Seven bodies were discovered across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, sparking fears of a new serial killer and prompting a former prosecutor to demand a “review and investigation” of the incidents.
New England serial killer fears warrant ‘review and investigation’ as body count reaches 7 across 3 states, expert says https://t.co/GIZiFnjzG5 pic.twitter.com/YBFk158OR8
— New York Post (@nypost) April 17, 2025
Fox News reports that seven human remains were discovered in the towns of Foster, Rhode Island; Framingham, Massachusetts; Plymouth, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Norwalk, Connecticut; Groton, Connecticut; and Killingly, Connecticut.
Is it just me or has everyone in New England been acting weird lately?? Now there’s talk of a serial killer. There must be something in the @DunkinDonuts. Because something is NOT right.#NewEngland #TrueCrimehttps://t.co/IHqJwnwscI pic.twitter.com/cOP4oRLhK7
— Anthony D'Ellena (@AnthonyDEllena) April 17, 2025
At the moment, it is unclear whether the deaths of all seven victims are related, though many are beginning to speculate about a serial killer.
Connecticut State Police issued a statement to Fox News about the killings in their state, claiming that “there is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time.”
However, Pennsylvania-based criminal defense attorney and former Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino has argued that there needs to be a serious investigation into whether the crimes are connected.
“Whether it’s coincidental or not, I think it merits review and investigation, at least,” Mangino told Fox News. “Collaboration between the different jurisdictions to determine whether or not there is some threat out there to individuals — that may be going on as we speak. We don’t know that, but I think it does merit that kind of scrutiny.”
He went on to note that investigators should determine whether any “patterns” exist between the killings or at the crime scenes.
“These different jurisdictions need to get together and compare notes and reports,” Mangino said. “You can initially see if there are any similarities between these deaths. Were these homicides? I mean, we may find that these are natural deaths or … it could be a suicide, it could be accidental. So, the number one issue is: is there enough to determine the cause and manner of death?”
At least three of the seven victims are women, with police noting that a fourth victim in Killingly is believed to be a woman in her 40s-60s. This has prompted adjunct faculty member at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Brian Higgins, who is also a former chief of police in New Jersey’s Bergen County, to speculate whether at least these cases were related, if not all seven.
“Well, you have the remains of seven people — that doesn’t mean necessarily all seven are [victims] of a serial killer,” he said. “It could be, later on, you know, two or three victims. But it brought attention to these deaths, and that’s a positive way to look at that.”
Police found the remains of Paige Fannon, 35, of West Islip, New York, in Connecticut’s Norwalk River on March 6. That same day, a man searching for deer antlers in Plymouth, Connecticut, discovered a human skull in a wooded area of Route 3.
In Groton, Connecticut, remains of an unidentified woman between the ages of 40 and 60 were found near a cemetery. Two days later, the remains of Denise Leary, a 59-year-old mother of two, were found in New Haven, Connecticut.
On March 26, the remains of 56-year-old Michele Romano, of Warwick, New York, were found in the woods in Foster, Rhode Island. However, Romano’s relatives have insisted that her death has nothing to do with a serial killer. In a post on Facebook, one of her relatives wrote: “In light of the recent comments being made, we know that Michele’s passing is in no way related to any type of serial killer. We have complete faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice sooner rather than later!”
Another body was discovered in Killingly, Connecticut, on April 9, and more human remains were discovered off the Massachusetts Turnpike in Framingham on April 10.
The fears of a serial killer on the loose in New England has prompted the creation of a Facebook page dedicated to the deaths, titled “New England Serial Killer.” The group has more than 55,000 members as of April 18.
