Something chilling may be unfolding in the heart of New England — and locals are on edge.
In just a few weeks, eight bodies have been discovered across peaceful, scenic towns, fueling growing concerns that a serial killer might be targeting the area. Now, police have finally addressed the situation.
As rumors swirl and anxiety spreads throughout New England, the death toll continues to rise — and authorities are now investigating yet another suspicious death. This time, it’s a woman found unresponsive along a bike path in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The grim discovery occurred on Tuesday, April 22, near the 1500 block of Hall of Fame Avenue. Police quickly responded to reports of an unresponsive individual near the trail, and the woman was soon pronounced dead.
As stated by Springfield Police Department spokesperson Ryan Walsh, the department’s Homicide Unit, under the leadership of Captain Trent Duda, is initiating an “unattended death investigation” in collaboration with the Hampden District Attorney’s Murder Unit.
The Medical Examiner’s Office is set to perform an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
The timing of this incident — occurring amidst a disturbingly similar series of recent fatalities — has sparked a flurry of speculation online.
At least eight individuals, mostly believed to be women, have been discovered deceased in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island between March and April.
What Triggered the Online Alarm
Human remains have been discovered in New Haven, Norwalk, Groton, and Killingly in Connecticut; Foster, Rhode Island; and Framingham, Plymouth, and now Springfield, Massachusetts.
While authorities have found these remains between March and April, it’s important to note that this doesn’t imply the victims died within the same period. No connections between the deaths of the eight victims have been confirmed by officials.
Nonetheless, this series of discoveries has sparked widespread online speculation, with many suggesting that a serial killer may be operating in the area.
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The online frenzy began with a now-renamed Facebook group originally titled “New England Serial Killer.” According to MassLive.com, the group quickly gained traction, amassing over 65,000 members and attracting more than 15,000 new followers just this month. Fox News reported that Google searches for “New England serial killer” surged around April 7.
Despite the rising panic, law enforcement is urging people to stay cautious. “Internet rumors are just that,” said spokesperson Ryan Walsh, speaking to Fox News Digital.
Connecticut State Police echoed this message, stating that there is currently “no information to suggest any connection to similar body discoveries, and no known threat to the public.”
Professor Questions Crime Scene Evidence
Despite reassurances from authorities, the unusual circumstances — and the alarming number of bodies — are difficult for many to overlook. Peter Valentin, head of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College, weighed in on the recent case in Springfield, calling the discovery a “very recent death.”
Valentin noted that the fact police responded to reports of an unresponsive individual strongly suggests the person did not exhibit post-mortem signs that would eliminate the need to check for vital signs before declaring death.
“If someone is in full rigor mortis, there’s no reason to try to find a pulse,” he explained. “This indicates the death occurred very recently, unlike the others attributed to the ‘New England serial killer.’”
He also raised concerns about what investigators might have uncovered at the scene.
“I’m interested in what was found around the body,” Valentin told Fox News Digital.
“There could be evidence suggesting activities that might lead investigators to downplay homicide (perhaps incorrectly). The article uses very cautious language, likely to avoid contributing to the growing scrutiny surrounding every suspicious death in New England.”
The Victims in New England
Here’s what we currently know about the individuals tied to the rising concerns over a potential serial killer in New England:
The first identified victim was Paige Fannon, a 35-year-old woman from West Islip, New York. She was reported missing on March 4, and just two days later, on March 6, her body was found in New Haven, swept into the fast-moving waters of the Norwalk River following a heavy rainstorm.
“Paige leaves behind two incredible parents, two sisters, a brother, and many more loved ones who are grieving her loss,” a GoFundMe page shared.
Paige Fannon / GoFundMe
Then, on March 21, yet another body surfaced — this time it was Denise Leary, a 59-year-old mother of two who had previously been reported missing. Just four days later, on March 25, Rhode Island State Police located the remains of Michele Romano, 56, deep within a wooded area in Foster.
The discoveries didn’t end there.
On March 19, authorities in Groton, Connecticut recovered the body of another woman. She is thought to be between 40 and 60 years old and may have displayed characteristics associated with Turner syndrome.
Backlash from Victims’ Loved Ones
Only a few weeks later, on April 9, suspected human remains were uncovered in Killingly, though officials have yet to verify the identity. Just a day after, firefighters in Framingham came upon additional remains, and due to the significant decomposition, authorities believe the body had been there for months.
Later, on April 23, another unsettling find occurred in Salem, Massachusetts, where two male bodies were discovered close to a local Walmart.
Even with multiple victims, police across the three states have consistently stated there’s no confirmed link between the deaths. The Facebook page that first sparked the rumors — “New England Serial Killer” — changed its name after facing backlash from victims’ families, especially Romano’s. Her family posted a statement on Facebook, stressing:
“Michele’s death has absolutely no connection to any serial killer. We have full trust in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the individual responsible will be held accountable sooner rather than later.”
Help find Michele Romano/Facebook
New Haven police officer Christian Bruckhart, a member of the team looking into Denise Leary’s death, gets why people are quick to lean into the idea of a serial killer.
“Some things just have a certain allure, and serial killers are one of them… A serial killer is almost this legendary character in our culture — I mean, how many times has Hollywood told the Hannibal Lecter story?”
That said, he emphasized there’s no current evidence pointing to homicide in the case of Denise Leary, the 59-year-old mother discovered dead near Rock Creek Road in New Haven.
“They’re real, we know they’re out there,” he said broadly, “but speaking specifically about our investigation… there’s nothing suggesting a homicide at this time.”
