‘Annabelle’ director James Wan comments on sudden death of doll handler

Annabelle, the doll which has inspired multiple horror movies by producer James Wan, is making headlines again, after the real-life caretaker Dan Rivera mysteriously passed away.

The haunted item which is supposed to be locked up and tucked away in a case, was taken out by the handler for a cross-country Devils on the Run tour.

During its pit stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Annabelle’s caretaker took his last breath in a hotel room, at 54.

The Conjuring director expressed his shock at the news by taking to his Instagram to post a story about the incident with a surprised emoji.

Dan’s untimely and mysterious death was confirmed by Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow on Tuesday.

The passing, although deemed not suspicious since the late-doll handler was alone in his room at the time, has not yet had a cause of death and is awaiting an autopsy.

Moreover, Dan was also the lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research, a society listed as being founded by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in 1952.

The couple paved the way for the society to be able to carry out the exploration and investigation of “paranormal and demonic entities” as listed on the page.

Is the real-life Annabelle disturbing?

Annabelle feels more disturbing now after the sudden death of Dan Rivera. The eerie timing has fueled fears that the cursed doll’s sinister reputation may have real-world consequences.

RELATED: Has the real-life Annabelle from ‘Conjuring’ gone missing?