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Concerns about a possible serial killer in New England have intensified following the discovery of an eighth body in the region. On Tuesday (April 22), police found an unidentified woman dead near a bike path in Springfield, Massachusetts. The cause of her death is yet to be determined, and authorities are investigating the incident as an unattended death, pending an autopsy by the medical examiner.
Rumors of a serial killer have circulated since March, with seven other bodies, mostly women, found across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
The speculation has been fueled by a Facebook group called "New England Serial Killer," which has grown to over 65,000 members. The group, which has changed its name to "The New England SK" due to Facebook rules, has become a hub for discussions about the recent deaths.
Despite the speculation, police have not confirmed any connections between the deaths. Only three of the eight bodies have been identified, including Paige Fannon, 35, from West Islip, New York, Denise Leary, 59, from New Haven, and Michele Romano, 56, from Warwick, Rhode Island. The causes of their deaths remain unknown.
Peter Valentin, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven, finds the pattern of discoveries across three states "curious" but cautioned in an interview with Fox News that there is no evidence linking the deaths. Authorities, including the Connecticut State Police, have stated that there is no known threat to the public and have dismissed the serial killer theory as "internet rumors."
Ryan Walsh, a spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department, emphasized that the latest death is not currently connected to the other cases.