What Happened to Dan Rivera? Haunted Annabelle Doll Handler Passes Away

Dan Rivera, a prominent paranormal investigator and lead figure in the “Devils on the Run” tour featuring the Annabelle doll, has died at the age of 54. His unexpected passing occurred on July 13, 2025, during a tour stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Rivera played a key role in bringing national attention to the tour and preserving the legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Here’s what we know so far about Dan Rivera’s death.

Dan Rivera passes away at 54, claims report

Dan Rivera, 54, a senior lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 13, 2025, while touring Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Rivera was part of the sold-out “Devils on the Run” tour, which featured the allegedly possessed Annabelle doll. The Adams County Coroner confirmed the death, with the cause pending autopsy results.

Emergency crews responded to a Gettysburg hotel on Sunday evening after reports of a man receiving CPR. They found Rivera alone in his room. Officials said the death appeared non-suspicious. Pennsylvania State Police assisted the coroner’s office with the investigation.

A U.S. Army veteran, Rivera joined NESPR in 2011 and trained under Lorraine Warren until her death in 2019. He helped preserve the Warrens’ legacy and showcased their occult collection. His viral TikToks with investigator Ryan Daniel Buell drew millions of views and boosted the tour’s reach.

The Gettysburg stop, held at the Soldiers National Orphanage, sold over 1,260 tickets in three days. The Annabelle doll, central to the tour, dates back to 1968, when the Warrens removed it from a private home and placed it in their museum.

NESPR confirmed Rivera’s passing on July 14, calling him a dedicated educator in the paranormal field. Chris Gilloren, a fellow investigator, said Rivera’s “kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.” Rivera’s biography noted his early experiences with hauntings and expertise in Santeria rites and rituals.

Rivera had also appeared on Travel Channel’s Most Haunted Places and worked as a consulting producer for Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted. His death prompted widespread tributes from the paranormal community, including a viral post from Buell highlighting Rivera’s efforts to help haunted families.