If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the panic. People were literally posting that they were "fleeing the country" because the most famous Raggedy Ann on the planet was supposedly on the loose. It’s wild how one doll can still make grown adults check under their beds.
The year 2025 was a chaotic one for the Warren legacy. Between "missing" reports, a tragic death on the road, and a massive change in who actually owns the museum, there is a lot to catch up on.
Honestly, the real story is weirder than the movies.
The 2025 "Disappearance" That Wasn't
First things first: No, Annabelle did not escape her case and start a cross-country crime spree. But for a few weeks in mid-2025, the internet was convinced she had.
The rumors started when the doll was taken out of her permanent home in Monroe, Connecticut. For decades, the rule was simple: Don't move her. Lorraine Warren herself used to say that moving the doll was like opening a cage. But in 2025, the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) decided it was time for a road trip. They launched the "Devils on the Run" tour.
The goal was to raise money for a new museum. Naturally, when people showed up to the old museum address and saw she wasn't there, the "Annabelle is missing" threads went nuclear.
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Then things got spooky in Louisiana.
While the doll was touring near New Orleans, a massive fire broke out at the historic Nottoway Plantation. At the same time, ten inmates escaped from a local jail. The internet did what it does best—it blamed the doll. People started claiming Annabelle had burnt the building down and freed the prisoners. Tony Spera, the director of NESPR and the Warrens' son-in-law, eventually had to go on camera to prove the doll was safe and sound in her travel case.
She wasn't missing; she was just on a business trip.
Tragedy in Gettysburg: The Death of Dan Rivera
While most of the rumors were just internet noise, one event in July 2025 was tragically real. Dan Rivera, a lead investigator for NESPR and a man who had spent over a decade working with the Warrens' collection, died suddenly.
He was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for a stop on the "Devils on the Run" tour. Rivera was found in his hotel room on July 13. He was only 54.
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Because he was the one traveling with the doll, the "curse" talk started immediately. People wanted to know if the doll was in the room when he passed. However, the Adams County coroner, Francis Dutrow, was very clear: Annabelle was not in the room. Rivera had been feeling sick and went back to his hotel to rest while the rest of the team handled the event.
The police found nothing suspicious at the scene. It was a sad, natural loss of a man dedicated to the field, but it didn't stop the horror fans from connecting the dots.
Why Matt Rife Now Owns the Annabelle Doll
This is the part that sounds like a Mad Libs sentence, but it's 100% true. In August 2025, comedian Matt Rife and his partner Elton Castee officially bought the Warrens’ home and the Occult Museum.
Yes, the guy from the Netflix specials is now the legal guardian of the most dangerous doll in the world.
The purchase includes:
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- The original house in Monroe, Connecticut.
- The entire collection of haunted artifacts (the organ, the shadow man, etc.).
- A five-year commitment to serve as the "guardians" of the collection.
Rife hasn't been shy about his plans. He wants to reopen the museum to the public in a way that’s legal and safe, since the original location was shut down due to zoning laws years ago. There’s even talk of letting fans stay on the property. Whether you find that exciting or like the plot of a movie where everyone dies in the first ten minutes is up to you.
Where is Annabelle Right Now?
If you're looking for her today, you won't find her in a basement in Monroe.
Since the museum is undergoing this massive transition under Rife’s ownership, the collection is effectively in a secure, undisclosed storage state. Tony Spera still oversees the spiritual "safety" of the items, but the days of the doll sitting in a residential basement are over.
The tour is essentially on hiatus while the new owners figure out the logistics of a permanent, legally zoned facility. If you see a TikTok claiming she’s in a Walmart in Ohio, it’s a prank.
What You Should Actually Know
If you're following the Annabelle saga, keep these three things in mind to stay grounded:
- Check the Source: Most "Annabelle escaped" rumors come from parody accounts or old screenshots. If NESPR or Matt Rife hasn't posted it, it didn't happen.
- The Appearance Gap: Remember, the real doll is a Raggedy Ann with buttons for eyes. If you see a picture of a creepy porcelain doll, that’s just a movie prop.
- The Zoning Reality: The museum didn't close because of "demons"—it closed because the neighbors were tired of tourists blocking their driveways.
Keep an eye on Matt Rife’s social channels or the official NESPR website for the 2026 schedule. If they do reopen the museum, it’ll likely be the biggest paranormal event of the decade. Just maybe... don't touch the glass.
For more updates on the collection, you can follow the New England Society for Psychic Research for their official press releases on the upcoming museum move.