Paranormal Investigator Dies Mysteriously After Haunted Doll Tour Featuring “Annabelle”
Something eerie just happened in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania that has left the paranormal world shaken.
Dan Rivera, a well-known ghost hunter and TikTok-famous tour host, was found dead in his hotel room just hours after leading a paranormal tour that featured one of the most infamous haunted dolls in America: Annabelle.
He Was Leading One of the Spookiest Tours in America
Dan wasn’t just another investigator chasing shadows. He was the man behind the 2025 “Devils on the Run Tour”, which made headlines for its mix of haunted American locations and spine-chilling artifacts, including a scheduled appearance of the Annabelle doll herself.
This wasn’t just a side gig either. Dan was a U.S. Army veteran and had built a strong following both in real life and online, especially on TikTok. He also worked with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), the group founded by legendary ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. This is the same couple portrayed in The Conjuring movies.
What Happened in Gettysburg?
The tour had just wrapped up its stop at Soldiers National Orphanage, a notoriously haunted site in Gettysburg. That same evening, on July 13, hotel staff found Dan unresponsive in his room. Emergency services were called, but sadly, it was too late. He was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said there was no sign of foul play, and an autopsy is scheduled. But that hasn’t stopped fans and believers from speculating about what might have happened, especially given the timing.
Was the Doll Involved?
Now here’s where it gets even creepier. The Annabelle doll (the very one kept under lock and key for decades by the Warrens) was part of the tour. It had just been featured from July 11 to 13 during the Gettysburg leg, and was scheduled to appear again later in the year.
For those unfamiliar, this isn’t some porcelain doll made for Hollywood. The real Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll reportedly involved in disturbing events going back to the 1970s. According to the Warrens, a nursing student claimed the doll moved on its own and even acted maliciously. A psychic allegedly told her the spirit of a dead girl named “Annabelle” had latched onto the toy.
The Warrens eventually locked the doll in a glass case to prevent her from “causing harm”. And now? Paranormal circles are buzzing: Was it just a tragic coincidence, or did something darker follow Dan?
A Family Left in Pieces
Dan leaves behind a wife and four sons. According to his wife, Sarah, Dan was the pillar of their family and that she and her kids don’t even know how to go about processing the loss.
Her words were heartbreaking. And no matter what people believe about ghosts or haunted dolls, one thing is very real – a family is grieving the loss of a husband and father.
The Paranormal World Mourns
Dan Rivera had appeared on the Travel Channel’s “Most Haunted Places” and helped produce Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted. He was very serious about investigating the unknown. And now, he’s become part of the mystery himself.
As ghost stories go, this one is still unfolding. But here’s the question many are asking: If Annabelle really is just a doll… why does trouble always seem to follow her?
Would you ever attend a haunted doll tour? Do you believe in cursed objects?
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