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The longtime handler of the infamous Annabelle doll that inspired The Conjuring film franchise has died at the age of 54 while on tour with the haunted toy.
Dan Rivera, a lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), passed away suddenly over the weekend during a paranormal event in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
His death was confirmed in a statement shared by NESPR on Facebook. No cause of death has been released.
“It’s with deep sadness that Tony, Wade, and I share the sudden passing of our close friend and partner, Dan Rivera,” wrote fellow investigator Chris Gilloren alongside a photo of 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,” he continued.
“Thank you for your support and kind thoughts during this difficult time.”
The Connecticut native had been accompanying the real-life Raggedy Ann doll, which is housed in the Warrens’ Occult Museum, on the Devils on the Run Tour, hosted by Ghostly Images of Gettysburg and NESPR.
The event, held at Gettysburg’s Haunted Orphanage, was billed as a night of paranormal history featuring the notorious doll.
Despite Rivera’s passing, the tour is set to continue in the coming months.
Annabelle is scheduled to appear in Augusta, Maine, on September 6 and 7, followed by events in Rock Island, Illinois, on October 4, and at ScareFest Weekend 17 in Lexington, Kentucky, from October 17 to 19.
Rivera’s death comes just months after online rumours claimed the Annabelle doll had vanished during a stop in Louisiana.
The speculation intensified after visitors claimed they hadn’t seen the doll on display, and a nearby fire at a former plantation, the Nottoway Resort.
Rivera swiftly shut down the speculation in a TikTok video, showing the doll safely locked inside its case at the museum.
“Annabelle is not missing; she’s not in Chicago,” he said. “I’m here at the museum right now… Let’s go inside and let’s check.”
Annabelle gained global notoriety after appearing in 2013’s The Conjuring, before headlining her own film series: Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), and Annabelle Comes Home (2019).
