Comedian Matt Rife, known for his quick wit and sold-out stand-up shows, has made a headline-making move by buying the famous Connecticut house that once belonged to Ed and Lorraine Warren—the legendary paranormal investigators who inspired The Conjuring films. As part of the deal, he also becomes the legal caretaker of their infamous haunted collection, including the Annabelle doll.
Calling it an "insane announcement," Rife shared on Instagram that he had "officially purchased Ed and Lorraine Warren’s home and Occult Museum" and is now "the legal guardian for at least the next five years of the entire haunted collection including THE ANNABELLE DOLL." He made the purchase with fellow paranormal enthusiast Elton Castee.
Rife explained that fans who know him are aware of his love for the supernatural, saying, “If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted.” He also admitted that The Conjuring films have long been his favorite horror franchise, calling it “an incredible honor to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history.”
He acknowledged the role the Warrens played in popularizing paranormal culture, saying they "arguably put demonology and paranormal into the mainstream" and remain “at the heart of some of the most famous haunted stories of all time,” including The Conjuring House and Amityville Horror.
Rife added that he and Castee plan to open the museum for “overnight stays and tours,” so visitors can "experience and learn all the haunted history surrounding this amazing place."
In a follow-up TikTok video, Rife described the collection as “the most important and prominent piece of paranormal history in the world.” While acknowledging that some people “don’t know what any of this means,” he explained that for ghost lovers, “this is as big as it gets.”
Clarifying their role, he stated, “We are the legal guardians and caretakers of all 750 haunted artifacts and items in the Warren Museum, including the Annabelle doll.” He made it clear that although they don’t legally own the objects, they are now responsible for protecting them for the next five years.
Annabelle, the doll now under Rife’s care, first appeared in the chilling opening scene of The Conjuring (2013) and later starred in its own trilogy—Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), and Annabelle Comes Home (2019). That final film was entirely set in the Warrens’ haunted house—the very home that Rife now owns.
By stepping into the Warrens’ world, Rife isn’t just buying property; he’s taking on the eerie legacy of one of horror’s most iconic real-life collections.
