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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Paranormal experts DEFEND taking 'evil' doll Annabelle on tour and reveal new strange encounters
The Annabelle doll's tour across the country sparked theories that the famously haunted relic was responsible for chaotic events that followed, but Annabelle's keepers have rebuked the fiery claims in exclusive interviews with Annabelle, a famously haunted Raggedy Anne doll, started a tour earlier this month ahead of a Psychic Festival, making stops in West Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas. The doll's famous history began in 1970 after it had been gifted to a Hartford nurse and then began moving on her own and, in one instance, allegedly attacked the owner's fiancé. Lorraine and Ed Warren, renowned paranormal researchers and founders of Warren's Occult Museum, investigated the doll's paranormal activity and gave her a permanent spot in their museum. She was displayed in a protective case, fitted with carved prayers and crosses as well as a sign made by Ed Warren, which read, 'Warning: Positively Do Not Open.' The Warrens had always warned about moving Annabelle but for those who took the doll on tour they vehemently defended doing so and say it is what the Warrens would have wanted. NESPR Lead Investigator into the paranormal, Chris Gilloren, who was part of the tour team, told '[Annabelle's] not a spectacle, but it's a great way to get people talking about evil. That's what Ed and Lorraine wanted to do. They wanted to expose the devil, and tell people, advise people that the devil is real.' Ryan Buell, a paranormal investigator who also joined the tour, agreed that it was about education and continuing to spread the work of Ed and Lorraine Warren. 'We keep the legacy and name of Ed and Lorraine alive. That they devoted their lives to this work, that there are people our there who still dedicate their own lives to helping people who are having these experiences,' Buell said. 'It's not that people just went in and saw a doll and they're like, 'oh cool.' We sat there and we talked to people. We talked about the dangers. We talk about the precautions.' But the tour was not without it's strange and creepy moments that fueled wild online speculation on Annabelle's ability to leave a path of destruction as she moved around the country. On May 15, as Annabelle left Louisiana - her second tour stop - the historic 166-year-old Nottoway Plantation was destroyed in a blazing fire. Online speculation quickly turned to the doll's close presence as the reason the historic site went up in flames, but her caretakers are not convinced. Gilloren said: 'I don't know where these people come up with these... I mean, it's taken off, it's got a mind of its own. 'We don't think it has anything to do with us, of course, or Annabelle.' One post on X connected the dots on May 19 and wrote: 'Three days ago they moved Annabelle, one of the most haunted dolls from Monroe, Connecticut, to New Orleans, Louisiana, and now the largest sugarcane plantation in Louisiana burned down AND 11 inmates in a New Orleans Prison escape...' 'Didn't the Warren's say she should never be move,' the post concluded. Another comment said: 'Taking her down here where there's voodoo and spirits everywhere is actually an idiot move I have to say.' Many other social media users worried about their own cities, and even contacted those monitoring Annabelle. '...the amount of messages, emails that I received through our websites and social medias... they truly believe Annabelle did all this, which makes no sense to me personally... you know, why would she burn it down?' Gilloren said. Gilloren said he believed that the events were purely coincidental. Speaking to Buell, pointed out the route Annabelle took as she left Louisiana. He examined the route through the state and said: 'This is the first time I've ever looked. Okay, yes, I can confirm we were within five miles [of the plantation] on the freeway. And, yes, it was on the same day. 'So, I mean, yes, that is a very bizarre coincidence.' Yet, Buell said there was an even stranger occurrence before they left New Orleans - a voodoo Priestess who 'challenged' Annabelle. 'We were like, 'wait, so we're being blamed for what? A plantation? Somewhere in Louisiana? Louisiana, okay, well probably coincidence,' But I mean, I kind of thought, well, there was this voodoo priestess who challenged Annabelle when we were leaving,' he recalled. 'We were packing up and all of a sudden we heard tambourines and someone's screaming, 'Go to hell, Annabelle,'' Buell said. 'She laid holy water down and said, 'In the name of New Orleans voodoo, I rebuke you.'... but I mean, there was the thought of, yikes, this priestess just challenged Annabelle. It was almost like voodoo versus the demonic,' he continued. 'And so... there was that creeping thought of, 'what if,'' Buell said. Theories that blamed Annabelle for the fire and escaped inmates were just the tip of the iceberg of the strange goings on during the doll's time on the road. 'To our knowledge, it's the first time we brought Annabelle to another haunted location, especially that far out,' Buell said, of their first tour stop in West Virginia State Penitentiary, a famously haunted building. 'What was weird - and I've been to the penitentiary many, many times - when Annabelle was in the prison, the activity around the prison was low.' Buell added that they had psychic mediums with them in the prison who said that other 'spirits' were 'staying at a distance'. Buell said that he had visited the West Virginia State Penitentiary numerous times before, but that Annabelle's presence had quietened other spirit activity he had experienced before. Pictured: Ryan Buell in front of the WV State Penitentiary '[The spirits are] just kind of watching. A couple were saying they felt uneasy,' Buell said. 'They didn't know what that meant. Then when we took Annabelle out, you know, we're wrapped up... Then the activity picked up. 'And the two employees who were there, who regularly witnessed the activity, they pulled me to the side and said, 'look, they don't like it that Annabelle is here. They don't like its energy, so they're hanging back.'' After Annabelle had left, other activity picked up again. Buell recalled his previous experiences at the prison, without Annabelle. 'You'll hear whispers. You'll hear footsteps. And then especially in the infirmary on the second floor. That place is so active,' he said. 'You'll literally hear bangings if you say, hey, knock for me. You'll hear intelligent responses, you know, knocking back.' He described his experience within the infirmary as feeling like 'prey'. 'You're very well aware of the fact that you're being watched. You feel like something is literally following you and you start to feel a sense of danger,' he added, recalling that he heard bangs and the slamming of doors around him. Annabelle's presence at the penitentiary was not only felt by the spirits within the building, but also those who came in for the tour. Buell recalled how things got 'aggressive' as they used a spirit box to communicate with the doll, who inspired The Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises. He said the process involves one person listening with noise cancelling headphones, only able to hear what's going on inside the box, while those outside ask questions. 'It's pulling from like public radio stations, right? The spirit box. It just randomly jumps from station to station and pulls sounds and voices from it,' Buell said. 'People would ask questions, 'who's here with us? Is the entity around Annabelle here?' and suddenly the answers.. suddenly it started to turn to like, 'You b***. I want your body.' Some other stuff.' '...I remember at one point I was like okay, I'm done. This energy is getting a little too weird. And so we had another person do it and then they got very emotional,' he continued. Despite having worked with Annabelle many times before, Buell still found himself sensing a strange energy surrounding the doll. 'In New Orleans, myself and Wade, who is a member of NESPR, were mainly the ones giving the talks about the Warren's... and so we would have to stand in front of Annabelle for hours,' he said. 'And the first day, Wade and I looked at each other and we're like, the energy is so off, like it feels so weird and he totally agreed.' 'I started getting really intrusive thoughts, and Wade had to remind me that the demonic often use psychological tactics, so we just doused ourselves in holy water and kept going,' Buell recalled. But even with Annabelle's unnerving presence, her keepers defended the doll against the spiral of rumors that Annabelle had caused the chaos along their route. 'I mean, she was down in San Antonio and I really haven't heard of anything happening in San Antonio. She was in West Virginia. I haven't heard anything up in West Virginia happening,' Gilloren said. 'She's in Connecticut. I mean she's been in Connecticut for 50 years. We don't blame every kind of disaster on Annabelle,' he added. Anabelle's tour continues in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from July 11-13 and then in Rock Island, Illinois, from October 4-5.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chilling history behind the haunted Annabelle doll as its tour across the US sparks frenzied panic
Most people have heard of the haunted Annabelle doll from the wildly popular horror flick The Conjuring. And while a tale of a possessed doll wreaking havoc on an innocent family seems like one that was cooked up for the big screen, it's actually said to be based off of true events. In fact, the Annabelle doll has its own long and twisted history... from claims that it 'physically attacked' someone to rumors that a man died in a horrific motorcycle crash after he taunted it. Famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren came into possession of the doll in the 1970s after two young nurses reached out begging for help. They claimed the doll, which had been a birthday gift, was wreaking havoc on their lives, placing handwritten eerie messages around their home, moving on its own, and even leaving horrific scratch marks on one of their boyfriends. The Warrens took it off their hands, and upon investigating, the couple became convinced that a 'demonic' force was possessing the doll. According to a biographer who studied their case files, the Warrens claimed to have witnessed frightening and even life-threatening mishaps whenever it was around. Eventually, they deemed it so dangerous that they built a special case to store it in, and warned that it should never be opened again. In the years since then, it has sat behind glass in the Warrens museum, but some horror fans who traveled just to get a glimpse of the infamous doll have claimed that weird stuff started to happen to them afterwards. Now, the allegedly paranormal doll is in the midst of a tour across the globe... and it may be coming to your city soon. That's right, the doll was recently removed from its sacred case - despite previous warnings from the Warrens - and will be making its way around the country, and the news has launched massive panic online. To make matters worse, rumors recently erupted that the doll went 'missing,' and some have pointed out that bad stuff happened in the towns she visited - like a fire breaking out and inmates escaping from a local prison. It's certainly up to you whether or not you believe the stories that surround the child's toy... but amidst the tour, we figured it would be best if you were informed on the Annabelle doll's dark past. Here's everything we know about the supposedly haunted toy. Two nurses claimed the doll wreaked havoc on their lives in the 1970s before turning to the Warrens for help According to biographer Gerald Brittle's book The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the Warrens first came across Annabelle in 1970 after a priest called and asked for their assistance. They were told that two young nurses believed a human spirit was possessing their doll and were desperate for help. During a taped meeting with the Warrens, one of the nurses, named Deirdre, explained that the doll was gifted to her for her 28th birthday by her mother, per Gerald's book. She told the couple that it started 'moving around their apartment by itself' soon after, and leaving eerie, handwritten notes that said 'help me.' 'She moves. She acts alive,' Deirdre said. 'When we'd come home from work it would never be quite where we left it.' Her roommate, Lara's boyfriend, Cal, even alleged that he had been 'physically attacked' by the toy. He said during a taped interview with the Warrens, 'As I got close to the doll, I got the distinct impression that somebody was behind me. I swung around...' Lara interjected, 'When Cal turned around there wasn't anybody there, but he suddenly yelled and grabbed for his chest. 'He was doubled over, cut, and bleeding when I got to him. Blood was all over his shirt. 'Cal was shaking and scared and we went back out into the living room. We then opened up his shirt and there on his chest was what looked to be a sort of claw mark.' The women said they had hired a medium who told them that a little girl named Annabelle had died on their property years prior. They came to believe she was possessing the doll, but after investigating, Ed said they had been 'duped' and that there was no Annabelle. He believed the doll was 'taken over by something inhuman' and 'demonic' instead. According to the book, Ed and Lorraine brought in a priest who performed an exorcism, and they took the doll to their house to investigate further. Terrifying near-death experience led to the Warrens locking Annabelle up for good in a sealed case... warning that it should never be opened again But the hauntings allegedly didn't stop there, as they claimed that their car continuously 'stalled' and the steering and breaks 'failed' on the drive home, per Gerald's book. They said they had to throw 'holy water' onto the doll in order to get home safely. They also alleged that they called in a man named Father Daniel to help, but that he nearly lost his life after he didn't take the doll seriously. He reportedly 'picked up the doll' and said, 'You're just a rag doll, Annabelle, you can't hurt anything,' before he 'tossed it back on the chair,' according to the Warrens' biography. That night, he is said to have called Lorraine and told her, 'The brake system failed [on my car on the way home]. I was almost killed in a traffic accident. My car is a wreck.' Ed also claimed the doll levitated in front of him and constantly moved around their home before they decided to lock it up indefinitely. They had a special wooden and glass case constructed specially for the doll, and stored it away in their Occult Museum in Monroe, warning that it should never be opened. Visitor who 'taunted the doll' while visiting the Warrens' museum allegedly died in a horrific crash on the way home It wasn't until decades later when The Conjuring was released in 2013 that the world's fascination with the doll erupted. The creepy toy was featured heavily in the horror flick, and it was so successful, it ultimately inspired the spinoff Annabelle series that contained three more films. Immediately, the public became fiercely intrigued by the doll and its history - and some would even travel far and wide to get a chance to see it at the Warrens' museum. But according to a family member of the Warrens, tragedy struck when one visitor didn't treat the doll with respect. It's been said that the guest knocked on the glass case and taunted the doll before he was thrown out of the museum. But on his way home, he got into a fatal motorcycle accident, per the Warrens' son-in-law Tony Spera. 'It's probably the most dangerous artifact we have here in the museum. It's responsible for we believe the death of a young man who came on a motorcycle and challenged that doll to do its worst and it did,' Tony told WTNH in 2016. The name of the alleged crash victim was never shared so we weren't able to verify Tony's claims. One horror buff wrote in an essay in 2019 that her life turned into a 'nightmare' after she met the doll and 'mocked it' in her head. 'It was surreal to be standing next to her. At this point, I was on cloud nine at the idea of being in the same room with such an infamous object,' she wrote on the site 'But somehow, my mind slipped into a dark place and I mocked her. In my mind, I thought about how hideous she looked inside her box. 'However, it never occurred to me that I could bring something home with me. And for the next year and a half, I was stuck in a living nightmare.' She claimed that for months afterwards, she had a string of bad incidents plague her life and that she would wake up with unexplainable pain in her stomach most nights. 'I heard constant creaking. I was regularly sick. I heard noises coming from inside my walls. My eyes played tricks on me in the dark,' she continued. 'How can one person have this much bad luck? The only thing I could think of to explain my string of misfortune was Annabelle. It had to be her.' She warned, 'Tread lightly, and whatever you do – don't mock her.' Panic erupted as Annabelle 'headed out on a tour' across the US, with some claiming a fire broke out and inmates escaped from prison after she visited the city Due to her popularity, the Annabelle doll was recently removed from the secured case she was displayed in for years so she could be included as part of the travelling US exhibition Devils on the Run. The tour kicked off earlier this month, but things to a dark turn when visitors at a recent stop on the tour claimed the three-foot-tall doll wasn't anywhere to be found, sparking a panic and fear online. Terror grew when a fire broke out the historic Nottoway Resort in White Castle, Louisana, and 10 inmates escaped from a prison in New Orleans just days after Annabelle was displayed in the state. However, after countless rumors and terrified fans, New England Society for Psychic Research's lead investigator Dan Rivera came forward to debunk the theories in a TikTok video earlier this week. 'I'm here at the museum right now, and I just wanna show you guys that Annabelle is in the Warrens' Occult Museum. Let's go inside and let's check,' he began the video. As he weaved his way through he exhibits, he approached the doll sitting in her secured wooden case. 'Annabelle is not missing. She is not in Chicago. She has never been missing,' he added. The tour is still underway as he ended the video by reminding horror fans that they would get the chance to see the 'possessed' toy at the Rock Island Roadhouse Esoteric Expo in Illinois on October 4. She will also be on display in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from July 11-13.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Truth about lost Annabelle Doll revealed by paranormal expert after internet plunged into frenzy
Internet sleuths and horror fans were sent into a frenzy this week after it was claimed the infamous 'haunted' Annabelle doll had vanished whilst on tour in the US. The Raggedy Anne Doll's paranormal legend dates back to the 1970's when it was apparently given as a gift to nurse in Hartford, Connecticut, before it began exhibiting disturbing behaviour. Annabelle was thought to be possessed by the spirit of a dead child and was said to move on her own, leave terrifying handwritten notes and even allegedly attacked someone. The case caught the attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who concluded Annabelle was being manipulated by a demonic entity. They performed an exorcism before taking the doll away with them and sealing her inside a glass box inside their Occult Museum in Monroe. It wasn't until the release of the 2013 horror film The Conjuring and the 2014 sequel named after and based on Annabelle that the legend became popular in mainstream media - proven by the subsequent release of two more movies. Due to her popularity, the real Annabelle doll was removed from the secured case she was displayed in and was included as part of a travelling US exhibition Devils on the Run which began touring earlier this month. This is despite stark warnings from the Warren's that she should never be moved. But things to a dark turn when visitors at a recent stop on the tour claimed the three-foot-tall doll wasn't anywhere to be found, sparking a panic and fear online. Growing terror amongst fans of all things morbid grew when a fire broke out the historic Nottoway Resort in White Castle, Louisana, and ten inmates escaped from a prison in New Orleans just days after Annabelle was displayed in the state. On X, one person wrote: 'Three days ago they moved Annabelle, one of the most haunted dolls from Monroe, Connecticut to New Orleans, Louisiana and now the largest sugarcane plantation in Louisiana burned down AND 11 inmates in a New Orleans Prison escape. Didn't the Warren's say she should never be moved?' Another said: 'So the streets are saying after they moved the Annabelle doll out of the Warren museum (when they explicitly said never to move it) she's now gone missing.' Someone else ranted: 'WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THEY LOST THE ANNABELLE DOLL??? ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED POSSESSIONS?? THAT ANNABELLE?' Putting the frenzies rumours to rest, Dan Rivera of the New England Society for Psychic Research which oversees the Warren Occult Museum's collection, released a video showing the doll safe and sound in a protective glass case back in Connecticut. The caption read: 'Some wild and crazy internet rumours this morning claiming that we lost Annabelle. She/it is NOT lost'. It comes as a haunted doll collector who houses 54 'spirits' weighed in on the debate surrounding the allegedly paranormal Annabelle doll being taken on 'tour.' Collector Teej said: 'Do I believe that Annabelle is responsible for all of the tragedy that she is being blamed for right now? Absolutely not. 'Most of the stories tied to her are unverified and don't have any evidence to back them up. 'Honestly, I believe that Annabelle deserves a fresh investigation with an unbiased investigation team, to figure out what is actually going on with her.' Teej said she believes the doll's narrative was 'created' by the Warrens following their initial investigation. She added: 'This was a very long time ago and, since then, she has been sensationalised in Hollywood. 'We don't even know Annabelle's true story. We owe it not only to her, but to all spirits, to start asking the real questions and getting evidence on who they are and what happened to them. 'People keep saying "bring Annabelle home," but the truth is – Annabelle doesn't have a home. 'The Warrens Occult Museum has been closed to the public since 2019, so she [was] not at home – she was in storage. Locked away, not honoured, not protected, not valued.' Teej pointed out that the doll has spent her entire 'afterlife' on display in a museum being 'gawked at, disrespected, and sensationalised for money' – without any way to 'defend' herself from the claims. 'Imagine being the centre of basically an entire country's fear without any voice of your own, and no one to look out for and defend you,' she continued. 'Spirits like Annabelle are not props – no spirit is.' Teej explained that all purported spirits should be treated with 'dignity, respect and kindness' – no matter the rumours that have dogged them over the years.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I'm a haunted doll collector... here's why the infamous Annabelle toy should NOT be on tour across the US
A haunted doll collector who houses 54 'spirits' has weighed in on the debate surrounding the allegedly paranormal Annabelle doll being taken on 'tour.' The Raggedy Anne doll was made famous back in the 1970s when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren looked into alleged attacks made by the infamous toy. While they warned that she should never be moved, Annabelle is now currently touring the US alongside other items from the Warrens Occult Museum collection – leaving people online up in arms. Now, haunted doll collector Teej, who has over 50 paranormal items in her possession, has issued a stark warning about the Annabelle tour. She insisted, however, that we shouldn't be so quick to make snap judgements about the toy, and said that she believes the haunted doll is misunderstood. 'Do I believe that Annabelle is responsible for all of the tragedy that she is being blamed for right now? Absolutely not,' the US-based woman told What's The Jam recently. 'Most of the stories tied to her are unverified and don't have any evidence to back them up. 'Honestly, I believe that Annabelle deserves a fresh investigation with an unbiased investigation team, to figure out what is actually going on with her.' Teej said she believes the doll's narrative was 'created' by the Warrens following their initial investigation. She added: 'This was a very long time ago and, since then, she has been sensationalized in Hollywood. 'We don't even know Annabelle's true story. We owe it not only to her, but to all spirits, to start asking the real questions and getting evidence on who they are and what happened to them. 'People keep saying "bring Annabelle home," but the truth is – Annabelle doesn't have a home. 'The Warrens Occult Museum has been closed to the public since 2019, so she [was] not at home – she was in storage. Locked away, not honored, not protected, not valued.' Teej pointed out that the doll has spent her entire 'afterlife' on display in a museum being 'gawked at, disrespected, and sensationalized for money' – without any way to 'defend' herself from the claims. 'Imagine being the center of basically an entire country's fear without any voice of your own, and no one to look out for and defend you,' she continued. 'Spirits like Annabelle are not props – no spirit is.' Teej explained that all purported spirits should be treated with 'dignity, respect and kindness' – no matter the rumors that have dogged them over the years. In Annabelle's case, the doll dates back to 1970 when she was gifted to a nursing student, who was told by a psychic medium that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased girl named Annabelle. The student and her roommate reported 'malicious and frightening' behaviors from the doll. Annabelle reportedly moved on her own and at one point attacked the fiancé of one of its owners. That's when the Warrens stepped in to investigate, deemed it to be demonic, and moved it to their museum. Annabelle then became one of the most well-known haunted items following the Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises. The doll is now on tour across the globe through the Devils on the Run Tour, which takes items, including Annabelle, from the Warrens Occult Museum collection in Monroe to various cities to display them to horror buffs. Teej started connecting with the paranormal in childhood, encouraged by her family who took her on ghost hunts, and had her first encounter at the age of six. She said: 'We were in a parking lot using an Ovilus, which is a device that turns environmental energy into words that appear on a screen – a common spirit communication tool still used by investigators to this day. 'Out of nowhere, the Ovilus said, "Get out of the way, fast." We didn't wait, we moved immediately. 'Right after we cleared the area, a car whipped around the corner. It was really dark, and if we hadn't moved, there's a good chance we could've been hit. 'That moment stuck with me, not just because it was my first clear experience, but because it felt like a spirit was trying to help us. 'That was the first time I felt like a spirit interaction was actually positive, and that's something I've kept in mind ever since. 'It's a big part of why I'm now interested in haunted dolls, specifically ones with positive energy. That early experience shaped the way I look at the paranormal today.' She started collecting haunted dolls in 2020 – but will only house ones with positive intentions. 'What pulled me in were the stories behind them, specifically the personal accounts, the unexplained experiences, and the history behind some of the more well-known cases,' she continued. 'I spent a lot of time researching and reading about them, trying to understand what made each case unique. 'I choose to work only with positive spirits in my home because of the relationships that naturally develop over time. 'Many of these spirits have a genuine desire to communicate and be acknowledged, and that opens the door to meaningful and respectful connections. 'We treat them with respect, and in return, they do the same. Our interactions are often lighthearted and much of the paranormal activity in our home is playful, sometimes even meant to make us laugh. 'Just as importantly, I'm mindful of safety. When I investigate haunted locations, I always have the option to leave. 'But my home is my safe space, and I won't risk inviting in any spirit that could bring harm or disruption to me or my family. 'By setting clear boundaries, I'm able to stay open to paranormal experiences while still protecting the comfort and peace of our home.' She added of the recent news about Annabelle: 'While I know Annabelle is currently on tour and it's easy to fall into the trap of assuming all haunted dolls behave like the famous ones, it's important to remember that every spirit is unique 'No two spirits are exactly alike, and many are actually positive or neutral in nature. 'Making broad generalizations that all haunted dolls are dangerous or negative can be harmful and misleading. 'It's essential to take the time to get to know each spirit individually before jumping to conclusions about their behavior or intentions.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Horror fans spooked as Annabelle doll goes on tour despite edict it should never be moved
A haunted doll being toured across America has spooked social media users after organizers ignored a chilling warning that it should never be moved. The Raggedy Ann figure, Annabelle, is the focus of fevered attention as another sequel in The Conjuring Universe is set to be released this year. But what really has TikTokers rattled is the Devils On The Run Tour, which is displaying items including Annabelle from the now-closed Warrens Occult Museum collection in Monroe, Connecticut. The doll captured the imagination of millions after paranormal investigator and former host of Paranormal State, Ryan Daniel Buell, posted videos of the occult tour. Yet many are deeply unsettled that the Warrens' warnings that Annabelle should never be moved are being flouted. Paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren set up their museum after investigating the doll in the 1970s following a haunting encounter. The 3ft tall plaything was a gift to a Hartford, Connecticut, nurse in 1970 who brought it home. But she and her roommates began reporting unexplained behavior from the doll, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR). Annabelle reportedly moved on her own and at one point attacked the fiance of one of its owners. That's when the Warrens stepped in to investigate. The couple claimed the doll was being manipulated by a spirit and performed an exorcism before taking it away with them. Annabelle then became one of the most well-known haunted items following the Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises. Now, as she tours the country with other items from the Warren's museum, Buell has been providing updates on the doll's progress. Buell posted a video discussing Annabelle's appearance at West Virginia State Penitentiary, and he recalled his own haunting experience at the allegedly haunted site in 2009. 'This is the first time we're bringing haunted artifacts into West Virginia State Penitentiary, so that's gonna be interesting. Especially Annabelle, like the real Annabelle,' he said. Buell explained that the doll was 'slowly' being transported to San Antonio, Texas, for Psychic Festival. 'I think this is the furthest she's travelled in decades, if not ever, so we'll see how tonight goes.' He added that she would be 'secure' with members of NESPR and they would have a Catholic priest with them. Buell then shared videos of the doll in the penitentiary, which angered many. 'Lorraine said not to move her. THE WARRENS SAID NOT TO MOVE HER,' one wrote. Another said: 'Tony should be ashamed of himself cause I know he is apart of it. Ed & Lorraine said no matter what happens to them Annabelle does not leave the museum. Tony has gone against it numerous times for $.' 'Lorraine and Ed rolling over in their graves right now,' another wrote. Buell, however, claimed the couple traveled with Annabelle on tour to teach the public about the items and the occult. Annabelle next went to New Orleans before arriving in San Antonio Friday morning at the 'haunted' Black Swan Inn, according to Buell's posts. Annabelle has remained locked in a case with a sign made by Ed Warren that reads 'positively do not open.' Since the museum's closure, and the Warrens' warnings, Annabelle's case has in fact been opened. The doll is handled only by Daniel Rivera, the senior lead investigator for NESPR, who wears gloves with crosses on them and saint medals in the fingertips. Rivera also built a new box for the doll better suited for transportation. 'So the reason why I built the case was because the museum was closed and we wanted to keep educating the public about these items that Ed and Lorraine collected,' he told CT Insider. Rivera said he added extra protective measures including cutting out crosses on three sides, representing the Catholic Holy Trinity, using a stain infused with holy water and holy oil as well as inscribing the Lord's Prayer and Saint Michael's prayer behind the felt in the case, the outlet reported. The measures were taken to 'contain the evil of Annabelle in this case.' Buell told MySanAntonio that there is 'huge interest in the paranormal' in San Antonio and that it felt like the 'perfect spot to showcase Annabelle and warn people about the dangers of the occult and paranormal.' But not everyone is pleased to have the doll around, as one viewer commented: 'Y'all should have left her where she was, this is so not the Texas thing to do.' Another said: 'They should've left her right where she was at the Warren museum.'
