Possessed Annabelle doll's caretaker Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while on tour with toy

The paranormal world is mourning the loss of renowned ghost hunter Dan Rivera, who was also the caretaker of the infamous haunted Annabelle doll. Tragically, Rivera passed away at the age of 54 on Sunday while touring with the doll.

The respected investigator was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13.

Rivera was in town for a sold-out event as part of his Devils on the Run tour, a contentious cross-country series showcasing the real Annabelle doll, an object notorious for its links to demonic possession and its role in The Conjuring universe.

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Australian horror filmmaker James Wan, who brought Annabelle into the global limelight through his 2013 blockbuster 'The Conjuring' and its 2014 spin-off, paid tribute to Rivera on social media. He expressed his sadness over the sudden passing of Rivera, which occurred shortly after the death of Wan's close associate, producer Jason Constantine.

While the official cause of Rivera's death has not been revealed, emergency dispatch records confirmed a CPR-in-progress call was made for a man fitting his description. Rivera was a lead investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), and the organisation has confirmed his death, reports the Mirror US.

Rivera's untimely demise has sparked a wave of sorrow from fans and fellow investigators around the globe. A cult figure in the paranormal world, Rivera had garnered a loyal following through his investigations.

Annabelle, the infamous Raggedy Ann doll that sent shivers down spines in the 1970s, is back in the spotlight. Known for its eerie antics, such as following its owners around their home and eerily positioning itself by the door to greet them after work, the doll has long been associated with the paranormal.

The haunted toy even penned disturbing notes, leaving the residents so petrified they sought external assistance to deal with the unnerving messages.

A psychic medium told the terrified owners that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased six year old girl named 'Annabelle'. Deemed to be under demonic influence, Annabelle was eventually entrusted to famed ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, founders of NESPR since 1952.

The Warrens, convinced that the doll was a conduit for malevolent forces, locked it away in a glass case within their own Occult Museum, where it remained for years. However, earlier this year, Rivera and NESPR took the chilling artefact on tour.

Metro reported that a Pennsylvania State Police document, shared by Trooper Megan Frazer, stated that 'nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene'.

The official statement detailed: "Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers."

Abrams County Coroner Francis Dutrow revealed to People Magazine that Rivera had been in the company of colleagues on Sunday morning but had complained of feeling unwell and decided to return to his room. The nature of his illness and its cause remain uncertain as investigations are ongoing.