The chilling legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s haunted home and Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, has a new guardian—comedian Matt Rife—but paranormal experts are sounding the alarm that his plans to open the site to the public could stir malevolent forces, a concern that echoes the real-world dangers that can arise from online notoriety, as seen in the tragic Las Vegas shooting tied to a social media feud. Rife, alongside YouTuber and ghost hunter Elton Castee, announced on August 1, 2025, that they purchased the infamous property, becoming caretakers of 750 haunted artifacts, including the notorious Annabelle doll. While Rife’s enthusiasm for the paranormal is clear, experts fear that inviting thrill-seekers into this hotbed of supernatural activity could have dire consequences.
Matt Rife, a 29-year-old comedian known for his Netflix specials Lucid and Natural Selection, shared the news on TikTok and Instagram, calling the acquisition “the most random hobby ever, but it’s so f—ing cool.”
He and Castee are now legal guardians of the Warren Occult Museum’s collection for at least five years, though they do not own the artifacts outright, as confirmed by Tony Spera, the Warrens’ son-in-law and co-director of the New England Society for Psychic Research. The purchase price remains undisclosed, but Rife’s passion for horror—especially The Conjuring films, inspired by the Warrens’ investigations—drove the decision. The duo plans to reopen the museum, closed since 2019 due to zoning disputes, for public tours and overnight stays, allowing fans to explore the haunted history firsthand.
Paranormal investigators are raising red flags about Rife’s plans, warning that the artifacts, particularly the Annabelle doll, are not mere curiosities but objects tied to dangerous supernatural entities. The Warrens, renowned for their work on cases like the Amityville Horror and the Enfield Poltergeist, treated these items with extreme caution, often using religious rituals to contain their energy. Experts fear that untrained visitors could provoke these forces, potentially leading to spiritual or physical harm.
One fan’s comment on Rife’s post captures the sentiment: “DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!!”
The recent death of Dan Rivera, a seasoned paranormal investigator and Annabelle’s tour guide, has heightened these concerns. Rivera, 54, died unexpectedly in July 2025 in a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, hotel room while on tour with the doll. Although the coroner ruled his death natural and confirmed the doll was not present, online speculation linked the incident to Annabelle’s curse, amplifying fears about the risks of public access, a phenomenon not unlike how MrBeast’s ex-girlfriend recently highlighted the power of social media trending pages.
The Annabelle doll, a Raggedy Ann figure housed in a sealed glass case, is the museum’s most infamous artifact and the centerpiece of its chilling lore. In the early 1970s, a mother bought the doll for her college-aged daughter, Donna, who lived with her roommate Angie. Soon, the roommates noticed eerie occurrences: the doll moved around their apartment, left handwritten notes saying “Help Us” in childlike scrawl, and even attempted to choke Angie’s fiancé, Lou, during a nap.
A medium initially suggested the doll was possessed by a young girl named Annabelle Higgins, but the Warrens, after investigating, declared it demonically possessed. They removed the doll, placing it in a blessed case with a warning: “Do Not Touch.” This story inspired the Annabelle films and remains a cornerstone of the Warrens’ legacy.
Other incidents tied to Annabelle include Rivera’s unsettling experience in 2022, when he suffered uncontrollable leg shaking and cold sweats after handling the doll, despite taking precautions like confession and priestly blessings. Similarly, paranormal investigator Zak Bagans reported being deeply affected by the doll during a 2017 visit, leading him to touch it against the caretaker’s wishes.
These events underscore why experts are anxious about Rife’s plans to make the museum a tourist attraction. The Warren Occult Museum, established in 1952, has a history of unsettling incidents beyond Annabelle.
The collection includes artifacts from over 3,000 investigations, each believed to carry supernatural energy. The museum’s closure in 2019 stemmed from zoning disputes in its residential neighborhood, where fans’ trespassing and disturbances frustrated neighbors. Tony Spera noted that private tours often attracted unwanted attention, hinting at the challenges Rife and Castee may face in reopening the site.
Previous caretakers, including the Warrens, reported objects moving inexplicably and visitors experiencing physical or emotional distress, reinforcing the artifacts’ reputed power. Opening the Warren home for overnight stays and tours taps into the growing trend of paranormal tourism, seen at sites like the Conjuring House in Rhode Island. However, experts warn that without proper spiritual safeguards, visitors could be vulnerable to the artifacts’ influence.
The Warrens’ meticulous approach—using blessings and containment rituals—contrasts with Rife’s lighthearted tone, as he jokingly suggested collecting stamps might be “safer.” Castee, a seasoned ghost hunter, brings some expertise, commenting,
“We’re gonna make this the best paranormal investigation location on the planet,”
But the duo has not addressed how they’ll handle zoning issues or ensure visitor safety.
Rife’s purchase places him at the heart of the Warrens’ storied legacy, which includes investigations that inspired The Conjuring franchise, with The Conjuring: Last Rites set for release on September 5, 2025. His move from comedy to paranormal ventures, following a 2023 controversy over a domestic violence joke, marks a surprising pivot for the Forbes “Top Creators 2025” star.
Fans are both thrilled and cautious, with social media buzzing with reactions like “This wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card” and warnings to “be extra cautious with the home.” As Rife and Castee prepare to open this eerie estate, the world watches to see if their venture will thrill paranormal enthusiasts or awaken forces better left undisturbed.
