The terrifying Annabelle doll first appeared on the silver screen in its feature in the 2013 hit movie, The Conjuring, directed by James Wan. Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as American ghost hunters Lorraine and Ed Warren, the movie became one of the most-viewed horror flicks of the year. But soon after, real-life incidents surrounding the demonic toy in and around the US started hitting the news columns. This led to the creation of its trilogy of movies featuring the doll as the main character. But do you know that Annabelle is based on a true story? The real-life experiences of many with the terrifying toy inspired the creation of the haunted tale. Amongst them was the untimely death of Dan Rivera, a senior lead investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), in a hotel in Gettysburg, Pa., while on his tour with the allegedly haunted doll on June 13. Amid the ongoing police investigation in this matter, we have looked into the horrifying history of Annabelle. Annabelle doll’s history The horror icon Annabelle was based on a real antique doll named Raggedy Ann, who is reportedly possessed by an “inhuman spirit”. According to the NESPR case file on Annabelle, the demonic toy was gifted by a mother to her daughter, Donna, as a birthday present in 1970. Shortly after Donna and her roommate, Angie, returned to their apartment following her graduation, multiple paranormal events began to occur. They even found parchment papers around the house with messages written on them that read “Help us” and “Help Lou,” who was their friend. Annabelle doll’s real-life story The 2014 horror film, Annabelle, played by a female cult member named Annabelle Higgins, showcased a completely fictional plot. Here, the character can be seen killing herself while being possessed by the inhuman spirit of the doll. In reality, Donna and Angie found that the doll had the spirit of a 7-year-old girl named Annabelle Higgins trapped inside it. Higgins reportedly died on the property before Donna and Angie’s apartments were built, and was controlling the doll. Decades after being discovered, Annabelle Raggedy Ann doll continues to be the centre of various paranormal activities. It is currently on display in a case at the Warren’s Occult Museum in Monroe, Conn. According to a report by The Monroe Sun, the museum was closed in 2019 due to a zoning violation. The Annabelle franchise has released its list of terrific movies featuring the doll, including Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home.