New Conjuring movie pays tribute to paranormal investigator Dan Rivera who died suddenly on infamous haunted ‘Annabelle’ doll tour

The latest movie in The Conjuring franchise has paid tribute to late paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, who died while on tour with the real-life Annabelle doll.

Horror fans around the world flocked to cinemas over the weekend as The Conjuring: Last Rites finally hit the big screen, starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as real-life paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The new film, which is being marketed as the last in the popular franchise, saw the investigators come out of retirement to help the Smurl family in Pennsylvania, who claimed they were plagued by a malevolent supernatural presence in their home.

In 1986, the family made headlines around the world when they went public with their belief that a demon was haunting their home, before seeking help from the Catholic Church and the Warrens.

The alleged haunting began with doors opening, closing and unlocking by themselves and lights turning on and off, before it turned more sinister.

The Conjuring: Last Rites hit cinemas at the weekend (Warner Brothers)

From children being thrown down the stairs to parents Jack and Janet 'levitating as high as the ceiling' while in bed, the story is truly terrifying.

But those who stayed to the end of the horror flick, which was inspired by the real events, caught onto another detail in the credits.

The filmmakers made sure to give a shout out to the real people involved in the story, such as the late Warrens, as well as including a dedication to paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, who died in July.

Rivera was just 54 when he died, and was known for being the real life handler of the infamous and supposedly haunted ‘Annabelle’ doll.

The New England Society For Psychic Research, who were hosting Annabelle’s tour, announced the tragic news in a press release on 16 July.

The credits of the film paid tribute to the 'Annabelle' doll's handler, Dan Rivera, who died in July (Instagram/@dan_rivera_nespr)

Paying tribute, they wrote: “Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal, and dedicated friend.”

They added: “He worked closely with Lorraine Warren and remained by her side even as her health declined, always offering a steady hand and unwavering support.

“Dan was a constant presence with Lorraine and NESPR at local events such as An Evening With Annabelle, where his warmth and professionalism left a lasting impression.”

Rivera was in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, as part of his viral ‘Devils on the Run Tour,’ when emergency services rushed to his hotel and CPR was performed, local news outlets reported.

Michael Chaves, the director of The Conjuring: Last Rites, has since spoken out about Rivera's sudden passing and how the team decided to handle it.

He told Entertainment Weekly: "It was really just tragic and a curveball. The poor guy. I think we were all blindsided by that. We wanted to just handle it as respectfully as possible."

Chaves added: "It was definitely a discussion that we had with everyone and how to respectfully handle that.

"That was the biggest challenge. It's hard...horror movies are fun and they deal with dark things, but I think just being able to separate that rollercoaster experience with a real, tragic death and something that really took him and his family by surprise, it was tricky to navigate."

Last week, it was confirmed by Francis Dutrow, the Adams County coroner in Pennsylvania, that Rivera's death was natural and related to his history of cardiac issues.

And to put people at ease, Dutrow added in a statement to the publication: "It is also confirmed that Annabelle was not present in the room at the time of his passing."