Annabelle doll original location
Annabelle doll at her original location and box at Ed and Lorraine's house. NESPER

Matt Rife has added a chilling new chapter to his career, not with a punchline this time around, but with a purchase. The comedian and paranormal enthusiast just announced he is now the legal guardian of the legendary Warren Occult Museum, home to over 750 haunted objects, including the infamous Annabelle doll.

The acquisition, made alongside his longtime friend and fellow paranormal fan Elton Castee, includes Ed and Lorraine Warren's Connecticut home, a central setting that inspired Hollywood's horror staples like 'The Conjuring', 'Annabelle', and 'Amityville Horror'.

Rife confirmed the purchase in a TikTok video and via his social media on August 1. Though he and Castee don't legally own the items inside, they have been appointed caretakers for the next five years. This is a responsibility that includes safeguarding the Annabelle doll and the museum's other allegedly haunted artefacts.

@matt_rife

INSANE ANNOUNCEMENT 😍🤯😈👹 I have officially purchased Ed and Lorraine Warren’s home and Occult Museum, including being the legal guardian for at least the next 5 years, of the entire haunted collection including THE ANNABELLE DOLL, with my good friend @Elton Castee !! If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted. You also may know The Conjuring films are my favorite scary movies of all time. So I’m incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history. Ed and Lorain Warren arguably put demonology and paranormal into the mainstream and are the very heart of some of the most famous haunted stories of all time, The Conjuring House, Amityville Horror, et… We plan to open the house for overnight stays and museum tours so you yourself can experience and learn all the haunted history surrounding this amazing place. #TheConjuring #Annabelle #AnnabelleDoll #haunted

♬ original sound - Matt Rife
WATCH: Rife announces guardianship over the Warren Occult Museum.

Paranormal Enthusiasm Meets Real Estate

Matt Rife, best known for his stand-up comedy and viral tour clips, is no stranger to the eerie. A self-described fan of all things supernatural, Rife has said the 'Conjuring' films are among his favourites.

'If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with the paranormal,' he stated in his video announcement.

The Warren home and museum has been shuttered since Lorraine Warren's passing in 2019. Rife and Estee will soon re-open it for public engagement. According to Just Jared, Rife confirmed plans to offer private museum tours, weekend events, and even overnight stays, making the location accessible to thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike.

Annabelle Returns Home

One item in particular is drawing major attention: the Annabelle doll. Once kept securely behind glass by the Warrens, the doll has recently been on a nationwide tour. Its return to the museum is already stirring public fascination, as well as concern.

In an interview with TMZ, Rife confirmed that Annabelle would finish its scheduled appearances before returning to the newly reopened Warren home. He assured the public that, 'Annabelle will rest safely in the museum for guests of the house to visit upon their stay.'

The doll's dark reputation only intensified after the recent and untimely death of Dan Rivera, a respected paranormal investigator and tour handler. Rivera, who was leading the 'Devils on the Run' tour with Annabelle at the time, was found dead in his hotel room last month. Though the investigation is ongoing and no foul play is suspected, the incident reignited fears around the allegedly cursed doll.

Rivera, a former mentee of Lorraine Warren, was instrumental in preserving the legacy of the museum and the haunted objects it housed. His passing has left a void in the paranormal community.

@justinthenickofcrime

Comedian Matt Rife is now the official handler and owner of the haunted Annabelle Doll. #mattrife #annabelle #doll #occult #haunted #paranormal #news

♬ Spooky, quiet, scary atmosphere piano songs - Skittlegirl Sound
WATCH: Would you stay the night in a haunted museum?

What's Next for the Museum?

As of October 2025, visitors will be able to take part in what Rife describes as a 'full paranormal investigative experience'. Guests can explore the house and museum, handle ghost-hunting equipment, and learn the history behind some of the most infamous artefacts in supernatural folklore.

Rife told TMZ that, 'This is a piece of real history... this stuff is real and should be handled with respect. We look forward to turning the house and museum into the best paranormal investigative experience in the country.'

Whether you're a seasoned ghost hunter or simply curious, the Matt Rife Warren House experience may soon be one of the most sought-after destinations in paranormal tourism.

One question remains: how will Matt Rife handle the responsibility of keeping Annabelle and her haunted counterparts under lock and key?

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