Dan Rivera, a 54-year-old paranormal investigator and U.S. Army veteran, passed away suddenly on July 13 while touring with the notorious Annabelle doll during a sold-out event in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Rivera, affiliated with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), was found unresponsive in his hotel room just hours after completing a three-day engagement as part of the “Devils on the Run Tour.”

According to emergency responders, Rivera was discovered alone on Sunday evening after CPR efforts were initiated. By the time medics arrived, he had already passed. While an official cause of death has not yet been released, local authorities confirmed that no foul play is suspected. Adams County’s Chief Deputy Coroner, Scott Pennewill, confirmed that an autopsy has been conducted and the results are pending.

The Annabelle doll — central to Rivera’s tour — has long been associated with paranormal tales dating back to the 1970s. First linked to a Connecticut nursing student named Donna, the doll is believed by some to be inhabited by the spirit of a deceased six-year-old girl named Annabelle. Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famed paranormal investigators, later declared the doll to be demonically possessed and responsible for a number of unsettling incidents, including attacks and car accidents.

Despite its terrifying lore, Pennewill confirmed the doll was not located in Rivera’s hotel room at the time of his death. “Annabelle might have been inside a van in the hotel parking lot,” he stated, while clarifying that this detail was still unverified.

Rivera’s death was announced through a post on NESPR’s official Facebook page, which read, “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. Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal. His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.”

Who was Dan Rivera?

Known for his appearances on shows like Most Haunted Places on the Travel Channel and as a producer for Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted, Rivera was a familiar figure in the supernatural community. As a mentee of Lorraine Warren, he played a major role in keeping the Warren legacy alive after their passing.

The “Devils on the Run Tour,” which Rivera was co-leading, had just wrapped up a sold-out weekend hosted by Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours at the historic Soldiers National Orphanage. Over 1,260 tickets were issued for the Gettysburg stop, underscoring public fascination with the doll and Rivera’s influence.

Rivera also reached wide audiences on social media, especially TikTok, where he and fellow investigator Ryan Buell shared viral content about their paranormal travels. After the news broke, Buell wrote in tribute, “I have so many amazing memories with this guy. Just as recently as two months ago, we travelled around the country and introduced a whole new generation to Ed and Lorraine Warren’s legacy.”

The Annabelle doll, housed in a glass case at the Warren Occult Museum in Connecticut, has been the subject of intense speculation. Though the museum has been closed to the public since 2019 due to zoning restrictions, the doll continues to draw interest, especially from conspiracy theorists. Earlier in 2024, the doll was falsely linked online to a prison escape and a major fire in Louisiana — claims that were later debunked.

Following Rivera’s death, social media saw an outpouring of reactions — many expressing sorrow, others reigniting fear around Annabelle. One user wrote, “My husband wants to go see this doll. It’s only a few hours away from us. I said absolutely NOT!!” Another posted, “Believe what you want, but she’s not to be messed with😳 My friend went to see her…weird stuff happened.”

Across the paranormal world, Rivera is being remembered as not just an investigator, but a kind-hearted educator and storyteller. He was described by fans and colleagues as a devoted husband, father, and community figure who brought the mysteries of the unseen to life with compassion and curiosity.