Paranormal Experts Warn Matt Rife After Purchase of Warren Home and Occult Museum
Zoe Bennett reporting. The facts matter. Here’s what we know so far.
Comedian Matt Rife’s recent purchase of the infamous Ed and Lorraine Warren home and Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut has prompted sharp warnings from paranormal investigators with direct connections to the Warrens’ legacy. Multiple sources, including a former haunted-home owner and a member of the Warren family, told TMZ in early August 2025 that opening the property to overnight guests and public tours could expose visitors and caretakers to dangerous energies and unintended consequences.
Philip Siracusa, who previously owned what has been described in media coverage as the haunted Horsefly Chronicles home, told TMZ that the Warrens kept certain items private for a reason and that the property’s “dark energy” can latch onto people. Siracusa explicitly said he hopes Rife and his business partner Elton Castee “will get through this alive.” That is not hyperbole in his telling; Siracusa framed the property as a living force with the capacity to manipulate human behavior and linger after visitors leave.
Chris McKinnell, a paranormal researcher and grandson of Ed and Lorraine Warren who manages The Warren Legacy Foundation for Paranormal Research, echoed Siracusa’s cautions in separate comments to TMZ. McKinnell said the Warren property and the items housed in its museum were never intended as a commercial attraction but were maintained as a “controlled environment” for education, spiritual research, and protective measures. He advised Rife to consult established paranormal experts and spiritual custodians before proceeding with plans that include overnight stays and public tours.
Both men tied their urgency to recent events and documented concern within the small but vocal community of paranormal researchers. McKinnell pointed to the sudden death of Dan Rivera, an investigator who had appeared on tours with the Annabelle doll, and said he had previously warned about perceived negative energy associated with traveling exhibitions of certain artifacts. TMZ reported Rivera’s death after a Pennsylvania appearance in mid-2025, and McKinnell described the energy around particular items as potentially “deadly.”
Rife has publicly stated he intends to “take care of this property and the artifacts within the museum with the utmost care,” according to his comments reported to TMZ when the acquisition was announced. The contrast between Rife’s pledge and the skeptics’ warnings sets up a real-world clash between celebrity stewardship and the provenance concerns held by descendants and longtime researchers who worked with Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Context matters here. The Warren name carries decades of high-profile cases that influenced modern paranormal folklore, and the artifacts in their museum have long been a focal point for both believers and critics. The museum’s history of restricted access and the Warrens’ own secrecy were repeatedly cited by McKinnell as part of the rationale for caution. He emphasized that dealing with phenomena the group believes are not fully understood demands “context, caution, and spiritual responsibility.”
From a risk-assessment perspective, opening a site tied to controversial paranormal claims to a broad public audience raises logistical and ethical questions. Liability, guest safety, mental-health considerations, and the potential for sensationalized media coverage are tangible concerns beyond metaphysical claims. If visitors report psychological distress or claim unusual experiences, operators of the site could face reputational and legal fallout. McKinnell’s recommendation that Rife work closely with experienced researchers can be read as a mitigation strategy to reduce those risks.
For now, the immediate facts are straightforward: Rife is the new owner and self-described guardian of the Warren house and the Annabelle doll; former and current Warren-affiliated investigators publicly urge caution; and at least one recent tour-related death has intensified scrutiny. Both sides stress different responsibilities—Rife emphasizing caretaking and access, researchers emphasizing protection and controlled contexts.
What to watch next: Will Rife announce a formal plan that includes vetted paranormal consultants, security protocols, mental-health resources for guests, and clear liability protections? Or will public concern and pressure from Warren family representatives prompt a reevaluation of overnight stays and open tours? Stay tuned as this unusual celebrity acquisition becomes a test case in preservation, public safety, and the limits of curiosity.
That wraps up today’s analysis. More updates will follow as details emerge.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
