Annabelle: First Encounter

Annabelle has long been an iconic symbol of the haunted. Now, as the doll embarks on a rare tour across the country, paranormal experts are coming forward to share their own chilling, first-hand accounts of encountering the infamous ‘possessed’ doll for the very first time.

The recent tour, which has sparked renewed interest and even controversy, saw Annabelle relocated from her long-standing protective case at Warren’s Occult Museum. This move ignited public debate, with many believing that renowned paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren would have opposed it. (Sources close to the Warrens, however, indicate no such demands were made regarding the doll’s movement, and Daily Mail’s attempts to reach their son-in-law for comment were unreturned.)

Ryan Buell’s Bewildering Encounter

Paranormal investigator Ryan Buell, known for his years exploring the supernatural, joined the tour and found himself immediately uneasy upon meeting Annabelle. Despite his extensive experience, facing the doll was a challenge unlike any other.

More than 15 years ago, around 2009, Buell attended an event in Eastern Pennsylvania alongside Lorraine Warren, where attendees could learn about the occult and even see artifacts from the museum. “As you’re walking through [the barn], you got to see all these items from the museum and at the very end, you would come into a room and there would be Annabelle, you know, at your feet,” Buell recounted to the Daily Mail.

Buell and Lorraine were scheduled to take pictures with Annabelle and the visitors. As he prepared for the photos, he leaned down and addressed the doll directly, saying, “So you’re the doll everyone is making this fuss about.” It was at this precise moment that something extraordinary happened.

“I looked at it for a couple seconds and then its head just fell down and then very mechanically went right back up to look at me,” he vividly described. Bewildered, Buell turned to Lorraine or the event organizer, assuming it was a prank, but found himself alone in the room. “So, I’m sitting in this room alone with Annabelle and it moved. And I’m trying to process this and I’m kind of frozen,” he recalled. A sudden “time warp experience” followed, as attendees abruptly began entering the room.

Despite his experience, Buell maintained a “deep respect” for Annabelle, comparing it to the respect one has for the devil – respect for what they are capable of. He recalled trying to explain to Lorraine that the doll moved during their photo session, to which she casually responded, “Well, yeah, stop staring at it. You’re giving her attention.” This unsettling encounter, after years of hearing about the dangerous artifact and the Warrens’ reputation, solidified his belief in the stories.

Chris Gilloren’s Terrifying Solo Experience

Chris Gilloren, lead investigator for the New England Society for Paranormal Research (NESPR) and a self-professed skeptic, had a different yet equally terrifying first encounter with Annabelle. His experience unfolded when he was left alone in the Warren’s Occult Museum, surrounded by haunted relics.

Gilloren recalled an event more than 15 years ago, a “Warrenology” where groups would learn from Lorraine in her living room before touring the museum in the basement. Arriving early with fellow investigator Dan Rivera, Gilloren offered to help set up chairs. As Tony Spera (Lorraine’s son-in-law) prepared to bring people downstairs, he asked Gilloren to wait in the museum and ensure no one touched anything.

“This is terrifying,” Gilloren remembered thinking, being alone for the first time amidst Ed’s collected relics. Annabelle, in her old case with a red light, sat on the wall. While alone, he began to hear whispers. “There was just chatter. I was in there all alone. It was my first time. I was terrified. It was just like whispering, and it was almost like, you know, Annabelle, and other items were having these little conversations.” He couldn’t make out the words, but the distinct chattering sound was unmistakable.

Annabelle’s Lingering Impact

While Gilloren hasn’t experienced such clear auditory phenomena in his many subsequent visits to the museum, both he and Buell have witnessed Annabelle’s profound effect on others. People have reported hearing Annabelle’s name or their own name during other NESPR investigations, experiencing lightheadedness, uneasy feelings, nausea, and even vomiting near the doll.

Despite her sinister reputation, Annabelle continues to serve a purpose for NESPR, aiding in public education and touring across the country. Her dark legacy is also set to continue in another “Conjuring” film, slated for a September release, featuring Ed and Lorraine’s daughter, Judy, and son-in-law, Tony Spera.