Dan Rivera, a paranormal investigator and one of the handlers of the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll that inspired “The Conjuring” film franchise, died last Sunday in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was 54.
The New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) confirmed Rivera’s death in a statement shared Tuesday on its social media platforms.
“We understand that Dan’s work inspired fascination and curiosity for many, but above all, he was a father, devoted husband and loyal friend, someone who meant the world to those closest to him,” the statement read in part. “Dan gave so many pieces of himself ― through his kindness, his strength, his faith ― and those pieces will live on in all of us.”
Before his death, Rivera had been participating in the NESPR’s “Devils on the Run Tour,” which celebrated the work of late supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were his mentors. During his appearances, the Connecticut native presented Annabelle to “those brave enough to face her,” according to press notes.
Watch an E! News report on Dan Rivera’s death below.
Though Rivera’s cause of death has not yet been publicly confirmed, Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill told NBC’s Today it was “nothing suspicious.” He also clarified that Annabelle was not present in the hotel room where Rivera’s body was found, though he was unaware of the doll’s location.
“The coroner’s office and the state police were called to the scene on Sunday night,” Pennewill said. “He did go for an autopsy today and it’s pending.”
Rivera is survived by his wife, Sarah, and their four children.
The Annabelle doll sits in a case in Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Occult Museum. Hartford Courant via Getty Images
Ed and Lorraine Warren rose to prominence in the 1970s as one of the first investigators of the “Amityville Horror” case, which took place in Amityville, New York and became the basis for the 1977 book and subsequent film franchise.
In the late 1960s, the couple investigated the case of Annabelle, a Raggedy Ann doll they claimed was “possessed” by an “evil-spirited entity.”
Ed Warren died in 2006 at age 79, followed by Lorraine in 2019 at age 92. Their story was adapted for the big screen in 2013 as “The Conjuring,” starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens. The film begins with the pair investigating Annabelle, whose origins were later explored in 2014’s “Annabelle” and 2017’s “Annabelle: Creation.”
