On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Rivera, 54, a veteran of the U.S. Army and NESPR’s lead investigator, died suddenly while on a visit to Gettysburg. In a public statement issued Monday night, the society confirmed the news.
Rivera played a key role in the well-known “Devils on the Run Tour,” which traveled the nation visiting haunted and historic sites with the notorious doll Annabelle. Using websites like TikTok to record the trip and interact with millions of interested viewers, he had established himself as a familiar face of the tour.
In response to a call regarding CPR being administered to a man who fit Rivera’s description, emergency personnel were sent to a hotel in Gettysburg just after 8 p.m. on Sunday night, according to dispatch recordings from Adams County that have been preserved.
Cause of death
Although Rivera’s official cause of death is still unknown as of Tuesday pending the results of the autopsy, which could take several months to determine, Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow confirmed that a death investigation is underway. Authorities also stated that Rivera was discovered by himself in his hotel room and that there are no signs of foul play.
As part of routine procedure for unexpected or unexplained deaths in the county, especially when the person is not receiving active medical care, the Pennsylvania State Police and the coroner’s office arrived on the scene.
Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours hosted the Gettysburg event at the historic Soldiers National Orphanage, and it sold out. Over 1,260 tickets were sold during the three-day weekend, which ended Sunday afternoon, according to the organizers.
Rivera was instrumental in making the tour well-known throughout the world. As public attention and discussion centered on Annabelle’s eerie legacy, his joint work with fellow paranormal investigator Ryan Daniel Buell went viral, igniting both fascination and controversy.
Tributes from all over the paranormal community flooded in after Monday’s announcement.
Rivera was regarded as a loving husband, father, and friend whose passion and generosity touched many, in addition to his commitment to exploring the unknown.
