Dan Rivera, a leading voice in the paranormal community and longtime investigator with the New England Society for Psychic Research, died unexpectedly while touring with the infamous Annabelle doll. He was 54.
The death occurred on Sunday, July 13, during a stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Rivera was appearing for the sold-out Devils on the Run tour. The event was hosted at the historic Soldiers National Orphanage and drew more than 1,200 attendees over the weekend.
Rivera had become one of the tour’s most recognizable faces, drawing large online followings through viral videos with fellow investigator Ryan Daniel Buell.
The New England Society for Psychic Research confirmed his passing in a Facebook post on July 14, calling Rivera a true believer in educating others through personal experience. “We are heartbroken and still processing this loss,” the group wrote. “His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.”
The exact cause of death has not been released. Local dispatch records show that emergency responders were called to a hotel Sunday evening for a report of CPR in progress on a man matching Rivera’s age. A coroner’s investigation is still pending.
Dan is survived by his wife, Sarah Bond Rivera, and their children. His death follows the earlier passing of his mother. His father, however, is still alive, according to the family.
Up next is more on his relationship with longtime partner Sarah, and a closer look at his personal background and legacy.
How Long Were Dan and His Wife, Sarah, Married?
Dan and Sarah tied the knot on September 19, 2016, after several years together. They had gone public in the mid-2010s and got engaged in January 2015.
They were married in a Catholic Church ceremony—something Sarah once highlighted in a Facebook post from November 2021. In the post, she expressed how meaningful it was to share that moment of faith with her husband, also mentioning his conversion to Catholicism. “I’m so happy we were able to marry in the Catholic Church,” she wrote. “Love, family and faith are a strong foundation in life.”
Throughout their marriage, she often shared pieces of their life online—photos, memories, and quiet everyday moments.
After her husband’s death, Sarah poured her heart out in a heartbreaking Facebook tribute. “I’ve loved you from the moment we met. Your eyes, that smile….. it was all so written in the stars,” she wrote. “ You are the love of my life and will be forever. Until we meet again my love; may you be surrounded by God’s eternal love and gilded light.”
Their Kids
The couple had a son together named Michael, known as Mikey. He was born in September 2017.
For his second birthday, Sarah shared a series of sweet photos on social media in 2019 and wrote, “Happy 2nd birthday to my beautiful son Michael. Your smile and unconditional love makes my heart soar everyday. I love you to the moon, stars and back again a million times little one. Stay happy always.”
Dan was also a father to an older son, David Rivera, from a previous relationship. Sarah has referred to David as her stepson on her social media.
David lists himself as an entrepreneur on Facebook and works at Aloha Kia Leeward, a car dealership.
Who Is Sarah Bond Rivera?
She has worked as an accountant at Kent C. Wahlberg CPA LLC since 2002.
Bond’s originally from Fairfield, Connecticut, where she attended Fairfield High School before going on to study Accounting and English at Eastern Connecticut State University.
More on His Family
In addition to his better half and children, Dan is also survived by his two sisters, Cindy and Milly Rivera. The three siblings were close in age, with only a year between each of them.
Cindy works as a licensed practical nurse and is currently with the State of Connecticut’s Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dan Rivera’s Legacy
Rivera spent more than a decade investigating the paranormal, and his interest began early. He grew up in a house in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where strange events were often linked to Santeria practices in his family. That early exposure pushed him deeper into the unknown, long before it became his profession.
He later served in the U.S. Army, but it was the world of spirits and haunted objects that kept calling him back.
Rivera eventually formed his own investigative team, and over time, his work caught the attention of Lorraine Warren and Tony Spera—an encounter that would shape the next chapter of his life.
Lorraine brought him in, and Dan later became the senior lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research, trusted with handling some of the most dangerous items inside the Warrens’ occult museum.
Beyond the investigations, Dan also became a familiar face in the media. He served as a consulting producer on Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted and appeared on Most Haunted Places on the Travel Channel, helping bring real paranormal work to a wider audience.
