Annabelle was the focus of a case that got the attention of famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. They became interested in Annabelle in the early 1970s. This episode in their career was included in the book The Demonologist by Gerald Brittle about the Warrens.

It has been stated that this is one of the most unusual cases of a possessed object on record.

This is Annabelle's story:

In 1970, a mother, doting on her only daughter, purchased a Raggedy Ann doll from an antique store. The cute red-headed little doll was a present for her daughter Donna. Donna was, at that time, residing with her roommate Angie in a small apartment and preparing to graduate from college. Thinking nothing more of the doll than that it was a sign of her mother's affection, she placed the doll on her bed in her room and basically forgot about it.

As time passed, both Angie and Donna noticed an air of strangeness about the doll. Apparently, the doll would move. These were relatively subtle movements at first, like a change in position, but as time passed, the movements became more noticeable. The doll was even found once standing upright, leaning against a chair with its legs crossed. After a while, the doll was said to have actually changed rooms! It would be left in the living room before Donna left for work and upon returning, it would be found on her bed, in her room. A moving doll? Very strange indeed.