Many are familiar with the doll Annabelle from The Conjuring film franchise. Introduced in the first film of the series, Annabelle has since become an iconic character, featured in three movies within The Conjuring universe. While the films have captivated audiences, what many may not realize is that the Annabelle doll is based on a real object.

Named Annabelle in real life as well, the doll is associated with the real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were the focus of the Conjuring films. While the movies dramatize the events, certain elements of the story are based on reality.

The true story of Annabelle begins in 1970, when the doll was discovered in a thrift shop. Purchased as a birthday gift for a nursing student named Donna by her mother, the doll soon became the center of strange occurrences in Donna's apartment. The doll would seemingly move on its own, and mysterious messages would appear nearby.

Concerned, Donna and her roommate consulted with a medium, who identified the presence of a spirit attached to the doll. Claiming to be the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle, the entity told of her tragic death at the age of 7, near the location of the apartment building.

Initially feeling sympathetic, Donna and her roommate allowed the spirit to stay with them. However, the activity escalated, prompting them to seek help from two priests. Eventually, Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in to investigate.

Through their expertise, the Warrens determined that the doll was not inhabited by the spirit of a young girl, but by a malevolent entity pretending to be her. They believed it to be a demonic presence seeking control.

The Warrens took possession of the doll, which now resides in their Occult Museum. Encased in glass, surrounded by religious artifacts and salt, the doll is periodically blessed by a priest to keep its malevolent spirit at bay.

Today, the museum and its collection are overseen by Tony Spera, the son-in-law of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Despite the fictionalized aspects in the films, the true story of Annabelle remains a chilling tale of the paranormal.