The real-life story of the Annabelle doll and the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren has captivated audiences worldwide, inspiring the popular Conjuring film universe. Unlike the porcelain depiction in the movies, the actual Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll, which gained notoriety in the 1970s. According to reports, two nursing students, Donna and Angie, received the doll as a gift and soon experienced unsettling phenomena: the doll changed positions, left eerie notes, and allegedly attacked a friend named Lou. Seeking help, they contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, who concluded that the doll was manipulated by a demonic entity aiming to possess a human host. To prevent further harm, the Warrens secured Annabelle in a glass case at their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, where she remains to this day.

Ed and Lorraine Warren were prominent figures in the field of paranormal investigation. Ed, a self-taught demonologist, and Lorraine, a clairvoyant and trance medium, founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in 1952. Over their careers, they investigated thousands of cases involving alleged hauntings and demonic possessions, including the infamous Amityville Horror and the Perron family haunting. Their work has been both lauded and criticized, but their influence on the portrayal of paranormal phenomena in media is undeniable. The Warrens’ legacy continues through NESPR, now led by their son-in-law, Tony Spera.

In recent times, Annabelle has remained a subject of intrigue. Rumors about the doll’s disappearance surfaced on social media, causing widespread speculation. However, these claims were promptly debunked by NESPR, which confirmed that Annabelle remains securely housed in her glass case at the Warrens’ Occult Museum. Despite the museum being closed to the public, Annabelle occasionally features in special exhibitions, continuing to captivate and terrify audiences worldwide.