Paranormal Icon Dan Rivera Dies During Annabelle Doll Tour Stop in Gettysburg at 54

Dan Rivera, a respected figure in the paranormal world and the man behind the recent viral Annabelle Doll Tour, passed away unexpectedly on July 13 during a stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was 54.

Rivera, the senior lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), had been hosting sold-out events at the Soldiers National Orphanage through Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours. Emergency responders were dispatched to his hotel late Sunday following a reported cardiac emergency, according to Adams County records. NESPR confirmed his death, though the cause remains officially undetermined.

Rivera’s passing comes amid the success of the "Devils on the Run" tour, which he launched in May 2025. The tour featured the infamous Annabelle doll, the allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann that inspired The Conjuring franchise. While skeptics dismissed the doll’s dark reputation, it sparked waves of superstition online, with Rivera often stepping in through viral TikTok videos to debunk bizarre claims linking Annabelle to fires, prison breaks, and even 911 service outages.

Gettysburg, long known as one of America’s most haunted towns, was a meaningful backdrop for Rivera, who had a deep respect for historic paranormal energy. At the event just hours before his death, Rivera shared protection rituals passed down from his mentor, Lorraine Warren. He instructed attendees to envision themselves "in a halo of white light" as a spiritual safeguard, a method Lorraine herself had taught him during their years working together.

A U.S. Army veteran and longtime paranormal researcher, Rivera joined NESPR in 2011 under the guidance of Lorraine Warren, who co-founded the organization with her husband Ed in 1952. Rivera helped preserve and expand the Warrens’ legacy through television appearances, tours, and his work as a producer on shows like 28 Days Haunted for Netflix.

The Annabelle tour had recently reignited global fascination with the doll and with Rivera himself. His personable, often humorous approach connected with both believers and skeptics. At each tour stop, Rivera emphasized the spiritual precautions taken, including a holy water–infused display case he built and blessed with crosses representing the Holy Trinity.

Tributes flooded social media after news of Rivera’s death broke. Fellow NESPR investigator Chris Gilloren praised Rivera’s unmatched passion for educating the public about the paranormal. Paranormal researcher Mary Jo Chudley called him “a true legend,” while his longtime friend and collaborator Ryan Daniel Buell described him as “deeply devoted to continuing the Warrens’ mission.”

Buell also shared a touching tribute from Rivera, originally written in memory of Lorraine Warren:
"When you look back at all the pieces you gave away, those pieces will always be remembered... I will never die. My journey has only begun."

That message now echoes with powerful meaning among the paranormal community that Rivera helped nurture. In life, he invited the curious into a world of spirits, superstition, and mystery. In death, his story becomes part of that mystery — one that will continue to intrigue, inspire, and haunt in the best possible way.