Paranormal investigator dies after Annabelle tour, infamous doll was ‘not in room’, says coroner

Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow told People.com that the doll “was not present when I arrived at the scene,” and confirmed it “had not been in the hotel room at all.”

What do we know so far?

The Pennsylvania State Police confirmed to reporters that officers were called to the hotel after a man was found dead in his room.

“There was nothing unusual or suspicious observed at the scene,” the police said in a statement on Wednesday, 16 July.

Coroner Dutrow added that Rivera had been feeling unwell earlier in the day and told colleagues he was returning to his room. The cause of death is still unknown. Autopsy results are expected in eight to 10 weeks.

Where was the Annabelle doll?

The missing Annabelle doll, the apparently haunted object at the centre of Rivera’s tour, raised immediate questions online.

“The doll wasn’t in the room,” said NESPR, the group Rivera worked with, in a statement quoted by The New York Post. “She is safely secured.”

Rivera had been touring with the doll and speaking about its controversial history, often warning audiences about its supposed dangers.

Who was Dan Rivera?

Dan Rivera was a lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), founded in 1952 by famed ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. He was also a US Army veteran, a father, and a husband.

He had worked on several paranormal programmes, including Most Haunted Places on the Travel Channel, and produced Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted.

In a tribute to Rivera, NESPR said, “Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend. His integrity, creativity, and generosity defined him.”

They added, “Dan’s passion for the paranormal was rooted in a genuine desire to educate, help, and connect with others  whether through social media, conventions, or investigations with local families seeking peace.”

The doll’s dark history

According to NESPR, the Annabelle doll became infamous in 1968 after a student nurse in Connecticut claimed it behaved strangely. A medium later said it was inhabited by the spirit of a child named Annabelle.

Ed and Lorraine Warren, however, said the doll was not a harmless ghost but demonically possessed. They locked it in a glass case at their museum in Connecticut, where it remains today.

The story helped inspire The Conjuring film series and a spin-off franchise centered on Annabelle.

Rivera is survived by his wife and children. His friend Ryan Buell, host of Paranormal State, posted a tribute on Facebook describing Rivera as “a thoughtful, committed investigator and a devoted family man.”

While officials say there is no foul play, the mystery surrounding Rivera’s death and the absence of the doll from the scene  continues to draw public attention. One person wrote under NESPR’s tribute post: “What happened in that room?”