Paranormal Investigator Dies On PA Tour With 'Demonically Possessed' Doll

GETTYSBURG, PA — A paranormal investigator who was touring around Pennsylvania and the rest of the country with a "demonically possessed" doll named Annabelle was found dead in his hotel room, according to colleagues at the New England Society for Psychic Research.

His cause of death has not yet been determined.

Dan Rivera, 54, was staying in Gettysburg at the time of his death.

"His integrity, creativity, and generosity defined him," the Society shared in a statement. "Dan's passion for the paranormal was rooted in a genuine desire to educate, help, and connect with others, whether through social media, conventions, or investigations with local families seeking understanding and peace."

NBC News reports the doll was not found in the hotel room where Rivera died, but that it may have been nearby in a van.

Rivera led programs called "Evenings with Annabelle" and "Devils on the Run" that brought the doll and its history to audiences around the country.

Annabelle, a Raggedy Ann doll, has inspired a series of movies related to "The Conjuring," and key events are based on stories told by former doll owners Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens moved the doll out of their house into their occult museum in Connecticut in the 1970s. Over the years, the Warrens have attributed various horrors to the doll, including inflicting "psychic slashes" and forcing a detective to stab himself, according to their website.

Rivera told audiences in Gettysburg just before he died that Annabelle was not the cause of the 911 outage the day before, and advised them of steps to protect themselves from the doll, according to the Evening Sun.

"What Lorraine (Warren) would say to protect yourself, is to close your eyes and envision yourself in a halo of white light," Rivera reportedly said.