Renowned paranormal investigator Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while touring with the ‘cursed’ Annabelle doll

Dan Rivera, a prominent paranormal investigator and lead figure with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 54. Rivera's death occurred while he was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the "Devils on the Run" tour, which featured the world-renowned Annabelle doll.

The Adams County coroner's office has listed Rivera's cause of death as "pending." Emergency responders were called to Rivera's hotel room in Gettysburg, where CPR was performed, according to police scanner archives and reports by the Evening Sun. He was later pronounced dead.

Rivera, a US Army veteran, was known for his charismatic presentations and deep knowledge of paranormal lore. He had been touring the country with the supposedly cursed Annabelle doll, a Raggedy Ann doll that gained notoriety through the work of famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and inspired "The Conjuring" horror film franchise. The doll is typically housed in the Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut.


Just a day before his passing, Rivera led a sold-out event showcasing the Annabelle doll. An Evening Sun reporter described him as "full of charisma" during the event. The "Devils on the Run" tour had seen widespread interest, with all three of Rivera's Gettysburg showings, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, selling out. Rivera was also a familiar face on the Travel Channel's "Most Haunted Places" and served as a consulting producer for the Netflix series "28 Days Haunted." He had been mentored by Lorraine Warren herself.

The New England Society for Psychic Research confirmed Rivera's death in a statement, expressing deep sorrow. Lead investigator Chris Gilloren wrote on NESPR's Facebook page, "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."

Tributes have poured in from across the paranormal community. Holly Johnson, tagging Rivera on Instagram, wrote, "I can’t believe you’re gone. The paranormal community has lost a great person. You will surely be missed."