Horror fans spooked as Annabelle doll goes on tour despite edict it should never be moved
A haunted doll being toured across America has spooked social media users after organizers ignored a chilling warning that it should never be moved.
The Raggedy Ann figure, Annabelle, is the focus of fevered attention as another sequel in The Conjuring Universe is set to be released this year.
But what really has TikTokers rattled is the Devils On The Run Tour, which is displaying items including Annabelle from the now-closed Warrens Occult Museum collection in Monroe, Connecticut.
The doll captured the imagination of millions after paranormal investigator and former host of Paranormal State, Ryan Daniel Buell, posted videos of the occult tour.
Yet many are deeply unsettled that the Warrens' warnings that Annabelle should never be moved are being flouted.
Paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren set up their museum after investigating the doll in the 1970s following a haunting encounter.
The 3ft tall plaything was a gift to a Hartford, Connecticut, nurse in 1970 who brought it home.
But she and her roommates began reporting unexplained behavior from the doll, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR).
Annabelle reportedly moved on her own and at one point attacked the fiance of one of its owners.
That's when the Warrens stepped in to investigate.
The couple claimed the doll was being manipulated by a spirit and performed an exorcism before taking it away with them.
Annabelle then became one of the most well-known haunted items following the Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises.
Now, as she tours the country with other items from the Warren's museum, Buell has been providing updates on the doll's progress.
Buell posted a video discussing Annabelle's appearance at West Virginia State Penitentiary, and he recalled his own haunting experience at the allegedly haunted site in 2009.
'This is the first time we're bringing haunted artifacts into West Virginia State Penitentiary, so that's gonna be interesting. Especially Annabelle, like the real Annabelle,' he said.
Buell explained that the doll was 'slowly' being transported to San Antonio, Texas, for Psychic Festival.
'I think this is the furthest she's travelled in decades, if not ever, so we'll see how tonight goes.'
He added that she would be 'secure' with members of NESPR and they would have a Catholic priest with them.
Buell then shared videos of the doll in the penitentiary, which angered many.
'Lorraine said not to move her. THE WARRENS SAID NOT TO MOVE HER,' one wrote.
Another said: 'Tony should be ashamed of himself cause I know he is apart of it. Ed & Lorraine said no matter what happens to them Annabelle does not leave the museum. Tony has gone against it numerous times for $.'
'Lorraine and Ed rolling over in their graves right now,' another wrote.
Buell, however, claimed the couple traveled with Annabelle on tour to teach the public about the items and the occult.
Annabelle next went to New Orleans before arriving in San Antonio Friday morning at the 'haunted' Black Swan Inn, according to Buell's posts.
Annabelle has remained locked in a case with a sign made by Ed Warren that reads 'positively do not open.'
Since the museum's closure, and the Warrens' warnings, Annabelle's case has in fact been opened.
The doll is handled only by Daniel Rivera, the senior lead investigator for NESPR, who wears gloves with crosses on them and saint medals in the fingertips.
Rivera also built a new box for the doll better suited for transportation.
'So the reason why I built the case was because the museum was closed and we wanted to keep educating the public about these items that Ed and Lorraine collected,' he told CT Insider.
Rivera said he added extra protective measures including cutting out crosses on three sides, representing the Catholic Holy Trinity, using a stain infused with holy water and holy oil as well as inscribing the Lord's Prayer and Saint Michael's prayer behind the felt in the case, the outlet reported.
The measures were taken to 'contain the evil of Annabelle in this case.'
Buell told MySanAntonio that there is 'huge interest in the paranormal' in San Antonio and that it felt like the 'perfect spot to showcase Annabelle and warn people about the dangers of the occult and paranormal.'
But not everyone is pleased to have the doll around, as one viewer commented: 'Y'all should have left her where she was, this is so not the Texas thing to do.'
Another said: 'They should've left her right where she was at the Warren museum.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Seven steps will give you the smoothest bikini line shave this summer – you're probably using the wrong razor to start
WHETHER you're soaking up the sun if your garden or planning a summer trip, it's time to whip out your bikini. And thanks to these handy steps, you can get the smoothest shave before you sunbathe. 2 If it feels impossible to shave your bikini line without causing unsightly bumps or ingrown hairs, don't fret. A former swimmer has revealed the process she swears by for "the perfect bikini shave". TikTok user Emily Guebs (@emilyguebs) shared her wisdom for a smooth finish in a video that has amassed 2.4 million views. She explained that she does not wax, laser, or sugar her bikini line but still receives compliments on the smooth finish. The first step of the process she has mastered is ensuring her bikini line is the last part of her body she shaces. According to Emily, this "gives the follicles time to soften up in the warm water". She also advised her audience to designate a specific razor for that area to "eliminate spreading infection". And as for the type of razor you should opt for, the TikToker said she was surprised by what works best. "I've been using cheap razors forever, as long as you're using one that is staying in a clean and dry environment and you're cleaning it regularly, I really don't think you have to use a super nice razor," she said. She discussed the best direction for shaving to prevent irritation, explaining that it should always be "sideways and down, not up". I swear by my RAF dad's shaving method for perfectly smooth legs - a simple substitute gives the perfect finish And the steps you take after shaving prove to be just as important in perfecting a smooth bikini line. Emily recommended rinsing the are with cold water before patting it dry with a towel. According to the TikToker, you should never rub a freshly shaved area dry. Finally, she revealed her "biggest game changer" tip, which is to spread a pea-sized amount of antiseptic cream across the area. Emily's followers shared their thoughts on the beauty advice in the comments section. "Adds antiesptic cream to beach shopping list," wrote one TikTok user. "Heavy on the don't need an expensive razor! I tried out a five blade there and gave me razor bumps," said another viewer. "This is the first time I've not heard to exfoliate the area," commented a third person. "OMG, antiseptic cream, that's f**king genius," wrote another impressed follower. "These tips are all so good and apply to shaving other areas too," pointed out one viewer. 2
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Stephen A. Smith blasted by ex-ESPN colleague in scathing attack after new $100million deal
Stephen A. Smith is arguably ESPN's biggest star, but not because he's the most prepared, according to one former colleague. Jason Fitz, a former ESPN sports radio host who was laid off in 2023 and has since joined Fox Sports, claims the polarizing media figure is actually too busy to watch games. 'Stephen A. is one of the least prepared people I've ever worked with in my entire career,' Fitz told Memphis' ESPN Radio affiliate during a recent guest spot. Smith, who recently signed a five-year, $100 million extension with ESPN, has faced criticism since being caught playing solitaire on his phone During Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis. He's since claimed he was multitasking. The controversy surrounding Smith only grew this week when the 57-year-old Bronx native claimed Memphis' notorious crime rate was preventing the NBA's Grizzlies from attracting top-level free agents. 'But there's an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don't feel it's the safest environment. I'm talking to the local authorities in Memphis,' Smith said. 'You've got to clean some of that stuff up because it's dissuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They've told me.' And it was that latest controversy that Fitz was responding to when he blasted Smith this week in Memphis. Claiming to work 80 hours a week during his time with ESPN, Fitz admitted Smith 'is busier than I ever was.' 'We see him making content 24/7,' Fitz said. 'So, I guess my question to people in Memphis is: how much Memphis do you think he's actually absorbed? And I mean all of it. Memphis culture, Memphis basketball. 'What the hell does Stephen A. know about the city of Memphis? And the answer to that is only what his friends or his people on his phone, tweet him, or text him. That's all he knows. He is so separated from actual reality. What does he know?' And Fitz didn't stop there. Smith's content, Fitz argued, is rooted in stereotypes rather than first-hand information. 'Stephen A. walks and talks and lives and eats and breathes stereotypes,' Fitz said. 'That's all he knows… Frankly, he has to talk about the city of Memphis because my guy hasn't watched a single Memphis basketball game in probably three years. 'Stephen A. has a staff and info group that feeds him information so that he can have somewhat informed opinions, and they're usually not because he works too hard to actually watch any games.' The West Tennessee city on the banks of the Mississippi has been plagued by gang activity with a whopping 398 murders in 2023 compared to less than 100 just 13 years earlier. But as Memphis mayor Paul Young said in his response to Smith, 'violent crime is down significantly in 2024 and 2025.' He went on to extend an invitation for Smith to visit Memphis, which the ESPN host accepted. 'Deeply appreciate your words and the sentiments that came with them,' Smith wrote on X this week. 'Progress is what life is all about and when it comes to Memphis -where some dear friends of mine reside − I wish for nothing less. The people deserve nothing less. 'So with that said, I accept your invitation to come to your city, as your guest. Let's make it happen. I'm looking forward to it.' As for Fitz's criticism of Smith, it's not the first time sports aficionados have questioned the First Take host's expertise. One such incident popped up in August of 2024, when the self-professed Yankees fans discussed New York's Aaron Judge and his then-teammate, Juan Soto. 'Judge has Juan Soto batting behind him so they can't get around him… they've got to pitch to the brother because you have Soto waiting in the wings,' Smith said ESPN. Smith, as countless baseball fans quickly recognized, was exactly backwards about the whole situation. It was Judge who hit behind Soto in the Yankees' lineup last season, thereby motivating pitchers to throw strikes to Soto in hopes of avoiding a walk and giving Judge the chance to drive in another run.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Britney Spears is reunited with son Jayden... but at what cost? Why insiders fear she'll be left 'crushed'
Britney Spears has been living in motherhood bliss following her reconciliation with her son Jayden Federline. But the pop star's budding relationship with her youngest child could come at his expense, insiders claim.
