Curse or Coincidence? What We Really Know About Dan Rivera’s Death and the Traveling Annabelle Doll
Short answer up-front: Police have found no evidence of foul play or supernatural mischief in Dan Rivera’s sudden death. An autopsy is still pending, but investigators call the scene “not suspicious.”
Yet inside the paranormal world, Rivera’s passing has reignited old fears that the famous Raggedy Ann known as “Annabelle” carries a lethal curse.
The Death That Lit the Fuse
On 13 July 2025, veteran paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, 54, was discovered unresponsive in a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania hotel room while headlining the “Devils on the Run” Annabelle tour. Local police told reporters the room showed “no signs of trauma or struggle” and they’re waiting on toxicology reports to confirm cause of death.
(Source: The Guardian, ABC-7)
Why Gettysburg Matters
Civil-war battlefields plus a world-famous “haunted” doll? Even skeptics admit it’s a recipe for viral headlines—and, in some circles, panic.
How the Doll Hit the Road
- The Warren Occult Museum closes (2019): Authorities shut down Ed & Lorraine Warren’s backyard museum in Monroe, Connecticut over zoning violations.
- Annabelle goes mobile: The New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) begins taking selected artifacts—most famously Annabelle—on ticketed events.
- Rivera becomes lead handler: Rivera, already a NESPR investigator, joins the traveling show in 2020.
(Sources: Greenwich Time, People)
Who’s Crying “Curse”?
1. Philip Siracusa
- Paranormal author and current—not former—owner of the famed “Horsefly Chronicles” house
- Told TMZ the tour is “cursed” and should be shut down.
(TMZ link here)
2. Chris McKinnell
- Grandson of Ed & Lorraine Warren
- Warned on Facebook in early June: “There is negative energy attached to it, and it can be deadly.”
- Claims some relatives cut ties with him for sounding the alarm—no independent source has verified that rift.
3. Zak Bagans
- Host of “Ghost Adventures”
- Says moving haunted objects “opens a door” and recalls almost being struck by lightning the day after he handled Annabelle in 2017.
(PopCulture interview)
Sorting Facts from Fear
| Claim | Verdict | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rivera’s death was “mysterious.” | ❌ Overstated. Police list it as not suspicious pending autopsy. | Words like “mysterious” feed the curse narrative. |
| Siracusa is a former owner of Horsefly house. | ❌ He still owns it with his wife Julia. | Small error, but hints at loose fact-checking. |
| Annabelle tour began after museum closure. | ✅ Largely accurate. | Context for why the doll is on the road. |
| Doll is “deadly.” | Unproven. Only anecdotal evidence by paranormal figures. | Central supernatural claim remains unverified. |
Behind the Curtain: Our Verification Trail
We cross-checked each statement against:
- National outlets (The Guardian, People, ABC-7)
- Local Connecticut zoning reports
- Archived Facebook posts from McKinnell
- Public property listings for Horsefly Chronicles
Any detail with a single TMZ-only source is flagged as “unverified” until another outlet confirms it.
So…Is the Tour Actually Cursed?
There is zero publicly available scientific evidence that the Annabelle doll killed Dan Rivera—or anyone else. The only undisputed facts are:
• Rivera is gone, and the cause is still being determined by medical examiners.
• Multiple seasoned paranormal investigators feel the doll is dangerous.
• The tour continues to sell tickets, banking on that fear.
Whether you believe in curses or coincidence, the tour’s future now hinges on two things:
- The autopsy report. A natural cause would take wind out of the curse story; anything unusual would do the opposite.
- Public pressure. If enough insiders—including the Warren family—demand a halt, promoters may fold.
What Happens Next?
- Autopsy results expected within weeks.
- NESPR says the tour is “on pause” but not canceled—yet.
- Local officials in upcoming tour cities now face a practical question: Haunted hype equals tourism dollars, but do they want to court controversy?
Stay tuned. When the medical examiner speaks, we’ll know whether Annabelle is just a rag doll or a rag doll with a rap sheet.
Key Takeaways
- Rivera’s death is tragic, but not officially linked to the supernatural.
- At least two claims in viral stories are wrong or unverified.
- Belief in the curse is driving the narrative more than hard facts.
Until the autopsy tells otherwise, the scariest thing about Annabelle might be how fast a spooky story can outpace reality.