Dan Rivera’s Death Ruled Natural, Silencing Annabelle Doll Rumors
A melancholic chord resonates through the dimly lit corridors where specters roam. The latest police report has confirmed that Dan Rivera, renowned paranormal investigator and handler of the infamous Annabelle doll, passed away of natural causes, dispelling the darker theories that had taken hold among online gossip circles.
According to a July 16 release by the Pennsylvania State Police, the nature of Rivera’s death was officially recorded as “death natural.” Officers who entered the hotel room where the 50-year-old researcher was found on July 13 noted that “nothing unusual or suspicious was observed.” His body was discovered by colleagues attending a scheduled Annabelle exhibit, and authorities now await autopsy findings before declaring a precise medical cause.
Conspiracies swiftly surfaced, linking Rivera’s passing to the so-called curses of the supposedly demonically possessed Raggedy Ann toy that inspired The Conjuring films. But Jason Hawes of the hit series Ghost Hunters publicly rejected those unfounded tales in a July 16 Facebook post, calling the speculation “disgusting.” Hawes emphasized Rivera’s record as an Army veteran, father of four, and devoted husband, urging fans to stop attacking venues like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg—where Rivera and the New England Society of Psychic Research (NESPR) recently showcased the Annabelle doll. “Dan was a family man, a respected paranormal investigator, and he left this world way too soon,” Hawes wrote, alluding to sources close to the late researcher.
Ghostly Images manager Christina Rowand echoed that sentiment during an interview with Inside Edition on July 17. She noted that Rivera had safely managed the Annabelle artifact for decades, so it stands to reason that “why now? Could it not just be natural causes?” Rowand’s practical perspective helped stem the tide of supernatural conjecture.
Rivera’s decade-long tenure with NESPR is marked by steadfast loyalty to cofounder Lorraine Warren, whose own investigations into Annabelle date back to the late 1960s alongside her demonologist husband, Ed Warren. In a July 15 statement, NESPR lauded Rivera’s “constant presence” and unwavering support during Warren’s final years. The group also confirmed that its national Annabelle tour will continue as planned. “We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue,” they affirmed, promising to carry his spirit forward.
Even celebrities like Courteney Cox have their own spine-tingling encounters to share. On Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show in 2022, the Friends alum recalled a delivery man warning her that “this house is haunted” because someone stood behind her door. She later described eerie visions in a London hotel—unsettling faces and objects moving on their own—before she convinced herself to say aloud, “Stop.”
And so, the candle flickers out, leaving more questions than answers.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Ghost Hunters Facebook, Inside Edition
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
