Dan Rivera, a 54-year-old paranormal investigator and U.S. Army veteran, passed away unexpectedly on July 13, 2025, while on tour with the infamous Annabelle doll in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. As a senior lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), Rivera was a key figure in the “Devils on the Run Tour,” which showcased the allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll, popularized by The Conjuring film franchise. His sudden death has shocked the paranormal community and sparked speculation among fans, though authorities have stated it appears non-suspicious.
Born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Rivera’s fascination with the paranormal began at a young age after experiencing unexplained phenomena in his childhood home. A U.S. Army veteran, he brought discipline and passion to his work, becoming an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria and joining NESPR in 2011. Mentored by the renowned Lorraine Warren, Rivera worked closely with her in her final years, helping to preserve the legacy of her and her husband, Ed Warren, founders of NESPR.
Rivera was a beloved figure in the paranormal world, known for his charisma, warmth, and dedication to educating others about the supernatural. He appeared on the Travel Channel’s Most Haunted Places and served as a consulting producer for Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted. His viral TikTok videos, co-produced with fellow investigator Ryan Daniel Buell, garnered millions of views, bringing international attention to the Annabelle tour and the Warrens’ legacy.
The Annabelle doll, a fixture in horror culture, is said to be demonically possessed, according to the Warrens, who investigated it in the 1970s after it reportedly exhibited disturbing behavior, such as moving on its own and causing harm. Housed in a glass case secured with crosses and holy water at the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, the doll is described by NESPR as something to be “respected, not revered.”
The “Devils on the Run Tour,” organized by NESPR and hosted in Gettysburg by Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours, featured Annabelle at the Soldiers National Orphanage. The event, which sold over 1,260 tickets across three days from July 11–13, 2025, drew significant attention, partly due to Rivera’s engaging public outreach. During the tour, Rivera took precautions to protect attendees, using a specially constructed case stained with holy water and adorned with three crosses to contain the doll’s alleged influence.
Rivera was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Gettysburg on the evening of July 13, shortly after the tour’s final event. Emergency services were called around 8 p.m. for a report of CPR in progress on a male matching Rivera’s age, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill confirmed that Rivera was alone at the time, and the Annabelle doll was not present in the room, possibly stored in a van in the hotel parking lot. Authorities have stated the death does not appear suspicious, and an autopsy is pending, with results expected in 60 to 90 days.
