said. 'He did go for an autopsy today and it's pending.' Rivera is survived by his wife, Sarah, and their four children. Ed and Lorraine Warren rose to prominence in the 1970s as one of the first investigators of the 'Amityville Horror' case, which took place in Amityville, New York and became the basis for the 1977 book and subsequent film franchise. In the late 1960s, the couple investigated the case of Annabelle, a Raggedy Ann doll they claimed was 'possessed' by an 'evil-spirited entity.' Ed Warren died in 2006 at age 79, followed by Lorraine in 2019 at age 92. Their story was adapted for the big screen in 2013 as 'The Conjuring,' starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens. The film begins with the pair investigating Annabelle, whose origins were later explored in 2014's 'Annabelle' and 2017's 'Annabelle: Creation.' Related... I Grew Up Believing My Childhood Home Was Haunted. I Discovered The Truth Is Much Worse. Black Horror Is Bigger Than Black Trauma My Family Moved To America And Into A Real Haunted House. Here's What Happened. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Annabelle tour will CONTINUE as planned after 'evil doll' expert Dan Rivera died of 'natural causes' at age 54
Upcoming events featuring the 'possessed' Anabelle doll will go on as planned, despite the sudden death of one of the tours leaders in Pennsylvania. Dan Rivera, 54, was in Gettysburg for the Devils on the Run Tour - a chilling cross-country event featuring the infamous doll - when he was found unresponsive at his hotel Sunday night. On Wednesday morning, authorities revealed that he died from 'natural causes' and that there was 'nothing unusual or suspicious observed at the scene,' according to Pennsylvania State Police. The New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), where Rivera served as a senior lead investigator, announced in a Tuesday evening press release that they will resume the tours previously scheduled events, believing it's what the veteran ghost hunter 'would have wanted.' 'We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue - bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and honoring the memory of Ed & Lorraine Warren,' the statement said, referring to the legendary paranormal investigators who kept Annabelle their private occult museum. 'We will carry his spirit in us in everything we do.' Rivera had built a loyal fanbase through his ghost-hunting work and viral content featuring the eerie legends of Annabelle and other cursed relics. His final stop - in Gettysburg, a Civil War town long said to be haunted - was completely sold out. On Sunday night, Rivera was alone in his hotel room by coworkers. The coroner was called to the scene shortly after first responders and later confirmed that Rivera's death was not considered suspicious. Results from the routine autopsy could take between 30 and 60 days to complete. Since news of his death spread, the internet has erupted into an international firestorm of speculation - with many pointing to the Annabelle doll, which Rivera frequently handled, as the cause of his sudden and unexplained passing. NESPR responded to the wave of controversy in their statement. 'We understand that Dan's work inspired fascination and curiosity for many,' it read. 'But above all, he was a father, devoted husband and loyal friend, someone who meant the world to those closest to him. Out of respect for his family, we kindly ask for privacy as they mourn this tremendous loss.' Jason Hawes, star of SyFy's 'Ghost Hunters,' also spoke out in a Facebook post, condemning those who placed blame on the Annabelle doll. '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,' Hawes wrote. 'That needs to stop.' 'Let's focus on remembering Dan for who he was, not turning his death into some made up bulls*** story to get clicks or attention,' he added. 'Honor the man. Forget the garbage.' The Raggedy Anne Doll's paranormal legend dates back to the 1970s, when it was apparently given as a gift to nurse in Hartford, Connecticut, before beginning to exhibit disturbing behavior. Annabelle was thought to be possessed by the spirit of a dead child and was said to move on its own, leave terrifying handwritten notes and even allegedly attacked someone. Due to the popularity of the story and subsequent film franchise, the real Annabelle doll was removed from its secure case and included in the Devils on the Run tour, which began in May. Three more events are scheduled for the remainder of the year - one featuring Annabelle in September in Maine, another promising to 'redefine the paranormal experience' in October in Illinois, and a 'ScareFest Weekend' also in October in Kentucky.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- The Guardian
Paranormal investigator dies on US tour with allegedly haunted doll Annabelle
A paranormal investigator who was helping lead a national tour of the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll has suddenly died over the weekend. On Tuesday, the New England Society for Psychic Research announced the 'sudden' passing of 54-year-old Dan Rivera, the organization's lead paranormal investigator and army veteran. Rivera's death occurred on Sunday during his visit to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was leading the Devils on the Run Tour. As part of the tour, Rivers and other NESPR members were bringing the supposedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll across multiple states. The doll, which was popularized through the 2013 horror movie The Conjuring and its subsequent franchise, was first purchased in 1970 from a hobby store by a mother and given to her daughter, a nursing student, in Connecticut. Annabelle was reported to have moved around on its own, leaving notes and 'psychic slashes' on victims. The doll was subsequently given over to the late paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who kept it in their occult museum based in Monroe, Connecticut. Rivera, who said that Lorraine Warren had mentored him, told participants gathered at Gettysburg's Soldiers National Orphanage over the weekend about the precautions he had taken to protect them from the doll's supposed hauntings. 'What Lorraine would say to protect yourself … is to close your eyes and envision yourself in a halo of white light,' Rivera told participants, the Evening Sun reports. In a statement to the outlet, Francis Dutrow, the Adams county coroner, F confirmed that as of Tuesday afternoon, Rivera's cause of death remains undetermined pending an autopsy. According to county dispatch scanner archives reviewed by the Evening Sun, firefighters and medical personnel responded to a call at a Gettysburg hotel after 8pm on Sunday 'for a report of CPR in progress on a male patient of Rivera's age'. The coroner's office further added that Rivera's death was not suspicious and that he was found alone in his hotel room, the Evening Sun reports. In its statement online, NESPR mourned Rivera's death, saying: '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.' 'As we navigate the days ahead, we want to share that although we do not know what the future of NESPR will look like without Dan, we do plan to move forward with the events previously scheduled for this year. We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue – bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and honoring the memory of Ed & Lorraine Warren,' the organization added. The Guardian has reached out for a comment from Rivera's family.
