Matt Rife Purchases Annabelle Doll's Infamous Residence, Intending to Allow Public Access
Comedian Matt Rife has made a unique acquisition, purchasing the Connecticut home previously owned by renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Among the home's haunted items is Annabelle, a demonically "possessed" giant Raggedy Ann doll.
Rife, who announced his purchase with online ghost hunter Elton Castee, expressed enthusiasm about his new possession in a video shared online. His statement in the video indicated a sense of amusement and awe, comparing his new hobby to collecting stamps, suggesting a contrast in safety levels.
However, the video did not provide any new information about the responsibilities associated with the haunted items or their current locations. As of early August 2025, Annabelle is still on tour across the U.S., and its previous handler, Dan Rivera, died last month of natural causes while touring with the doll.
Rivera, a paranormal investigator and the doll's primary handler, was the caretaker of Annabelle before his passing in mid-July 2025. As of now, there is no publicly available information identifying the current caretaker of the Annabelle doll following Rivera's passing.
The New England Society for Psychic Research, which the Warrens founded, claims that unnatural occurrences with Annabelle started with the doll moving around the apartment and materialized as disturbing handwritten notes. The Warrens, who conducted thousands of paranormal investigations, inspired the "The Conjuring" films, which are Matt Rife's favourite scary movies.
Rife's plans for the haunted home include opening it for overnight stays and museum tours, but the video did not mention any specific details about these plans. The video did not contain any announcements about the current location of Annabelle or updates on the status of its tour across the U.S.
HuffPost, which has been providing fearless, unflinching, and relentless journalism for two decades, will continue to monitor developments related to Annabelle and the haunted Connecticut home.
- Matt Rife, entertained by his purchase of the Connecticut home belonging to the renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, seems to view his new haunted possession, Annabelle, as an amusing addition to his collection, likening it to the pursuit of rare stamps, showcasing a contrast in safety levels.
- As a fan of "The Conjuring" films, which were inspired by the works of the Warrens, Matt Rife's interest in pop-culture world extends beyond just movies and TV, delving into the realm of health, the supernatural, and the unexplained.
