Haunted doll tour turns tragic as paranormal investigator Dan Rivera dies at 54
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera died just hours after wrapping up a sold-out event featuring the infamous Annabelle doll in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Fox News Digital confirmed Rivera’s “sudden and heartbreaking” passing with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR). He died after being found unresponsive in his hotel room on Sunday. He was 54. 

First responders attempted CPR, but were unable to revive Rivera, according to reporting from the Evening Sun.

The Gettysburg event was the final stop of the “Devils on the Run” tour, which showcased haunted artifacts from NESPR’s collection. Ghostly Images of Gettysburg, that hosted the stop, said in a Facebook post, “Dan was a great man and a good friend of ours. He will be missed by all who knew him.”

Annabelle Raggedy Ann doll

The Annabelle Raggedy Ann doll sits in a case in the Warren’s Occult Museum. (Jessica Moore/Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

In 1970, a Connecticut nurse reported that the doll moved on its own, left disturbing notes, and physically attacked her friend.

At the time, a psychic claimed the spirit of a 7-year-old child named Annabelle Higgins was inside the doll, but Ed and Lorraine Warren didn’t buy it. The Warrens, seasoned paranormal investigators and founders of NESPR, concluded the presence wasn’t a lost child at all, but a “malevolent entity” using the guise of innocence to manipulate and ultimately harm. 

According to their case files, the spirit’s activity escalated from movements to disturbing notes, then to physical attacks. The Warrens had the doll removed from the home into their museum.

Since the museum closed in 2019, the doll has traveled across the country only under strict NESPR supervision. “She is never out of our control,” NESPR director Tony Spera told Newsweek back in May.

Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera poses

In this photo shared to Rivera’s Instagram page, the paranormal investigator poses for the camera amid curio of the unexplained. (Instagram/ dan_rivera_nespr)

“[Rivera] cared for Lorraine towards the end of her life,” said Paranormal State’s Ryan Buell in a tribute posted online. “When I got clean, Dan believed in me. He wanted me to come back home. He believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.” Buell also shared some of Rivera’s work behind-the-scenes, writing “He helped haunted families. He carried the Warrens’ mission forward. I also mourn his unfinished dreams and ideas for the future.”

Officials say Rivera’s death is not considered suspicious. The Adams County Coroner has confirmed there are no signs of foul play. An autopsy is pending, which is standard for deaths outside a hospital.

NESPR said the tour will continue in his honor. NESPR shared Rivera’s own words in its statement: “In life we leave a piece of ourselves with loved ones and friends. So, I say I will never die. My journey has only begun.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Terrifying new video shows screaming passengers run for their lives

Heart-Pounding Video Captures Passengers in a Desperate Dash for Safety

In a harrowing scene that unfolded on Saturday night, train passengers were…
2 girls hospitalized after falling from Ferris Wheel ride

Two Young Girls Hospitalized Following Ferris Wheel Incident

Authorities confirmed that both girls involved were under the age of 13.…
Ground stop issued at Newark Airport

Urgent Update: Newark Airport Ground Stop – What Travelers Need to Know Now

On Sunday morning, Newark Airport faced significant disruptions as a ground stop…
Our Chicago: Channyn Lynne Parker, new CEO of Equality Illinois

Meet Channyn Lynne Parker: Equality Illinois’ Newly Appointed CEO Transforming the Future

CHICAGO — Equality Illinois, originally established in 1991 under the name Illinois…
Hermosillo, Sonora fire: Explosion at store in northwestern Mexico leave at least 23 dead and a dozen injured

Tragic Explosion in Hermosillo: Deadly Fire Claims 23 Lives in Northwestern Mexico

Sunday, November 2, 2025 1:57PM A fire and explosion at a convenience…
Britney Spears DELETES Instagram after series of 'bizarre' posts

Britney Spears Deactivates Instagram Following Unusual Posts

Britney Spears has once again disappeared from Instagram, leaving fans puzzled after…
US boots on ground in Nigeria? 'Could be,' Trump says

Trump Hints at Possible US Military Presence in Nigeria

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) — President Donald Trump has signaled a…
Ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem rally over Israel’s draft exemption as clashes break out

Jerusalem Erupts: Ultra-Orthodox Protests Over Israel’s Controversial Draft Exemption

Tens of thousands protest military draft in Jerusalem In the heart of…