Serial Killer Fears Grow After String of Mysterious Deaths Across New England
A troubling pattern of deaths across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island has fueled growing fears—and online speculation—that a serial killer may be targeting individuals in New England.
Since early March, eight bodies—mostly women—have been discovered in unsettlingly similar circumstances, raising alarm among residents and stirring widespread debate on social media. While authorities have found no direct evidence linking the deaths, the clustering and mystery surrounding them have the public on edge.
The most recent case unfolded on April 22, when Springfield Police responded to a call around 8 a.m. and discovered an unresponsive woman near the 1500 block of Hall of Fame Avenue. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. While awaiting autopsy results, authorities are treating the case as an “unattended death” and have not yet confirmed foul play.
Despite reassurances from police, many locals remain unconvinced. A Facebook group titled New England SK has amassed over 17,000 members, becoming a hub for theories and information-sharing related to the ongoing cases.
The timeline of deaths began on March 6, when two separate discoveries were made: a human skull found in the woods off Route 3 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the body of 35-year-old Paige Fannon of West Islip, New York, found in Norwalk, Connecticut. Police have stated that Fannon’s case shows no signs of foul play or links to any broader investigation.
Just days later, on March 19, human remains were located inside a suitcase near the Colonel Ledyard Cemetery in Groton, Connecticut. Authorities say the remains belong to a woman believed to be between 40 and 60 years old, though her identity and cause of death remain unknown.
The discovery of 59-year-old Denise Leary’s body in New Haven on March 21 added to public anxiety. Leary had been missing since September 2024. While no trauma was found, and investigators reported no clear evidence of foul play, the circumstances surrounding her death remain murky.
In another chilling case, the body of Michele Romano, who disappeared from Warwick, Rhode Island, in August, was found on March 26 in Foster. Her family has since stated publicly that they do not believe her death is connected to a serial killer, citing close cooperation with the Rhode Island State Police and a private investigator.
More remains surfaced in Connecticut on April 9, this time in Killingly. Authorities emphasized that there is currently no indication linking these remains to the other cases. “There is no known threat to the public at this time,” the Connecticut State Police stated.
The wave of cases continued on April 10 with the discovery of another body in Framingham, Massachusetts. Authorities have not released further details and say investigations into the cause and manner of each death are ongoing.
While police departments across the region urge the public not to jump to conclusions, the anxiety remains. As Christian Bruckhart of the New Haven Police noted, “There’s a mystery surrounding serial killers. People find them both terrifying and fascinating. But they are real.”
For now, communities across New England are left to wait, worry—and wonder if the growing list of unexplained deaths is mere coincidence or something far more sinister.