PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A paranormal investigator suddenly died after leading a tour in Gettysburg focused on the doll that inspired the horror films “Annabelle” and “The Conjuring” franchise.
Pennsylvania State Police said 54-year-old Dan Rivera was found dead inside his Gettysburg hotel room by co-workers on Sunday, July 13. Officials said nothing unusual or suspicious was found at the scene.
Rivera, with the New England Society for Psychic Research, was leading rare public tours during a sold-out three-day exhibition of Annabelle, the supposedly haunted doll that inspired the horror film of the same name.
The doll was on exhibit at Gettysburg’s historic National Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homestead.
Annabelle, a large Raggedy Ann doll, sits securely in a glass case with a sign that reads, “WARNING: POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN.” The doll is believed by many paranormal experts to be demonically possessed.
Pennsylvania State Police said the case is pending following autopsy results.