Dan Rivera | Instagram

The supernatural community went bonkers when news broke that paranormal investigator Dan Rivera had suddenly died in July. There was something in particular that made it especially sensational: it happened while he was on tour with the infamous Annabelle doll for the Devils on the Run Tour.

Authorities couldn’t determine exactly what caused his death at that time. A medical examiner would have to report on that, and that’s taken a couple of months. But right away, authorities ruled out foul play, saying Rivera’s death didn’t appear suspicious.

However, as you might imagine, that didn’t stop people from saying, “Annabelle did it!”

Sadly.

Here we are in 2025, when you think we’d be more evolved as humans. Nope. People still believe superstitious nonsense that an inanimate object like a doll could kill someone.

It was, in fact, something much scarier and more prevalent: America’s leading cause of death.

Heart Disease Killed Dan Rivera

On Sep. 4, E! News obtained a statement from coroner Francis Dutrow about Dan Rivera’s cause of death: “Mr. Rivera had a known history of cardiac issues, which were consistent with the findings.”

But what was even more interesting was what else Dutrow added, specifically concerning the doll: “It is also confirmed that Annabelle was not present in the room at the time of his (Rivera’s) passing.”

Cigarettes Are Scarier Than Haunted Dolls

Those who blame the doll for his death will of course dismiss this and argue it away.

“The mere fact that he had contact with her confirms her evilness,” they might say.

Or, “Just because she wasn’t in the room with him when they found her doesn’t mean she wasn’t there before. She clearly left.”

I don’t like to intelligence-shame or health-shame anyone, but his Instagram photo above reveals all. Anyone who doesn’t see the cancer stick dangling from his mouth as more dangerous than any allegedly haunted doll could ever be is pretty damn dim.

Smoking might not result in a quick death, but it’s a killer nonetheless. It’s why doctors urge patients to ditch the unhealthy habit. It doesn’t pair well with living a long life. But it does exacerbate the chances of America’s leading killer (heart disease) getting you. And if it doesn’t, the second leading one (cancer) is lurking in the wings waiting for its chance to strike.