A string of human remains discovered in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island over the past two months has stirred public anxiety and raised questions about a possible New England serial killer operating across state lines. So far, at least seven bodies have been found since early March in separate locations throughout the region.
The victims have been discovered in Foster, Rhode Island; Framingham and Plymouth, Massachusetts; and New Haven, Norwalk, Groton, and Killingly, Connecticut. Law enforcement officials from Connecticut have stated there is currently no known connection between the cases and no known threat to the public. However, former prosecutor Matthew Mangino says the trend demands closer scrutiny.
“Whether it’s coincidental or not, I think it merits review and investigation, at least,” Mangino said. He urged collaboration between local and state law enforcement across all jurisdictions to assess any potential links between the cases. “You can initially see if there are any similarities between these deaths… Were these homicides? … It could be a suicide, it could be accidental,” he noted.
Brian Higgins, former police chief and adjunct faculty at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, added that at least three of the victims are women. Authorities believe the remains found in Killingly belong to a woman in her 40s to 60s.
The most publicized cases include:
- Paige Fannon, 35, whose body was found March 6 in the Norwalk River.
- A human skull found the same day in Plymouth by a man searching for deer antlers.
- An unidentified woman found near a cemetery in Groton.
- Denise Leary, 59, a mother of two, found March 8 in New Haven.
- Michele Romano, 56, whose body was found March 26 in the woods of Foster.
- Additional bodies discovered April 9 in Killingly and April 10 in Framingham.
Romano’s family has publicly rejected claims of a serial killer connection in her case, expressing confidence in local law enforcement and a private investigator.
Still, online speculation has grown rapidly. A Facebook group titled “New England Serial Killer” has amassed over 55,000 members since April 15, reflecting widespread public concern.
While law enforcement has not confirmed any criminal pattern, the unusual number of deaths in such a short span is now drawing national attention and prompting renewed calls for coordinated investigations.
