Connecticut Paranormal Icon Dies Mysteriously In Haunted Pennsylvania Hotel: Annabelle Doll Handler Was 54

If you follow the ghost-hunting world even a little bit, chances are you’ve heard of Connecticut native Dan Rivera. Whether from his spine-tingling tours, his role as Annabelle the doll’s handler, or his appearances on haunted reality TV, Rivera was one of the most recognizable faces in the modern paranormal movement. Sadly, the community is now grieving his unexpected death, which happened in Pennsylvania.

Dan Rivera, 54, passed away on July 13 while on the Devils on the Run haunted tour in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a place steeped in American history and eerie lore. The town is often touted as one of the most haunted places in the country, and Rivera was right in the heart of it, leading sold-out events at the chillingly historic Soldiers National Orphanage. His death was confirmed by the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), though details on the cause have not been officially released. Emergency dispatch records from Adams County point to a cardiac event at a local hotel matching the Connecticut paranormal icon’s age and timing, per Express Tribune.

For those not in the know, NESPR was founded by Ed and Lorraine Warren, the same real-life ghost-hunting duo who inspired The Conjuring universe. Rivera joined the organization in 2011 and was personally mentored by Lorraine Warren until her passing in 2019. Since then, he became a torchbearer of the Warrens’ legacy, showing up on shows like Most Haunted Places and even contributing to Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted. He was even the guy in charge of transporting and caring for the infamous Annabelle doll. That’s no small gig, considering the doll’s dark legend helped spark an entire horror franchise.

Connecticut Paranormal Expert Dan Rivera Unexpectedly Dies in Pennsylvania

While skeptics are quick to eye-roll the whole “possessed doll” thing, Rivera took his role seriously. His protective case for Annabelle was custom-built, doused in holy water, and covered in Christian symbols. Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, there’s something admirable about the level of care and ritual he brought to his work. At his final event in Gettysburg, he even instructed attendees to picture themselves surrounded by a “halo of white light,” a spiritual safeguard taught to him by Lorraine Warren herself.

Social media tributes have been pouring in, with fellow NESPR investigator Chris Gilloren describing Rivera as passionate and committed to educating the public about the unseen. Paranormal researcher Mary Jo Chudley called him “a true legend” and “one of the kindest and funniest guys,” while longtime collaborator Ryan Daniel Buell honored his unwavering devotion to the Warrens’ mission.

Rivera Often Handled Haunted Annabelle Doll

Rivera’s recent tour had gained plenty of attention, but not all of it positive. Since launching in May 2025, Devils on the Run attracted both fascinated fans and critics who blamed Annabelle for everything from a fire in Louisiana to a prison escape in New Orleans. Rivera consistently shut down those rumors on TikTok, always with a mix of humor and firm belief. Even a temporary 911 outage in Pennsylvania was pinned on the doll, but he wasn’t having it.

Despite the occasional conspiracy, Dan Rivera remained a charismatic presence in a world that thrives on mystery and fear. He balanced the eerie with the educational, the creepy with the compassionate. His sudden death leaves a haunting silence in the paranormal community in Connecticut and across the country. Of course, his Pennsylvania death will go down as yet another mystery involving the paranormal and possibly even the Annabelle doll.