It’s not every day a rising comedy star dives headfirst into the world of the supernatural—but that’s exactly what Matt Rife just did.
In a move that’s left fans stunned and ghost hunters concerned, the comedian has taken ownership of one of the most notoriously haunted artifacts in the world: the Annabelle doll.
And this isn’t just about having a creepy collectible.
Rife now owns the entire former home and Occult Museum of famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in Monroe, Connecticut.
Yes, those Warrens—the couple behind the real-life cases that inspired The Conjuring films.
The Haunted Doll With a Terrifying Backstory
Annabelle isn’t your average porcelain doll.
In fact, she’s not porcelain at all—she’s a Raggedy Ann doll with a dark history that dates back to the 1970s.
According to legend, she was gifted to a nurse in Hartford, Connecticut, and soon began displaying disturbing, unexplained behavior.
The Warrens, after being called in to investigate, determined that the doll was possessed—not by a harmless ghost, but by something “inhuman.”
To keep her evil influence in check, they sealed her inside a protective glass case in their museum and made one thing clear: she should never be moved or handled.
Rife’s Bold Plan Sparks Supernatural Warnings
That warning didn’t stop Matt Rife.
After Annabelle made the rounds during the “Devils on the Run” tour, Rife revealed plans to reopen the Warrens’ house for overnight stays and museum visits.
His goal? Let the public get up close and personal with the infamous doll.
But not everyone thinks that’s such a good idea.
Psychic Medium Raises the Alarm
Celebrity psychic Matt Fraser—best known for When Heaven Calls and Meet The Frasers—is one of the loudest voices warning Rife to tread carefully.
He told Daily Mail that displaying Annabelle and inviting people to engage with her could stir up something very dark.
“Every time someone talks about her, takes a picture, or interacts with her, it energizes the spirit attached to that doll,” Fraser said.
“It’s not just creepy. It’s dangerous.”
According to Fraser, dolls don’t become possessed by accident. Spirits—especially malevolent ones—need to be invited in, often through black magic or dark rituals.
Warning of Tragedy and Past Incidents
Fraser believes that reopening the museum to crowds could lead to serious consequences.
He warns that spirits who haven’t crossed over feed off human attention—and the more they get, the stronger and more aggressive they become.
“Think of it like dealing with a bully,” he explained. “You fight back, but it just drains you while they grow stronger.
That’s how dark energy works—it feeds on your peace of mind and spiritual strength.”
Fraser also pointed out that Ed and Lorraine Warren always made it clear: Annabelle should never be treated as entertainment.
A History of Hauntings and Mysterious Deaths
The concerns aren’t unfounded. Paranormal circles were rocked recently when veteran ghost hunter Dan Rivera died suddenly at age 54 while touring with the Annabelle doll.
Although authorities declared it a death by natural causes, rumors quickly spread that the doll had something to do with it.
And this isn’t the first time tragedy has followed those who mocked or mishandled Annabelle.
The Warrens claimed that a priest once made light of the doll and jokingly tossed her aside.
Later that same day, he reportedly experienced near-fatal brake failure while driving and barely escaped a serious crash.
In another chilling story, a museum visitor is said to have banged on Annabelle’s glass case and taunted her.
According to Lorraine Warren’s son-in-law Tony Spera, the man died in a motorcycle crash shortly after leaving the museum.
How the Annabelle Legend First Took Hold
The origin of Annabelle’s haunting was chronicled in Gerald Brittle’s book The Demonologist.
It all began in 1970 when two young nurses reached out to the Warrens.
They were convinced that the doll was possessed by the ghost of a girl named Annabelle, who supposedly died on their property.
But Ed Warren insisted they were deceived. There was no little girl, he said.
What had attached itself to the doll was something demonic.
After an exorcism, the Warrens took the doll home—but even the drive back was reportedly dangerous, with their car experiencing brake failure until they doused Annabelle with holy water.
Hollywood’s Role in Fueling the Myth
While Annabelle’s tale was always a hot topic in paranormal circles, it wasn’t until the release of The Conjuring in 2013—and the spinoff films like Annabelle—that her story exploded in the mainstream.
Fans became obsessed. Rumors even swirled recently that Annabelle had vanished from her display case, sparking online panic.
That theory was quickly debunked—she was still there—but it shows just how charged the legend remains.
Even Paranormal Pros Aren’t Immune
Even Zak Bagans, host of Ghost Adventures, claimed he suffered severe spiritual backlash after encountering Annabelle in 2017.
“It was a demonic infestation,” Bagans recalled. “I ended up in the hospital the very next day.”
And that’s coming from someone who lives for ghost hunts.
Rife’s Next Move Could Shape the Doll’s Legacy
Matt Rife’s decision to own and display Annabelle may blur the line between showbiz and the supernatural.
Whether he’s doing it for thrills, for fame, or out of genuine fascination, one thing’s certain: he’s now responsible for one of the most feared objects in paranormal history.
Fraser and others hope he’ll reconsider putting the doll on display.
Because in their eyes, this isn’t a quirky piece of haunted memorabilia—it’s a spiritual powder keg just waiting to explode.
