What We Know About the Sudden Death of Dan Rivera, Annabelle Doll Handler
The Annabelle doll is one of the most famous haunted objects in the world
Dan Rivera, 54, a well-known paranormal investigator from Connecticut and senior lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), passed away unexpectedly during a public tour. The tragic event occurred on July 13, 2025, while he was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the “Devils on the Run” tour featuring the infamous Annabelle doll.
According to People, emergency responders were called to Rivera’s hotel room after he was found unresponsive. CPR was performed at the scene, but he was later pronounced dead. As of now, no official cause of death has been disclosed. The Adams County coroner’s office has listed the cause as “pending,” according to USA Today.
Rivera wasn’t just an investigator—Dan Rivera was a passionate educator. Known for his charismatic presentations and deep knowledge of paranormal lore, including Santería rites, he drew in crowds at both live shows and on social media, notably helping to generate interest for the tour through viral TikToks. He also contributed as a consulting producer to the Netflix series 28 Days Haunted.
Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while traveling across the US with the real ‘haunted’ Annabelle doll. pic.twitter.com/1ArYrmvPXW
— Creepy.org (@creepydotorg) July 15, 2025
NESPR released a heartfelt statement via lead investigator Chris Gilloren expressing disbelief and sorrow, calling Rivera a dear friend and emphasizing his belief in sharing paranormal experiences with others. “We are heartbroken and still processing this loss,” the group wroteTributes have poured in, especially from fellow investigators and fans of the paranormal community.
Annabelle Doll
The Annabelle doll is one of the most famous haunted objects in the world. Unlike the porcelain doll seen in movies, the real Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann cloth doll. According to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, Annabelle became possessed in the 1970s after a nursing student brought her home.
Strange events started happening—like the doll changing positions or leaving eerie notes—which led the Warrens to step in. They declared it a dangerous, demonic object and placed it inside a locked case at their Occult Museum in Connecticut. Today, Annabelle is still locked up, and even though some are skeptical, many believe the doll is linked to mysterious accidents and unexplainable events.
Though #Annabelle is widely known as a sinister porcelain doll in the Conjuring franchise, the real Annabelle is actually a Raggedy Ann doll with a far different look. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who acquired the doll in the 1970s, claimed it was inhabited by… pic.twitter.com/HblevkNwhC
— Official Ghost Adventures Fans (@GACrewFans) May 25, 2025
For now, thanks to emergency medical intervention and coroner review, we can confirm only that Dan Rivera’s passing was sudden and unexplained. No link has been established between his death and the Annabelle doll.
As the coroner’s office continues its review, Rivera’s community and fans are left honoring the legacy he built—informative, respectful, and fascinated by the shadows of the unexplained.