The Annabelle Doll: 5 Shocking New Updates On The Real Haunted Artifact And Its Comedian Owner In 2025

The true story of the real Annabelle doll is far more unsettling and dramatically different than the porcelain figure seen in the blockbuster *Conjuring* universe films. For decades, the notorious haunted artifact, a seemingly innocent Raggedy Ann doll, has been safely secured behind a protective glass case at the Warrens' Occult Museum, a chilling testament to one of the most famous cases investigated by legendary paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren. As of December 2025, the doll remains a source of intense fascination, especially following recent, highly publicized changes in its guardianship and location.

The latest and most significant update concerning the world's most famous haunted doll is the shocking news of its new ownership. The doll, along with hundreds of other cursed artifacts, is now under the legal guardianship of stand-up comedian Matt Rife and YouTuber Elton Castee, who purchased the iconic Warrens' Occult Museum in a deal that made headlines across the globe. This transition marks a new, unpredictable chapter in the doll's terrifying legacy, raising questions about its future accessibility and the continuation of the Warrens' protective protocols.

The Real Annabelle Doll: Artifact Profile & Biography

Unlike the sinister, porcelain-faced doll depicted in the *Annabelle* movie franchise, the genuine article is a large, cheerful-looking Raggedy Ann doll. Its documented history begins in 1970 and involves a series of escalating, malevolent phenomena that convinced its original owners and the Warrens that it was not a simple haunting, but a dangerous, demonic infestation.

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• Artifact Name: Annabelle Doll
• Type of Doll: Raggedy Ann Doll (Original Version)
• Original Year of Acquisition: 1970
• Original Owner: Donna, a student nurse, received it as a birthday gift from her mother.
• Roommate/Witnesses: Angie (roommate) and Lou (a friend).
• Claimed Entity: A "human spirit" of a deceased girl named Annabelle Higgins, later identified by the Warrens as a malevolent demonic entity.
• Current Location: Warrens' Occult Museum (now under new ownership), Monroe, Connecticut.
• Current Legal Guardian: Comedian Matt Rife (and Elton Castee).
• Protection: Secured in a wooden and glass enclosure with a Catholic prayer, a cross, and a sign warning visitors not to touch or taunt the artifact.

The True Story: From Raggedy Ann to Demonic Entity

The true story of the Annabelle doll is a classic case study in paranormal investigation, which later served as the foundation for the entire *Conjuring* cinematic universe. The doll's initial movements were subtle, beginning shortly after Donna received it.

The Disturbing Incidents of 1970

The doll's behavior quickly escalated from harmless curiosity to genuine terror. Donna and Angie initially noticed the doll changing positions on its own, such as moving from the couch to a chair. Soon after, the doll began to leave handwritten notes on parchment paper, which read "Help Us" or "Miss Me," despite the apartment having no parchment paper.

Believing the doll was possessed by a lost, innocent spirit, Donna and Angie consulted a medium, who informed them that the spirit of a seven-year-old girl named Annabelle Higgins, who had died on the property, was attached to the doll. The nurses, feeling compassion, gave the spirit permission to inhabit the doll. This act, according to the Warrens, was a critical mistake.

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The Physical Attack and Demonic Revelation

The presence turned violent when it began to target Lou, a friend of Donna and Angie, who had always been suspicious of the doll. Lou was physically attacked twice. In the first instance, he woke up from a nightmare to find the doll sitting on his chest, choking him until he blacked out. The second, more terrifying incident occurred when he was investigating a noise in the apartment. He felt a presence behind him and was violently slashed across the chest, leaving seven distinct, deep claw marks that faded within 48 hours.

It was at this point that Donna and Angie contacted the Catholic Church, who in turn called upon Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators. The Warrens immediately recognized that the entity was not the spirit of a young girl, but a non-human, malevolent demonic entity that had deceived the nurses by feigning a child's spirit to gain permission to enter their lives.

Ed Warren, a self-taught demonologist, concluded that the doll was not possessed, but rather a conduit or a focus point for the demonic entity. They removed the doll and had a priest perform an exorcism on the apartment. Ed Warren reportedly had several close calls transporting the doll, including near-fatal car accidents, which he attributed to the entity's influence.

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The Shocking 2025 Update: Comedian Matt Rife's Guardianship

The biggest news to break in the Annabelle doll's long history occurred recently with the sale of the Warrens' Occult Museum. In a move that surprised the paranormal community, the museum, which had been closed to the public since 2019, was purchased by comedian Matt Rife in late 2024 (publicized in 2025).

A New Chapter for the Haunted Artifacts

Rife, a popular figure in stand-up comedy, confirmed that he and his partner, YouTuber Elton Castee, are now the legal guardians of the Annabelle doll, along with over 700 other cursed and haunted artifacts housed within the collection. This acquisition means that the protective measures put in place by the Warrens—most notably the sealed glass case with the prayer of protection—are now the responsibility of the new owners.

The comedian has expressed plans to reopen the museum for tours and possibly even overnight stays, a controversial prospect given the danger the Warrens always associated with the artifacts, especially Annabelle. This decision has sparked debate among paranormal enthusiasts about the safety and respect for the powerful entities reportedly contained within the museum's walls.

The "Missing" Rumors and Public Appearances

Despite the doll being secured in its new owner's museum, rumors of the Annabelle doll going "missing" or "escaping" circulated widely online in May 2025, a recurring piece of internet hysteria that has been definitively debunked. However, there are verified reports and advertisements indicating the doll has been on a "Devil's on The Run Tour" in 2025, with scheduled public appearances at events like the Psychic & Spirit Fest 2025 in San Antonio and an October 2025 stop in Rock Island, Illinois.

These appearances confirm that the doll is, in fact, being moved and displayed, a practice that the late Lorraine Warren had strictly limited. The Warrens believed that the doll's power, while contained, could still affect those who taunted it or interacted with its energy. The fact that the doll is now touring under new management suggests a significant shift in the handling of this dangerous artifact, making 2025 one of the most active and controversial years in Annabelle's history.

The Annabelle Doll’s Legacy and Protection

The real Annabelle doll remains a powerful symbol of the Warrens' work and a dark reminder of the reality of demonic infestation. The doll is not kept in its enclosure simply to prevent it from moving, but to prevent the demonic entity from transferring its power to a new host or manipulating the environment outside the case.

The protective glass case is not merely a display unit; it is a spiritual containment vessel. Ed Warren had a Catholic priest regularly bless the doll and the case, reinforcing the spiritual barrier. The sign on the case, which famously warns "POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN," serves as a crucial reminder of the potential danger.

With Matt Rife and Elton Castee now at the helm, the world watches to see if the new guardians will maintain the strict, reverent protocols established by the Warrens or if their plans for public access will inadvertently unleash the malevolent force that has been safely contained for over five decades. For now, the Raggedy Ann doll, the true Annabelle, sits quietly in her box, a chilling piece of history waiting for her next move.