This week, human remains were discovered near Watch Hill, Rhode Island — the affluent seaside community where Taylor Swift owns a holiday home — prompting a wave of public concern.
According to PEOPLE, the Westerly Police Department confirmed that suspected human remains were found on Everett Avenue around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Officers reported locating what “appeared to be a human leg bone.”
Authorities stated:
“Investigators are awaiting official confirmation of the identity of the remains. No foul play is suspected at this time.”
The discovery has raised alarms among locals, particularly given that 12 other human remains have been found across various New England towns in recent months — including New Haven, Norwalk, Groton, and Killingly in Connecticut; Foster in Rhode Island; and Framingham, Plymouth, and Springfield in Massachusetts.
The string of deaths has fueled rampant speculation online, with many questioning whether a serial killer could be involved. However, law enforcement has repeatedly cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
Following the discovery of 45-year-old Meggan Meredith’s body in Springfield last month, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni addressed the public:
“Unverified claims can compromise active investigations. At this time, there is no indication that these incidents are connected to each other or that they pose a larger public safety threat.”
Despite the official reassurances, speculation persists on social media. Facebook groups and online forums have been flooded with users analyzing the cases, proposing theories, and searching for potential links.
As investigations continue, authorities urge the public to avoid spreading misinformation and allow time for evidence-based conclusions.
Human remains have been found in Watch Hill, Rhode Island (Getty Stock Photo)
Where Have the Bodies Been Found?
A series of unsettling discoveries have been made across the Northeast in recent weeks:
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March 6: The body of 35-year-old Paige Fannon was recovered from the Norwalk River in Connecticut by a police scuba team, according to the New Haven Register.
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March 6: On the same day, officers in Plymouth responded to a report from a hunter who found human remains in the woods. The remains were later confirmed to be a skull missing its jaw and nasal area.
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March 19: In Groton, police found the body of a woman—estimated to be between 40 and 60 years old—stuffed inside a suitcase near a cemetery, as reported by WTNH.
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March 21: The decomposed body of Denise Leary was discovered in a wooded area behind a home in New Haven. Authorities described the remains as being in a “state of decay.”
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March 25: In Rhode Island, the body of 56-year-old Michele Romano was found in a wooded area off Plainfield Pike, according to WJAR.
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April 9–10: Unidentified remains of a man, believed to be between 25 and 45 years old, were found in Killingly, Connecticut. Additional unidentified remains were discovered in Massachusetts around the same time.
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April 21: More unidentified human remains were recovered from the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, by a boater.
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April 22: In Springfield, Massachusetts, Meggan Meredith was found unresponsive near a bike path and later died. Police are treating her death as a homicide.
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April 23: The bodies of two men were found in the woods near a Walmart in Salem, Massachusetts.
There have been a string of other discoveries in the region (Boston 25 News)
What Have Police Said?
Authorities are firmly dismissing the idea that a serial killer is behind the recent discoveries. In fact, some officials warn that such speculation may do more harm than good.
After suspected human remains were found earlier this week, Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella told Fox News Digital:
“As far as I’m concerned, as of right now, this has nothing to do with any serial killer or any so-called ‘New England murderer.’”
Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the dangers of misinformation. According to MetroWest, Gulluni stated:
“While online conversations around these incidents continue to grow, we urge the public to be mindful of the role that social media can play in spreading fear or misinformation.
Unverified claims can compromise active investigations and contribute to a sense of chaos that does not reflect the full picture.”
Could There Really Be a New England Serial Killer?
Amid the speculation, experts are casting doubt on the theory of a serial killer operating in the region.
Criminologist James Alan Fox of Northeastern University explained to Northeastern Global News that the evidence doesn’t support a serial killer profile:
“Most serial killers share commonalities among their victims — such as sex, race, age, or physical features. That’s not always the case, but they usually have a type. In these cases, the differences among the victims are striking.”
Fox also pointed out a lack of consistency in where the remains have been discovered:
“There’s no pattern to the dump sites. Many serial killers repeatedly use the same or similar locations to dispose of bodies — places where they feel safe or familiar. That’s not happening here.”
He added that most serial killers operate within a limited geographical area:
“More than 70% of serial killers commit their crimes in one locale — typically near their home, workplace, or areas they know well. They tend to have jobs and families, so they ‘kill part-time,’ often when they have free time. They don’t usually travel long distances looking for victims.”
