Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Grandson Speaks Out About Matt Rife Purchasing the Infamous Annabelle Doll and Haunted Collection — “People Are Being Too Casual About It”
For decades, the name “Annabelle” has sent chills through moviegoers and paranormal enthusiasts alike — but for the Warren family, it’s more than a Hollywood story. It’s a piece of their real-life legacy. Now, that legacy has sparked a new wave of conversation after comedian Matt Rife revealed that he “officially purchased” the late Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Connecticut home and museum, including their “entire haunted collection” — a trove of paranormal artifacts that once included the infamous Annabelle doll.
The revelation caught the attention of the Warrens’ grandson, Chris McKinnell, who recently spoke about it on the Reel Appreciation podcast. The son of the Warrens’ daughter, Judy Spera, McKinnell has long worked to preserve his grandparents’ work through the Warren Legacy Foundation for Paranormal Research. When asked about Rife’s announcement, he offered a thoughtful but cautious response.
“I understand the curiosity,” McKinnell said. “People are fascinated by what my grandparents did — and Annabelle has become this cultural icon because of it. But I think sometimes people forget that this isn’t just movie magic. These were real cases that deeply affected real people.”
McKinnell’s tone wasn’t angry or accusatory, but reflective. He’s spent his life surrounded by stories of hauntings, demonic cases, and the blurred line between science and the supernatural — stories that his grandparents documented meticulously and handled with a sense of spiritual responsibility. “Ed and Lorraine never treated these things as entertainment,” he continued. “They approached them with reverence and caution. When you start being flippant with that kind of energy, even symbolically, you’re stepping into something you might not fully understand.”
The original Annabelle doll — a plain Raggedy Ann toy — remains locked inside a specially blessed case, under the care of the Warren family. While Rife’s purchase reportedly included “the entire haunted collection,” it’s unclear whether that extends to the original doll itself or replica items associated with it. The Warren museum has been closed to the public since 2019, following local zoning issues, but the artifacts have remained preserved in family care.
Rife’s announcement drew a mix of curiosity and skepticism online. Some fans viewed it as a playful publicity move, while others expressed concern about disturbing the Warrens’ collection. McKinnell, however, focused less on the ownership aspect and more on the attitude behind it. “If someone truly wants to preserve history and respect the spiritual side of it, then I wish them the best,” he said. “But if it’s about clicks and jokes, that’s when I get uneasy. These items represent something that’s touched people’s lives in very real ways.”
His words echoed what Lorraine Warren often said in interviews — that their work was never about fear, but about faith and protection. McKinnell shared that his grandmother always saw herself as a vessel of compassion first, and a paranormal investigator second. “She believed in light overcoming darkness,” he said. “And she’d want people to remember that these stories are warnings, not toys.”
As for Rife, he hasn’t elaborated further on what his plans are for the collection, though fans have speculated it could become part of a comedic or documentary project. McKinnell, while diplomatic, gently advised caution: “If he does have it, I hope he treats it with respect. Because whether you believe in it or not, intention matters.”
The exchange has reignited public fascination with the Warrens’ legacy — not just as the subjects of The Conjuring franchise, but as real people whose decades of research shaped how millions view the supernatural. For McKinnell, it’s simple: “My grandparents always believed their work should be handled with humility,” he said. “And that’s something I’ll always stand by.”
