The recent discovery of human remains in a high-profile New England location has reignited speculation about a possible serial killer in the region.
Authorities confirmed that suspected human remains were uncovered in Watch Hill, Rhode Island — the upscale neighborhood where pop star Taylor Swift owns a vacation home. According to police, a bone resembling a human leg was found on Everett Avenue around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14.
In a statement, the Westerly Police Department noted that while the identity of the remains is still pending confirmation, there is currently no evidence of foul play.
The discovery is raising alarm, especially because it comes in the wake of 12 other bodies found across various New England towns including locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other parts of Rhode Island.
Although the accumulation of these findings has led to online theories about a serial killer operating in the region, law enforcement officials stress that they are not investigating any active serial murder cases. Not all the deaths are being handled as suspicious either.
After a woman’s body was recovered in Springfield last month — later identified as 45-year-old Meggan Meredith — Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni emphasized that “there is no current indication that these cases are connected or part of a broader public threat.”
Despite this, online discussions have exploded, with social media users creating forums and threads to discuss possible connections between the cases. Some believe a pattern is emerging — though police maintain otherwise.
WHERE HAVE HUMAN REMAINS BEEN FOUND?
Here’s a timeline of the recent discoveries across the region:
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March 6: Police divers recovered the body of 35-year-old Paige Fannon from the Norwalk River in Connecticut. That same day, a human skull was found by a hunter in the woods in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
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March 19: A woman’s body, believed to be between 40 and 60 years old, was discovered inside a suitcase near a cemetery in Groton, Connecticut.
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March 21: The decomposing body of Denise Leary was found behind a house in a wooded part of New Haven.
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March 25: 56-year-old Michele Romano’s remains were located in a forested area off Plainfield Pike in Rhode Island.
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April 9–10: Unidentified male remains, estimated to belong to someone aged 25–45, were found in Killingly, Connecticut, with additional remains discovered in Massachusetts.
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April 21: Boaters spotted more unidentified remains in the Seekonk River, near Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
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April 22: Meggan Meredith was found unresponsive near a bike trail in Springfield and was later pronounced dead. Her case is being investigated as a homicide.
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April 23: Two men’s bodies were found in a wooded area near a Walmart in Salem, Massachusetts.
WHAT ARE OFFICIALS SAYING?
Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella rejected speculation that these findings are linked to a serial killer. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he said there is “no indication” that the latest discovery is tied to a broader criminal pattern.
District Attorney Gulluni also warned that unverified rumors circulating online could harm ongoing investigations. “Social media can spread fear or misinformation that distorts the reality of these cases,” he said.
COULD A SERIAL KILLER REALLY BE BEHIND THIS?
Criminologist James Alan Fox of Northeastern University weighed in, explaining that most serial killers tend to have consistent victim profiles and disposal habits. In these cases, however, victims vary greatly in age, gender, and location, making it unlikely that the deaths are connected in the way some people suspect.
“There’s no consistency in where the remains were found or who the victims were,” Fox said. “Serial killers often return to familiar places to dump bodies — that’s not happening here.”
He added that serial killers typically operate close to areas they know well, not across multiple states.