BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — Dan Rivera, a paranormal investigator from Bridgeport, Connecticut, died unexpectedly over the weekend, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR).
TMZ reports that paramedics and firefighters responded to the hotel where he was staying Sunday night, and dispatch logs show CPR was performed on a man the same age as Rivera, 54. His cause of death was not yet known as of Tuesday afternoon, Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow confirmed to the Evening Sun.
"Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal," the NESPR said on Facebook. "His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him. Thank you for your support and kind thoughts during this difficult time."
According to the NESPR website, Rivera, their senior lead investigator, was also a U.S. Army veteran and was an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria. The website said that he was introduced to haunting phenomena at an early age, having witnessed paranormal events occurring in his home.
According to his Instagram, he was on the "Devils on the Run Tour" with the infamous Annabelle doll, a subject of The Conjuring movies.
The NESPR website describes Annabelle is an infamously haunted Raggedy Ann doll given to a student nurse in 1968.
"Almost immediately, the roommates noticed strange occurrences with the doll and they were introduced to a medium who told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle," according to the website.
The doll was eventually housed in a glass box "to contain the evil spirited entity" after incidents of "maliciousness and violent intent," the site continues.
Annabelle's 3-day stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from Friday to Sunday afternoon drew completely sold-out crowds, organizers told the Evening Sun.
The paper described Rivera as "full of charisma as he joked with visitors" attending the event in the days before his death.
Rivera will also be remembered for his work on the Travel Channel's "Most Haunted Places" and Netflix's "28 Days Haunted."
