The Demonic Possession Of The ‘Annabelle’ Doll
Warren’s Occult MuseumEd and Lorraine Warren with the Annabelle doll.
Arne Cheyenne Johnson’s case of demonic possession wasn’t the first to attract the attention of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The paranormal investigators also allegedly investigated the demonic possession of Annabelle the doll.
As the story goes — largely told by the Warrens themselves and uncorroborated by others — the Annabelle doll first surfaced in 1970 when it was gifted to a young nurse named Donna, sometimes referred to as Deirdre. Donna brought the doll home where it allegedly began to exhibit odd behavior.
Not only did Donna and her roommate Angie begin to suspect that the doll could move itself around their apartment, but they also found eerie notes on parchment paper that said, “Help Me.” After the doll appeared to attack Angie’s boyfriend, the girls called in a medium, then a priest, who alerted Ed and Lorraine Warren to the possible case of demonic possession.
Warren’s Occult MuseumThe Annabelle Doll was locked in a special case to try to prevent it from causing more mayhem.
According to the Warrens, the Annabelle doll was possessed by a demon — and the demon was looking to move to a human host. “This spirit manipulated the doll and created the illusion of it being alive in order to get recognition,” they explained. “Truly, the spirit was not looking to stay attached to the doll, it was looking to possess a human host.”
After ordering an exorcism of Donna and Angie’s apartment, the Warrens took possession of the doll. They moved it to a specially-made glass and wood case, which they inscribed with the Lord’s Prayer and Saint Michael’s Prayer. Despite this precaution, Annabelle was still able to allegedly cause injury to anyone who laughed at her or who mocked her.
Though Ed and Lorraine Warren have since died (Ed in 2006 and Lorraine in 2019), the doll has remained in their Monroe, Connecticut museum. However — for better or for worse — the doll will be displayed at Warren’s Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut in 2022.
