Dan Rivera, a paranormal investigator known for his work with the haunted Annabelle doll, was found dead in his hotel room shortly after a performance. The cause of death is unclear, but police reported no suspicious circumstances.

But the most prominent and subtle antagonist of the series is the Annabelle doll that is a vessel to a demonic entity. The toy is based on a real one from the case files of the real Ed and Lorraine Warren,