A haunted doll collector who houses 54 ‘spirits’ has weighed in on the debate around the allegedly paranormal Annabelle doll being taken on ‘tour’.
The Raggedy Anne doll, was made famous back in the 1970s when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated alleged attacks made by the infamous toy.
While they warned she should never be moved, Annabelle is currently touring the US alongside other members of the Warrens Occult Museum collection – leaving people online up in arms.
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But haunted doll collector Teej [surname not included for privacy reasons], insists we shouldn’t be so quick to make snap judgements about the toy – even believing she could be misunderstood.
“Do I believe that Annabelle is responsible for all of the tragedy that she is being blamed for right now? Absolutely not,” the US-based young woman told What’s The Jam.
“Most of the stories tied to her are unverified and don’t have any evidence to back them up.
“Honestly, I believe that Annabelle deserves a fresh investigation with an unbiased investigation team, to figure out what is actually going on with her.”
Teej says the doll’s narrative was “created” by the Warrens following their initial investigation.
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She added: “This was a very long time ago and, since then, she has been sensationalised in Hollywood.
“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.
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“People keep saying ‘bring Annabelle home’, but the truth is – Annabelle doesn’t have a home.
“The Warrens Occult Museum has been closed to the public since 2019, so she [was] not at home – she was in storage.
“Locked away, not honoured, not protected, not valued.”
Teej pointed out that the doll has spent her entire ‘afterlife’ on display in a museum being “gawked at, disrespected and sensationalised for money” – without any way to “defend” herself from the claims.
She added: “Imagine being the centre of basically an entire country’s fear without any voice of your own, and no one to look out for and defend you.
“Spirits like Annabelle are not props – no spirit is.”
Teej believes all purported spirits should be treated with “dignity, respect and kindness” – no matter the rumours that have dogged them over the years.
In Annabelle’s case, this dates back to 1970 when she was gifted to a student nurse, who was told by a psychic medium that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased girl named Annabelle.
The student and her roommate reported “malicious and frightening” behaviours from the doll, and the Warrens deemed it to be demonic, moving it to their museum.
Teej says she started connecting with the paranormal in childhood, encouraged by her family who took her on ghost hunts, and had her first encounter at the age of six.
She said: “We were in a parking lot using an Ovilus, which is a device that turns environmental energy into words that appear on a screen – a common spirit communication tool still used by investigators to this day.
“Out of nowhere, the Ovilus said, ‘Get out of the way, fast.’
“We didn’t wait, we moved immediately.
“Right after we cleared the area, a car whipped around the corner.
“It was really dark, and if we hadn’t moved, there’s a good chance we could’ve been hit.
“That moment stuck with me, not just because it was my first clear experience, but because it felt like a spirit was trying to help us.
“That was the first time I felt like a spirit interaction was actually positive, and that’s something I’ve kept in mind ever since.
“It’s a big part of why I’m now interested in haunted dolls, specifically ones with positive energy.
“That early experience shaped the way I look at the paranormal today.”
She started collecting haunted dolls in 2020 – but will only house ones with positive intentions.
She said: “What pulled me in were the stories behind them, specifically the personal accounts, the unexplained experiences, and the history behind some of the more well-known cases.
“I spent a lot of time researching and reading about them, trying to understand what made each case unique.
“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.
“Just as importantly, I’m 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.”
She added of the recent news about Annabelle: “While I know Annabelle is currently on tour and it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming all haunted dolls behave like the famous ones, it’s important to remember that every spirit is unique
“No two spirits are exactly alike, and many are actually positive or neutral in nature.
“Making broad generalizations that all haunted dolls are dangerous or negative can be harmful and misleading.
“It’s essential to take the time to get to know each spirit individually before jumping to conclusions about their behaviour or intentions.”
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