A tour hosted by a paranormal organization showcasing items from an occult museum, including the infamous “haunted” Annabelle doll, is sparking fear in some but disdain from others who believe the tour isn’t showing the “spirits” the proper respect.

The Daily Mail is reporting on the tour, known as the “Devil on the Run Tour,” which is being hosted by the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), the organization founded by the controversial paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The items included in the tour are from the Warren Occult Museum, located in Monroe, Connecticut, which housed artifacts from the couple’s decades-long career in paranormal research until it closed in 2019.

The tour garnered the attention of millions when Ryan Daniel Buell, paranormal investigator and former host of Paranormal State, posted videos on TikTok about the travels of Annabelle, an allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll which was made famous in movies such as The Conjuring, Dollie Dearest, and Child’s Play.

For those who never heard of her, Annabelle’s strange history began in 1970 when it was given to a student nurse. Shortly thereafter, it started acting strangely, such as moving from room to room. The student eventually consulted with a psychic medium who claimed the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased child named Annabelle. The nurse and her roommate tried to show compassion to the allegedly possessed doll, but it only became more malicious and frightening, even attacking people.

This was when Ed and Lorraine Warren became involved and determined that the doll was being manipulated by a demon. They performed an exorcism, then removed the doll and placed it in a glass case inside their museum with instructions never to move it. “WARNING: Positively do not open,” says a sign that hangs on the front of the case.

When news of the doll’s appearance during a tour stop at West Virginia State Penitentiary went viral on social media, users became upset, citing the Warren’s admonition never to move the doll out of the museum.

“Ed & Lorraine said no matter what happens to them Annabelle does not leave the museum,” one user posted in protest.

“Lorraine and Ed are rolling over in their graves right now,” another stated.

Buell addressed these concerns in a post claiming that the Warrens travelled with Annabelle on occasion to teach the public about the dangers of the occult.

He also reassured the public that the doll would be “secure” with members of NESPR and they would have a Catholic priest with them.

Others are protesting Annabelle’s travels for far different reasons, such as a haunted doll collector named Teej who complained about the way Annabelle’s spirit is being treated.

“We don't even know Annabelle's true story. We owe it not only to her, but to all spirits, to start asking the real questions and getting evidence on who they are and what happened to them,” Teej told What’s the Jam, a website dedicated to weird news.

After spending her entire “afterlife” being gawked at, disrespected and sensationalized, spirits such as Annabelle’s deserve to be treated with “dignity, respect and kindness” regardless of their backstories.

“Imagine being the center of basically an entire country's fear without any voice of your own, and no one to look out for and defend you,” Teej said. “Spirits like Annabelle are not props – no spirit is.”

Teej, who started collecting haunted dolls in 2020, says she only houses dolls with “positive intentions.”

“I choose to work only with positive spirits in my home because of the relationships that naturally develop over time. Many of these spirits have a genuine desire to communicate and be acknowledged, and that opens the door to meaningful and respectful connections. We treat them with respect, and in return, they do the same. Our interactions are often lighthearted and much of the paranormal activity in our home is playful, sometimes even meant to make us laugh.”

However, she’s still very mindful of safety. “When I investigate haunted locations, I always have the option to leave. But my home is my safe space, and I won't risk inviting in any spirit that could bring harm or disruption to me or my family. By setting clear boundaries, I'm able to stay open to paranormal experiences while still protecting the comfort and peace of our home.”

What does the Church teach about haunted objects such as Annabelle and Teej’s collection?

While the infestation of objects is considered to be rare by exorcists, it does happen.  Even though Annabelle is frequently cited in the press as being “possessed” by a demon, the Church teaches that only people can be demonically possessed. Inanimate objects can only be controlled by demons through curses.

In his book, Hauntings, Possessions and Exorcisms, Adam Blai, Peritus of religious demonology explains: “A curse is simply a demon sent to do some harm. . . . Cursed objects are objects that have had the opposite of a blessing done to them. Instead of grace being attached to an object to make it holy, a demon has been attached to the object to make it associated with evil.”

In other words, a demon can attach itself to the object and inflict harm through it, which means tales of Annabelle’s frightening escapades may have been possible if the Warren’s research was credible, which has long been in doubt.

As for Teej and her collection of allegedly haunted dolls whose “spirits” she considers to be worthy of compassion, more than likely, the only thing they’re infested with is her imagination.

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