Paranormal Investigator Dan Rivera Dies While Touring With ‘Annabelle Doll’

Rabat — Dan Rivera, a renowned paranormal investigator and lead figure in the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), died unexpectedly on July 13 while on tour with the Annabelle doll that inspired “The Conjuring” horror franchise.

Rivera, 54, was in Gettysburg as part of the “Devils on the Run tour,” a nationwide series of events showcasing items linked to documented hauntings. 

He collapsed suddenly in his hotel room on Sunday, and Emergency responders were called to provide urgent care. CPR was administered, but Dan Rivera could not be revived. The official cause of death has not yet been released.

Known for his appearances on Travel Channel’s “Most Haunted Places” and as a consulting producer for Netflix’s “28 Days Haunted,” Rivera had spent more than a decade investigating paranormal activity across the United States. He was also a US Army veteran and expert in Afro-Caribbean spiritual practices, including Santería.

According to NESPR, the paranormal research society founded by the famous demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, Annabelle was given to Rivera after the closure of the Warrens’ occult museum in Connecticut. 

He had been touring the doll to sold-out audiences in recent years, drawing attention both for the object’s popular backstory and Rivera’s viral social media presence.

The Warrens and their successors believe the Anabelle doll to be “demonically possessed.” According to their reports, the doll has been linked to aggressive behavior, supernatural attacks, and even accidents, which has prompted the Warrens to keep it secured in a glass case for decades.

During this weekend’s stop in Gettysburg, a town already known for its haunted history, Rivera headlined several events hosted at the Soldiers National Orphanage, accompanied by fellow NESPR members and other investigators. 

“Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal. His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him. We are heartbroken and still processing this loss,” an NESPR spokesperson shared in a statement.Rivera’s death has reignited public fascination with the Annabelle doll, and the terrifying lore surrounding it. While many view Rivera’s passing as a tragic coincidence, others within the paranormal community see it as unnatural.