North Dakota native responds to rumors surrounding paranormal investigator’s death

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A North Dakota native is speaking out on the death of her friend and paranormal investigator, Dan Rivera.

Rivera, 54, was the lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research. He passed away suddenly while on tour with the famous, ‘haunted,’ Annabelle doll.

As news of his passing circulates around the country, friends of the ghost hunter are shutting down rumors that the doll had anything to do with it.

Linda Johnson, originally from Chaffee, North Dakota, moved out east following high school, where she met Rivera at a Warrenology event.

He was apart of the paranormal investigative team of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were world-famous demonologists. They explored some of the most famous alleged haunts in history, whose cases are portrayed in hit movies like The Conjuring and The Amityville Horror franchises.

Johnson says after the Warrenology event, her and Rivera became good friends.

She says, “He was such a nice guy with a beautiful family… he was just a really good, genuine person, he was also an army veteran.”

Linda explains she found out about his death through social media, and is still in shock.

“I just talked to him maybe two or three nights before he died. It’s just surreal,” she adds.

State Police released Rivera died from natural causes and nothing unusual or suspicious was noted, but those on social media continue to link his death with the doll and rumors that it’s cursed.

Friends, like Linda, are quickly shutting those rumors down, and remind people they’re in the grieving process of a great man.

“Everyone on social media is so fascinated with the Annabelle doll of course, but I just think Dan would want to be remembered as a family man and a really good person,” Johnson says. “I already miss my friend.”

News outlets have reported the haunted Annabelle tour will continue, following Rivera’s death.

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