Latest news with #Occult
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Shock twist in Annabelle doll handler's sudden death after wild conspiracy blamed US's most infamous ‘haunted' object
A SHOCK twist has been revealed after the sudden death of a paranormal investigator while touring with a 'demonically possessed' doll. Creepy Annabelle has spooked believers for decades - despite the doll being encased in a glass box to 'contain the evil.' 5 Annabelle, the spooky Raggedy Ann doll, pictured sitting in a case inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Dan Rivera, 54, died of unknown causes on July 13 while handling the doll known as America's most haunted object Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr The US Army veteran was the lead paranormal investigator of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), which announced his 'sudden' death. Rivera had been showing the supposedly haunted doll - which inspired film franchise The Conjuring - across multiple states. At the time of his death he had been visiting Gettysburg, where he was leading the Devils on the Run Tour alongside NESPR colleagues. READ MORE US NEWS A Pennsylvania coroner has now confirmed to Francis Dutrow, the Adams County coroner, told the magazine that he didn't notice Dutrow also further confirmed that the doll had not been in Rivera's hotel room at all. The coroner told People that hours before he died, Rivera had been with NESPR colleagues. Most read in The US Sun However, he told them he was returning to his hotel room, as he was feeling sick. The Pennsylvania State Police said on July 16: 'Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. 'Annabelle doll' handler Dan Rivera dies suddenly at 54 while touring with America's most infamous 'haunted' object_4 "The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers. 'Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene." Rivera's cause of death has not as yet been revealed. His autopsy results are expected before the end of September. The The chilling tale of "demonic The original doll, which was locked up inside Ed and Lorraine Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, was claimed to have unleashed a reign of terror on a group of flatmates in a chain of events that ended in a man's death Annabelle's chilling story began in 1970 when a mum bought the doll from a hobby shop for her daughter, student nurse Donna, as a birthday gift. Donna took the doll back to the flat she shared with her friend Angie and soon began to notice small hand movements, which they explained away. The doll was then claimed to have begun to move around the flat, appearing outside Angie's room after being placed on Donna's bed. Then things took an even more sinister twist. The girls' close friend, Lou, became very nervous around the doll, believing it to be possessed, but the girls dismissed his fears. Then notes written on parchment paper, reading "Help us" and "Help Lou" in a child's handwriting, began to appear around the flat. The girls finally called in a medium, after Donna came home from work to find the doll had 'blood' on her hands. Annabelle was on her usual spot on the bed but red liquid was seeping from her hands. After holding a séance the medium claimed the apartment was built on the site of a field, where a dead seven-year-old girl called Annabelle Higgins had been found many years before. When the doll was brought to the apartment Annabelle's spirit was apparently in the area and she became fond of the doll, opting to possess it. Donna later called in an Episcopal priest named Father Hegan, who suggested they contact occult experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The couple told the girls the doll was allegedly being manipulated by an "inhuman demonic spirit." Inanimate objects aren't possessed, they said, but spirits can become "attached." The apartment was 'cleansed' by Ed, using a special Episcopal blessing, and the couple took the doll away and housed it in their museum. A few hours after the priest left their museum, he rang the Warrens, claiming his brakes had failed as he turned on to a busy road. He'd been in an accident, his car was written off and he was lucky to have survived. Ed claimed the doll willed his car's brakes and steering to fail, before he stopped it by throwing holy water on it. Worried, the Warrens moved the rag doll in to a glass box at their museum, secured with a special set of prayers. Lorraine Warren later warned visitors against mocking Annabelle. But one man visiting the museum began bashing on her case, calling on her to scratch him if she was real. Ed threw him out, but later heard a chilling tale from his girlfriend. Lorraine recalled: "[The girlfriend] told us that they were both laughing and joking about the doll when the young man lost control of the bike and crashed head-on into a tree.' He was killed instantly and his girlfriend was in hospital for a year. In a lecture given at Rutgers University in 1987, the Warrens claimed that Annabelle could "slash" people's skin with her psychic powers. Ed Warren died in 2006, and Lorraine passed away in 2019, aged 92. The museum closed following her death. The couple's decades of ghost-hunting cases inspired such frightening films as The Conjuring series and The Amityville Horror. Annabelle also has movies in her own name, including Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), and Annabelle Comes Home (2019). HAUNTINGS The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in Monroe in 1952 to probe suspected hauntings. They investigated more than 10,000 cases in the U.S. and abroad, often writing about their experiences. One such case was that involving the rag doll, with huge black eyes. Lorraine Warren said: "It's not what the doll looks like that makes it scary. It is what has been infused within the doll. Evil." A student nurse who received the 5 A recreation of the doll was made for the movies Credit: Getty His in-laws pronounced the doll as being allegedly "demonically possessed." To protect people, they encased it in a glass box to contain the "evil spirited entity," according to the website. A chilling alert displayed on its case says: "Warning: Positively Do Not Open." US TOUR WARNING Rivera, who was mentored by the couple, took ownership of Annabelle after Lorraine's death in 2019, and hoped to continue their work with his research and tour. His sudden death came after the Warren family had to quash conspiracy theory-style claims that the doll had disappeared. Months before the US tour, Rivera had posted on Facebook about embarking on a 'thrilling and terrifying adventure showcasing the most diabolical items from the infamous Warren's Occult Museum.' Spookily, a woman warned him eight weeks ago: 'I don't understand why you guys would put yourself in danger like this, you really should put that doll back. "And Lorraine Warren said it wasn't supposed to be touched or removed under no circumstances.' 5 Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera on his "haunted" Annabelle doll tour Credit: Instagram/dan_rivera_nespr But another wrote: 'So much superstitious nonsense. Grow up people.' Others said it was a mere 'coincidence' and that 'he didn't die because of a doll.' One woman admonished believers by writing: 'Seriously?! Do you think people are gullible or what?! "I'm sorry this man passed away, but come one, you guys are being silly here.' Dan Rivera's family statement "We as a family are in pieces as we share the news that Dan Rivera has passed away unexpectedly," Sarah Bond Rivera said. "He was the center of this family and a pillar of love and strength. "As a devoted husband, father of four sons, and a staunchly faithful friend, he always had a quiet source of resilience, strength and endless hope. "Daniel carried a light and a brave heart everyday through his life and his work. "We are currently at a loss for words as we process his loss but are extremely thankful for the love, support and respect during this unimaginable time." Source: However, one man claimed: 'When Annabelle got to Gettysburg, we went into a huge blackout for 911! "Everyone's phones were going crazy with the notification for 911 being out, and it's just odd that soon as Annabelle got to Gettysburg that happened, then he dies suddenly.' Another agreed, saying: 'On the day the tour started in Gettysburg, PA had a statewide 911 outage. That thing is evil.' One believer added: 'Most haunted doll on earth. "It was warned 'never to remove' the doll [from] where it was stored, and this guy not only moved the doll but took it on a US tour.' Another added: 'The Warrens kept Annabelle locked up for a reason.' 5 The late Lorraine Warren with Annabel, who she refused to look at inside The Warren's Occult Museum Credit: The Warren's Occult Museum
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Couple planned Morocco trip 'to sacrifice their five-year-old son in desert'
Two music teachers from the town of Carcans in Bordeaux, France, were en route to the Sahara Desert - where the father allegedly planned to perform an occult initiation rite A couple have been arrested after allegedly planning to sacrifice their five-year-old son in the Moroccan desert. The suspects, both music teachers from the town of Zarcans near Bordeaux in France, were seized trying to board a ferry to Tangiers from southern Spain back in December 2023. In the weeks before they were arrested, they'd sublet their apartment and left France, driving a new four-wheel drive across the border into Spain. The alarm was raised after prosecutors in Bordeaux received concerns from relatives, who told them the father relayed he wanted to "sacrifice" the child in the Sahara Desert because he was "possessed". The mother and father, Marie and Florian L, whose last names have been withheld in accordance with French law, have both denied having plans to hurt their child. Defending Florian, lawyer Audrey Boussillon said: "Never did he have the intention to harm his son in any way". The defence team said they have denied the charges laid against them, which include being part of a criminal gang and failing in their parental duties. The mother's lawyer Aurelie Filippi-Codaccioni said the couple had wanted to return to Morocco for an "indefinite period" after enjoying a trip there two years prior. "They had been there two years before and had loved it, hence the long-standing plan to return," the lawyer said. The child's interests are being represented by Merlene Labadie - who claims the "mystical remarks" and the couple's "inexplicable behaviour" had put their son's life at risk. The child relayed that he had been "cold, scared" and spoke of "removing the snake within us". According to Spain's Civil Guard, the parents were suffering from psychiatric issues at the time, with the dad found naked in the woods of a nearby town two months before the arrests, which lead to his committal to a psychiatric facility for two weeks, French daily Le Monde reports. The mother's sister said he was experiencing "health problems", but claimed media reports were "exaggerated". "While it is undeniable that he needs help, they make my sister and him out to be premeditated child murderers," she said. The boy is now being cared for by his mother's parents, who have "done a lot of work to deconstruct these ideas, so that he is no longer afraid of the outside world", the sister said. Prosecutors in Bordeaux were told about the alleged sacrifice comment on December 19, 2023 - two days before their arrest. The father was said to be planning to visit the Maghreb to perform an occult initiation rite. The Sahara Desert holds religious significance in some Occult traditions.
Japan Forward
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
Popular Manga Dandadan Takes Over Ikebukuro with First Art Exhibition
Fans of Yukinobu Tatsu's genre-bending manga Dandadan have something special to celebrate this summer. From June 20 to July 6, the very first Dandadan original art exhibition, titled Dandadan Gengaten , is being held at Sunshine City Exhibition Hall A in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. With the anime's second season set to premiere on July 3, this exhibition is a perfect opportunity to dive deep into the occult-infused world of Dandadan and experience the story's pulse-pounding intensity and emotional depth in person. Structured across six immersive zones, Dandadan Gengaten is a full-fledged journey through the wild, the weird, and the wonderful universe Tatsu has created. Visitors are first greeted with a high-energy opening movie, bringing key moments from the manga to life on screen with rapid pacing and an electrifying soundtrack. This sets the tone for what's to come: a sensory, full-body plunge into the chaos and charm of Dandadan . Character Introduction chapter (courtesy of Dandadan Gengaten Public Relations Office) The first chapter, Character Introduction, introduces the manga's unforgettable cast through a gallery of iconic scenes and life-size visuals. From high schooler and spirit-sensitive heroine Momo to her classmate and UFO-believer Okarun, and quirky supporting characters like Seiko, Aira, and Jiji, this section celebrates the eclectic personalities that drive the story. Notably, Seiko's iconic metal bat Nessie also makes an appearance. Next, Occult dives into the bizarre supernatural creatures that populate the Dandadan universe. Here you'll find display panels and descriptions of everything from the infamous Turbo Granny to the eerie Reiko Kashima, complete with a UFO abduction panel and a glass-encased replica of Evil Eye's notorious briefs. The third chapter, Making of Dandadan, offers a rare peek into Tatsu's creative process. Original manuscripts from the first three chapters are on display, accompanied by production notes and early sketches. Visitors can also enjoy illustrations from the manga's first popularity poll, each with handwritten commentary from Tatsu himself. Occultic Battle, the fourth chapter, is a feast for action lovers. Walls are lined with dynamic two-page battle spreads, while raw manuscripts of Momo and Okarun's fiercest fights highlight the intensity and visual ingenuity of the series. This area is a no-photo zone, meaning fans must see the high-impact pages with their own eyes. A pair of life-sized statues of the main characters makes for a dramatic centerpiece. Panel from the Love Comedy chapter (courtesy of Dandadan Gengaten Public Relations Office) The fifth chapter, Love Comedy, highlights Dandadan 's often-overlooked romantic heart. This section is filled with heartwarming, sometimes hilarious moments of young love, with a mini-theater screening the bonus story featuring Turbo Granny and Seiko from the manga volumes' end pages. Finally, Emotion brings it all home. Key scenes are chosen to showcase the emotional resonance of Dandadan . For example, Acrobatic Silky's soul passing on after being embraced by Aira, and the tearful farewell between Bamora and Banga. These panels remind us that beneath all the ghosts, aliens, and absurdity, Dandadan is ultimately a story about connection, courage, and growing up. Dandadan Gengaten also goes beyond the manga pages with interactive photo spots, exclusive merchandise, and immersive audio-visual experiences. Specially designed merchandise includes t-shirts printed with famous quotes, stylish acrylic dioramas, and multi-use pouches that blend design and function. These items are ideal for fans who want to take a piece of Dandadan into their daily lives. Detailed explanations of characters, episodes, and settings ensure even first-time visitors can enjoy the world on display. Dandadan Gengaten exclusive merchandise (courtesy of Dandadan Gengaten Public Relations Office) Following the Tokyo run, Dandadan Gengaten will travel to Hiroshima (October 2025), Fukuoka (December 2025), and Osaka (February 2026). Tickets are available online and at the venue, with options ranging from general admission (¥2,000 JPY/$13 USD at the door) to special ticket bundles that include exclusive merchandise. Whether you're a diehard fan or new to the world of Momo and Okarun, Dandadan Gengaten offers a thrilling, funny, and deeply heartfelt experience that captures the full spectrum of Yukinobu Tatsu's breakout hit. Dates: June 20 – July 6, 2025 Venue: Sunshine City Exhibition Hall A, Ikebukuro, Tokyo Hours: 10:00–19:00 (last entry 18:30) Tickets: General (¥2,000/$13), Child (¥1,500/$10), Special Ticket w/gift (¥4,000/$26) Author: Daniel Manning
