The Paranormal Investigator Who Toured With the ‘Haunted’ Annabelle Doll Has Died

Dan Rivera had a message for the crowd in Gettysburg the night before he died.

“Envision yourself in a halo of white light,” he said, referencing the words of the late Lorraine Warren—the legendary demonologist who once mentored him. “That’s how you protect yourself from Annabelle.”

Less than 24 hours later, Rivera was gone.

The 54-year-old paranormal investigator and Army veteran died suddenly in his hotel room on July 13 while traveling with the Devil on the Run Tour, which featured the allegedly demon-possessed Annabelle doll—yes, the real one that inspired The Conjuring franchise. He had reportedly told colleagues he wasn’t feeling well and returned to his room to rest. Hours later, they found him unresponsive. CPR was attempted. It was too late.

Sudden, Undetermined, and Right After an Annabelle Tour

The paranormal investigator who toured with the ‘haunted’ annabelle doll has died—and the details are creepy

Authorities in Gettysburg say there were no signs of foul play. As of now, Rivera’s death has been ruled a natural one, with the cause pending an autopsy.

But within the paranormal community, that explanation hasn’t been enough. Not for a man who had made a career out of warning people that objects hold energy, that some things should not be touched, and that Annabelle is not a toy.

And certainly not when his death came in Gettysburg—one of the most haunted towns in America.

Who Was Dan Rivera?

Dan Rivera was more than a paranormal investigator. He was a mainstay of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), the investigative organization founded by Ed and Lorraine Warren. He was a spiritualist, a believer, and a man who had reportedly experienced hauntings from a young age. He also served as a consulting producer on Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted, and co-produced viral TikToks about Annabelle and the Warrens’ legacy that drew millions of views.

To his peers, he was a loyal friend. To fans, a bridge between The Conjuring’s Hollywood horror and the very real legends that inspired it.

In his own words, he saw the paranormal not as a gimmick but as a tool for helping people process fear, loss, and the unexplained.

The paranormal investigator who toured with the ‘haunted’ annabelle doll has died—and the details are creepy

What Is the Annabelle Doll—and Why Does It Matter?

The Annabelle doll—a worn Raggedy Ann stuffed toy encased in glass—is said to have been the source of violent paranormal activity since 1968. According to NESPR, she once left notes, inflicted “psychic slashes,” and terrified two roommates before being seized by the Warrens and locked in their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut.

For decades, the Warrens warned the public: Annabelle doesn’t just look innocent—she’s dangerous. Touching her, provoking her, or removing her from containment could result in… consequences.

Now, Rivera’s death is reigniting those fears.

Online forums are already buzzing. TikToks have emerged speculating about a “curse.” Reddit threads are asking if the tour should continue. One user simply wrote:

“She took another one.”

The Timing, the Town, the Tour

The paranormal investigator who toured with the ‘haunted’ annabelle doll has died—and the details are creepy

The Devil on the Run Tour was meant to be one of NESPR’s most ambitious: bringing Annabelle on the road for the first time in years. Gettysburg was just one stop.

On the night before Rivera’s death, he spoke to a group at the Soldiers National Orphanage, one of Gettysburg’s most notoriously haunted sites. He assured them they’d be safe. He repeated Lorraine Warren’s protection ritual. And then, quietly, he stepped away—telling his team he felt sick and would return to the hotel.

He never came back out.

A Final Mystery

In a statement, NESPR called Rivera a friend, mentor, and pillar of their team:

“Dan’s passion for the paranormal was rooted in a genuine desire to educate, help, and connect with others… We do not know what the future of NESPR looks like without Dan.”

Still, the organization announced they will continue the tour. As they put it:

“Dan would have wanted the work to continue—bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and honoring the memory of Ed & Lorraine Warren.”

Whether that choice will be seen as brave, reckless, or cursed may depend on what happens next.

But for now, the facts are chilling enough:
Dan Rivera brought a haunted doll to a haunted town.
He spoke of spiritual protection.
He died alone in the dark.
And no one knows why.