Overview
The eleventh episode of the IVault Dwellers Podcast centers on a newly acquired Raggedy Ann doll said to have come from the collection associated with the Warren Occult Museum. Hosts Dustin, Austin, Luke, Rachel, and Emma frame the episode as both a historical look at one of the most famous haunted-object cases in paranormal lore and a live investigation into whether the doll brought anything unusual with it. According to the hosts, the doll was part of a batch sold to help fund the museum’s new location in Salem and came with a certificate of authenticity noting its stay in the Warren collection from February 2 to March 13 of this year.
The episode builds its narrative around the legacy of the original Annabelle case, which the Warrens popularized in the 1970s. In the version recounted by the hosts, nursing student Donna received a Raggedy Ann doll as a gift, only to witness unexplained movement and receive handwritten notes that appeared to come from the doll. Ed and Lorraine Warren later concluded that the object was being used as a conduit by an “inhuman” entity seeking a human host. The show also revisits a well-known anecdote from the museum: the claim that a visitor mocked the doll, tapped on its glass case, and later died in a motorcycle accident, prompting the permanent “Positively Do Not Open” warning now associated with the artifact.
Claims of Activity After the Doll’s Arrival
Beyond the historical retelling, the hosts say the doll’s arrival at their studio was followed by a series of strange incidents. They describe unexplained electrical issues and a disturbing experience during a hotel stay, which they present as possible signs that something may have attached itself to the object. While the episode does not establish any verifiable cause for these events, it uses them as the basis for a structured paranormal investigation centered on the doll itself.
The hosts also reference the doll’s proximity, while at the Warren museum, to other notable items in the collection, including a “haunted dinosaur toy” and the original Annabelle doll. That detail is presented as part of the doll’s provenance and, for the hosts, a reason to treat the object with caution. Figures tied to the museum’s recent funding efforts — including Elton Castee and Matt Rife — are also mentioned in connection with the certificate, underscoring the current public interest in the museum’s relocation and the commercialization of its collection.
Investigation Methods and Reported Results
To test whether the doll carried any presence or influence, the group employed several standard paranormal tools. During a Ouija board session, they report receiving responses that spelled out “ZAC” and “AZE,” while participants described pressure sensations in their heads and ears. The hosts then used dowsing rods, which they say moved in answer to yes-or-no questions, indicating that the entity was female, that multiple spirits might be present, and that the rods repeatedly pointed toward hosts Austin and Emma.
The investigation also included a spirit box and EVP-style audio capture through a radio-sweep app. The words the group interpreted included “Foolish,” “Marilyn,” “Asylum,” and “Nuns.” As with many paranormal investigations, the significance of these responses depends heavily on interpretation, and the episode presents them as subjective findings rather than confirmed evidence.
Conclusion
By the end of the episode, the hosts appear convinced that something unusual may be associated with the doll, though they stop short of making definitive claims. They suggest that the presence could be linked to “Marilyn” or a nun-like figure, but they also acknowledge the possibility of more conventional explanations. In keeping with the lore surrounding the Warren collection, the doll is ultimately sealed inside a custom glass cabinet marked with “Positively Do Not Open”, turning it into a permanent studio feature and preserving the episode’s central tension between skepticism and belief.
