Serial Killer Fears Spark Social Media Frenzy After Multiple Sets of Human Remains Found Across New England

A series of discoveries involving female human remains across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island has sparked online theories of a potential serial killer despite authorities denying any connections between the cases.

Hartford, Connecticut — A wave of fear and speculation has gripped New England as a series of human remains have been discovered across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in recent weeks, prompting widespread concern and theories of a serial killer on the loose.

Theories have emerged online, particularly within a rapidly growing Facebook group titled “New England Serial Killer,” which now has over 57,000 members. Group members and social media users on platforms like TikTok and X have been examining the unsettling pattern of remains found in multiple towns, including New Haven, Groton, Norwalk, and Killingly in Connecticut; Framingham and Plymouth in Massachusetts; and Foster in Rhode Island.

As of April, three of the remains have been identified. Authorities in New Haven confirmed that 59-year-old Denise Leary, a missing mother of two, was the victim found on March 21. In Norwalk, police recovered the body of 35-year-old Paige Fannon of West Islip, New York, from a fast-moving river on March 6. Rhode Island State Police identified the third victim as 56-year-old Michele Romano, whose body was found in a wooded area of Foster on March 25. Romano had been missing since August 2024.

Other discoveries remain unidentified. On March 19, Groton police located the body of a woman believed to be between the ages of 40 and 60 with physical characteristics consistent with Turner syndrome. On April 9, authorities confirmed the discovery of additional human remains in Killingly. The following day, more remains were found in Framingham, Massachusetts, with officials noting the body had likely been there for several months.

Despite the timing and proximity of these findings, law enforcement officials across all three states have stressed that there is no evidence linking the deaths or suggesting a serial killer is involved.

"There is no information at this time suggesting any connection between these discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public,” Connecticut State Police said in a recent statement.

New Haven police officer Christian Bruckhart, who is working on the Leary case, acknowledged public fascination with serial killer narratives but clarified that there is no indication Leary died by homicide. “Serial killers are almost mythical figures in popular culture,” he said. “But our investigation has not found evidence of foul play.”

Bruckhart also pointed out a key detail many online speculators may overlook: the women went missing at different times. Paige Fannon disappeared just days before her body was found in early March. Michele Romano had been missing since August 18, 2024, and Denise Leary vanished a month later on September 29.

Romano’s family publicly rejected the idea of a serial killer in their loved one’s case. “Michele’s passing is in no way related to any type of serial killer,” the family said in a statement issued Tuesday. “We have complete faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our private investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice.”

Nevertheless, the public's unease continues to grow. The Facebook group dedicated to the theory gained over 10,000 members in a single weekend, and searches for “New England serial killer” spiked around April 7. Podcast hosts, like Jane Boroski of "Invisible Tears" — herself a survivor of the infamous Connecticut River Valley killer — have joined the conversation, fueling curiosity and concern.

Adding to the tension is the uncertainty surrounding several of the bodies. In Groton, investigators say the woman’s remains suggest she had lived with Turner syndrome, but they are still working to confirm her identity. Meanwhile, the remains found in Killingly and Framingham remain unidentified, and their causes of death are unknown.

Officials insist these cases are unrelated, but the eerie coincidence of multiple women’s bodies being discovered within a short timeframe and geographic area has created a climate of fear, suspicion, and rampant online theorizing.

For now, police agencies continue to investigate each case individually, asking the public for patience and urging anyone with information to come forward.