ANNABELLE
The real Annabelle doll is a well-known case of alleged paranormal activity, made famous by Ed and Lorraine Warren, two well-known paranormal investigators.
Background and Origin: The Annabelle doll is a Raggedy Ann doll, not the porcelain version shown in movies. In the 1970s, two college roommates, Donna and Angie, received the doll as a gift. Strange occurrences began happening: the doll seemed to move on its own, appearing in different places and positions. Handwritten messages reading “Help us” were reportedly found around their apartment. One of their friends, Lou, had a disturbing encounter where he claimed the doll attacked him, leaving claw-like scratches on his body.
Involvement of the Warrens: The roommates contacted a psychic medium, who told them that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle Higgins who had died nearby. The Warrens investigated and determined that the entity was not a child’s spirit but a malevolent demonic force using the doll as a conduit. To prevent further harm, the Warrens took the doll and placed it in their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut.
Annabelle’s Current Location: Annabelle is kept in a wooden glass case at the Warren’s Occult Museum. A sign on the case reads: “WARNING: POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN.” Visitors and museum staff claim that the doll’s presence still causes strange occurrences. There are stories of visitors mocking the doll and later suffering tragic accidents.
Skepticism and Belief: Many believe the Annabelle story is exaggerated or fabricated to build the Warrens' paranormal reputation. Others claim that while the story may have been dramatised, something unexplained could have been happening. Whether real or not, Annabelle remains one of the most infamous haunted objects in paranormal history.
Annabelle in Pop Culture: The doll inspired the "Annabelle" movie series, part of The Conjuring Universe. Unlike the real Annabelle, the movie version is a creepy porcelain doll with an unsettling smile. The movies fictionalise her origins and activity, making her a central horror icon.
