In a shocking and eerie turn of events, a paranormal researcher touring the country with the allegedly haunted 'Annabelle' doll died unexpectedly after a stop in Gettysburg over the weekend. According to a local media report, Dan Rivera of the New England Society for Psychic Research passed away on Sunday evening following a visit to the Pennsylvania town that was the site of a bloody and pivotal Civil War battle. The group was in Gettysburg as part of their 'Devils on the Run Tour' wherein the purportedly possessed Raggedy Ann doll is brought to various paranormal hot spots around the country for events showcasing the toy made infamous by demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren and, in later years, the Conjuring film series.

The tour, which kicked off in May, sparked controversy in paranormal circles as some argued that removing Annabelle from the Warren Occult Museum, where it 'lives' in Connecticut, could unwittingly unleash chaos. To that end, many noted the burning of a historic Louisiana plantation and the escape of 11 inmates from a New Orleans jail following a tour stop in the area as proof of the troubling theory. While Rivera dismissed such assertions during a presentation on Saturday, his sudden death the following evening will undoubtedly and unfortunately be attributed to the doll in the minds of those who believe that Annabelle has the power to cause such a tragedy.

Rivera's death has understandably stunned the paranormal research community in which he was a beloved figure. In a statement posted on the New England Society for Psychic Research Facebook page, colleague Chris Gilloren paid tribute to his friend and fellow investigator. "Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal," he wrote, "his kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him." A U.S. Army veteran, Rivera will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and fans who mourn the loss of a man celebrated for his "insatiable curiosity" about the mysteries of the unknown.