A PARANORMAL investigator has tragically passed away while traveling across the United States with the actual haunted doll that inspired the Annabelle horror movie series.

Dan Rivera, 54, was found dead inside his hotel room while handling the doll known as America’s most haunted object.

Black and white portrait of a man.
Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, 54, has died while traveling across the US with a purportedly haunted dollCredit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr
Annabelle doll in a wooden case at the Warren's Occult Museum.
The Annabelle doll reportedly wreaked havoc on a family in the 1970s, and inspired a horror movie seriesCredit: Alamy

During his Devils on the Run tour, he made a stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which is located about two hours from Washington DC, when he was discovered on Sunday night, as reported by the Hanover Evening Sun.

First responders performed CPR, but he couldn’t be saved, the New England Society for Psychic Research, which was hosting the tour, announced.

Rivera’s official cause of death hasn’t been released.

The investigator has been remembered as a beloved friend who was passionate about educating others on paranormal activity.

All three of his shows scheduled for the Gettysburg stop were sold out.

“We are heartbroken and still processing this loss,” wrote the society.

“Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal.

“His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.”

Rivera, who is a US Army veteran, was working as the lead investigator for the society when he died.

His death came just months after he achieved viral fame on TikTok by posting about his paranormal tour and findings on the historic doll.

The Raggedy Ann doll, known as the real Annabelle, was initially blamed by its first owner for a fire that destroyed the Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana many years ago.

The toy was first given to a student nurse Donna in 1970 as a gift from her mother.

Donna claims that Annabelle would move from room to room without explanation, and wrote eerie notes that said “Help us.”

A friend of Donna’s mother named Lou even claimed that one time when staying at their home, he woke up to a feeling of being strangled and had scratches on his body.

He remembers watching his horror as Annabelle stared at him during the attack, according to the society.

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