Dan Rivera, the caretaker of the real-life Annabelle doll that inspired the character in *The Conjuring* films, has died unexpectedly at the age of 54 while on a tour across the United States. Rivera was involved in the *Devils on the Run Tour*, organized by Ghostly Images of Gettysburg and the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR). Both organizations were founded by the renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who initially housed the doll in their now-closed Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut.
The cause of Rivera’s death has not been disclosed yet, prompting an outpouring of grief from colleagues and fans alike. A post on the NESPR’s official Facebook page expressed deep sadness: “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.” The message highlighted Rivera’s commitment to educating others about the paranormal and the impact he had on those who knew him.
Despite this tragic event, the Annabelle doll will continue to be featured in the remaining tour dates. The doll, a Raggedy Ann figure, has been linked to various paranormal incidents dating back to the 1970s. It was originally given to a 28-year-old nursing student named Donna from Hartford, Connecticut, who reported that the doll exhibited unusual behavior, including moving on its own. A psychic medium informed Donna and her roommate that the doll was possessed by the spirit of a deceased six-year-old child. However, after the doll began to show aggressive behavior, they sought the help of the Warrens, who determined that it was demonically possessed.
The Warrens subsequently stored the doll in a glass case in their museum, asserting that it could inflict “psychic slashes” on those it disliked, leaving physical marks similar to knife wounds. The Annabelle doll has since gained iconic status in horror film history, largely due to its portrayal in *The Conjuring* Universe. The doll appears in several films, including *Annabelle* (2014), *Annabelle: Creation* (2017), and *Annabelle Comes Home* (2019), as well as in the original *The Conjuring* (2013) and its sequels. The final installment in the current series, titled *The Conjuring: Last Rites*, is set to be released in cinemas this September.
Rivera’s dedication to the paranormal community and his role in sharing the storied history of the Annabelle doll have left a lasting impact. As fans and fellow investigators mourn his sudden departure, the tour will carry on, continuing to draw attention to the chilling legacy of the doll and the Warrens’ work in paranormal investigation.
