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By Megan Cartwright
Associate News Editor
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Adams County coroner Francis Dutrow has spoken out about the whereabouts of the "possessed" doll Annabelle at the time of paranormal investigator Dan Rivera's death.
The Context
Rivera, 54, died suddenly on July 13 in a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania hotel room, the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) said. A day prior to his death, Rivera hosted a showing of Annabelle while leading NESPR's sold out "Devils on the Run Tour."
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What To Know
Dutrow said Annabelle, who inspired the movie The Conjuring, was not at the scene of Rivera's death, People reported.
Dutrow added in a statement to Newsweek that "there is no new condition to report. Once [the] autopsy is finalized, I will be sending out a press release."
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In a previous statement to Today, Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill said Rivera's cause of death was "nothing suspicious."
"The coroner's office and the state police were called to the scene on Sunday night," he told the outlet. "He did go for an autopsy today and it's pending."
According to a Pennsylvania State Police report, Rivera "was discovered in his room by coworkers."
Annabelle was given as a gift to a nursing student in the 1960s, but was deemed "demonically possessed" by late NESPR founders Ed Warren, a demonologist, and his wife Lorraine Warren, a trance medium. Per NESPR's website, the Warrens placed the doll in a glass box "to contain the evil spirited entity."
Annabelle is usually housed at the Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut but has recently been on tour throughout the United States.
What People Are Saying
The NESPR wrote in a statement posted to Facebook: "It's with deep sadness that Tony, Wade, and I share the sudden passing of our close friend and partner, Dan Rivera. We are heartbroken and still processing this loss. Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal. His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him. Thank you for your support and kind thoughts during this difficult time."
Ghost Hunters star Jason Hawes addressed Annabelle rumors surrounding Rivera's death in a message shared to Facebook: "Recently the World lost a good man. Dan Rivera was an Army veteran, a father of four, a husband, and someone who truly cared about people.
"What's even harder to see right now are the posts blaming his death on things like the Annabelle doll and attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours and other locations for having events. That needs to stop. His family shouldn't have to read that kind of nonsense while they're grieving.
"Some people are using his passing to push an agenda for profit, and it's just disgusting. Dan was a family man, a respected paranormal investigator, and he left this world way too soon.
"Let's focus on remembering Dan for who he was, not turning his death into some made up bull**** story to get clicks or attention.
"Honor the man. Forget the garbage."
Ghost Adventures star Zak Bagans said in a statement to Us Weekly: "My thoughts and prayers go out to [Rivera's] family and friends. I can only speak to my experiences with Annabelle. I did have the opportunity to investigate Annabelle when the owner brought her to my museum in 2017. I got very affected by her and it kind of caused me to touch the doll. The owner didn't like that too much. It was a demonic infestation and severely affected me, and I was literally in the hospital the next day. It was a two-month-long attachment and one of the worst experiences of my life."
What Happens Next
The Conjuring: Last Rites, the latest film in The Conjuring franchise, will hit theaters in September.
Pennewill said Rivera's autopsy will likely take 60 to 90 days, per Today.
Update 7/21/25, 11:38 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with a statement from Adams County coroner Francis Dutrow.
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