Dan Rivera, a Connecticut-based paranormal investigator and noted Annabelle doll handler, died suddenly at age 54 on July 13, 2025, while on a national tour in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Rivera was the lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), an organization founded by Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famed paranormal duo whose exploits inspired movies like The Conjuring and the Annabelle franchise. Rivera’s work brought him nationwide attention as he “escorted” Annabelle—a Raggedy Ann doll said to be “demonically possessed”—to sold-out events across the country, including the most recent stop at Gettysburg’s Haunted Orphanage.

Rivera was found dead in his Gettysburg hotel room, according to Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill, who reported that both the coroner’s office and state police responded to the scene on Sunday night. First responders attempted CPR, but Rivera could not be revived. Authorities stated there was “nothing suspicious” about his death, and an autopsy was conducted, with results expected in the coming months. At the time of his passing, Rivera was alone and the Annabelle doll was reportedly not in the room with him—speculation suggested it might have been housed in a van nearby, though this could not be confirmed.

The Annabelle doll became infamous through tales by the Warrens, who claimed it exhibited supernatural abilities such as moving unassisted and provoking malevolent incidents, including attacks and accidents. After the deaths of the Warrens—Ed in 2006 and Lorraine in 2019—the doll remained a central artifact in their now-closed Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, and continued its legacy through tours managed by NESPR, largely facilitated by Rivera and his colleagues. Rivera’s recent “Devils on the Run Tour” had drawn thousands, with over 1,200 tickets sold in Gettysburg alone over a single weekend.

Rivera’s role in the paranormal world extended beyond event organization; he frequently collaborated with other investigators such as Ryan Daniel Buell and appeared in viral videos that brought the Annabelle legend to a new generation. His unexpected passing prompted an immediate outpouring of shock and condolences from across the paranormal community and beyond, with colleagues and fans remembering him as a charismatic educator and devoted family man. Rivera is survived by his wife, Sarah, and son, David, who, along with NESPR, have received immense support from the broader community in the wake of his loss.