Jason Hawes Slams Annabelle Curse Theories After Dan Rivera’s Death
A murmur of candlelight and whispered regrets drifts through this tale of loss and unfounded fear. In the wake of paranormal investigator Dan Rivera’s sudden passing at age 54, Ghost Hunters co-founder Jason Hawes stepped forward on July 16 via a Facebook post to reject any link between the late investigator’s demise and the infamous Annabelle doll. Hawes mourned Rivera—a U.S. Army veteran, devoted husband and father of four—calling him a “good man” whose character was beyond any spooky lore.
Rivera was discovered unresponsive in a Gettysburg hotel room on July 13, shortly after hosting an event featuring the real-world inspiration for The Conjuring franchise. A Gettysburg police report found “nothing unusual or suspicious” at the scene, yet social media chatter claimed the doll’s supposed evil energy had claimed another victim. Hawes would have none of it. “Attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours and other locations for having events—that needs to stop,” he wrote, urging ghost-hunters and armchair sleuths alike to cease fueling hurtful rumors while Rivera’s family grieves.
In a July 15 press release, the New England Society of Psychic Research expressed that Rivera’s loved ones are “still coming to terms” with his unexpected passing. They paid tribute to his “deeply compassionate, loyal and dedicated” nature and the “deep impact” he left on everyone who crossed his path. With the cause of death pending autopsy results, Hawes decried those using Rivera’s passing “to push an agenda for profit,” branding such behavior “disgusting” and a disservice to Dan’s memory.
The Ghost Hunters stalwart—who co-starred on Syfy’s hit series from 2004 to 2016—concluded simply: “Honor the man. Forget the garbage.” His plea for decency resonates amid a swirl of click-bait speculation. Beyond this tragic chapter, many stars continue to share personal brushes with the paranormal, proving that belief in the unexplained survives even harsh realities.
Take Courteney Cox, who confided to the Howard Stern Show in 2022 that a delivery driver once warned her home was haunted after spotting a ghostly figure behind her. During a London stay she claimed to see “scary old faces,” floating lights and moving plants—visions she politely dismissed by asking the spirits not to return. Her charming recounting inched the boundary between fright and whimsy, reminding us that the line between curiosity and fear can be as thin as a spectral veil.
So let the record show: Dan Rivera’s life and legacy do not belong to myths of cursed antiques. And perhaps the true mystery isn’t a doll collecting souls, but our own restless yearning for stories that haunt us long after the lights go out. And with that final flicker, the theater of rumors fades—leaving only the quiet respect the departed deserve.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Gettysburg Police Report, NESPR Statement, Howard Stern Show
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
