New England Serial Killer Speculation Thread

[Techette2020]

I still don't understand why every body found in these states during this same time period are not being discussed in the news. Very isolated reporting (town/area local news only) such as the Taunton MA body found in the woods and the recent one (yesterday) in a river in CT. And add to that another recent missing woman in CT.

I mean how frequently do people just walk into the woods and die or fall into a freezing river and drown all alone? Water in New England this time of year is Freezing...most people would not voluntarily enter the water IMHO.

https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/officials-respond-to-water-investigation-in-rocky-hill/

Police search for missing 72-year-old woman in Glastonbury

Heavy police presence is seen at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury on Sunday morning.

www.wfsb.com

This feels like a lot in a short period of time. It would be interesting to know if this is actually an increase over other years or is part for the course.

 

[Gummyshoe]

That is incorrect that there was little to no snow cover. There were several storms, especially in February. Snow in the upper portion to the Northeast did not melt immediately. There was also a period of cold.

The claim about no snow is incorrect. There was snow in New England this winter. There was also a cold snap in January and February. Even without the snow, the cold keeps people indoors more and not walking in the woods for fun. Even without snow, people stay in more during the colder months.

I will also mention that several of the women in CT - Denise Leary in New Haven, Paige Fannon in Norwalk- and Meggan Meredith in Springfield MA were all found quickly after they went missing or died.

Suzanne Wormser in Groton was in a suitcase in a somewhat public area for a month before being found. The man she lived with was arrested for her homicide.

The remains in Killingly CT, Plymouth MA, Framingham MA, and Foster RI were skeletal or partial remains. Framingham remains were found by firefighters during a brush fire. Plymouth skull was found by a man looking for deer antlers.

After looking into it a bit more, I don’t think that snow was a factor in these bodies not being found sooner. There was barely any snow that stuck the entire winter and it would not have obscured the bodies for more than a day or two at absolute maximum (in my opinion as a local). I can see the reasoning behind people not being out because of the cold, but it was not especially cold this winter in this region and this is not an annual occurrence even when the winters have been harsher.

 

[Techette2020]

After looking into it a bit more, I don’t think that snow was a factor in these bodies not being found sooner. There was barely any snow that stuck the entire winter and it would not have obscured the bodies for more than a day or two at absolute maximum (in my opinion as a local). I can see the reasoning behind people not being out because of the cold, but it was not especially cold this winter in this region and this is not an annual occurrence even when the winters have been harsher.

Agreed. I don't think we even know if the bodies were buried or covered in any way. No mention that I've seen.

 

[No_Stone_Unturned]

How were these people killed, IF "killed" is the correct word.

 

[Gummyshoe]

How were these people killed, IF "killed" is the correct word.

Are you referring to the cause of death?

 

[No_Stone_Unturned]

Are you referring to the cause of death?

Yes. I might have missed it in the articles above.

 

[Gummyshoe]

Unrelated to our current discussion, but that Facebook group is way out of line. It seems to be devolving into infighting as well from what I saw when I looked at it. But this is now just a drama club and it’s wasting police resources.

New England serial killer fears: Rhode Island police search for ‘clandestine graves’ amid string of 8 deaths, social media rumors

A private Facebook group previously dubbed “New England Serial Killer” has more than 65,300 members.

nypost.com

 

[DS2021]

Unrelated to our current discussion, but that Facebook group is way out of line. It seems to be devolving into infighting as well from what I saw when I looked at it. But this is now just a drama club and it’s wasting police resources.

New England serial killer fears: Rhode Island police search for ‘clandestine graves’ amid string of 8 deaths, social media rumors

A private Facebook group previously dubbed “New England Serial Killer” has more than 65,300 members.

nypost.com

There's a reason I've been trying to fact check things in here. I know that there's a lot of nonsense being pushed on other sites with no reprocussions.

This level of harmful and non victim friendly activity is my least favorite part of the true crime community.

 

[borndem]

This topic interests me having lived through the Boston Strangler days.

I remember the B.S. days -- from several states away -- but my cousin and her two friends were living up there then. Each of them had just finished their M.S. degrees in NC, with good jobs. (I was still in undergrad school in NC, but I knew each one of them).
They developed "rules" for themselves during those days in Boston... be home by 6:00pm or call, don't go out alone after dark, good solid door locks, and so on. They never had a problem, and they had a good, solid apartment, but my cousin's dad was just this close to going up there and bringing her home to Chapel Hill, NC.

Hoping the perpetrator will be found and caught asap.

 

[Soulmagent]

• Donald Coffel: A 68-year-old man from Groton, Connecticut, was arrested on April 25, 2025, in connection with the death of Suzanne Wormser, 58, whose remains were found in a suitcase near a cemetery in Groton. This arrest has dispelled rumors of a serial killer in the area
• .New England serial killer fears: Rhode Island police search for ‘clandestine graves’ amid string of deaths Groton police make arrest in human remains case

Seems the arrest helped a little.

 

[Soulmagent]

Anyway they have an 1980s unsolved serial murder case 9 victims found two still missing so they really do have serial murders to solve
The New England highway killings .
A book just came out about the case so that probably has helped kick the frenzy off.

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
bugenjoyer !!​

 

[BobPick]

I'm sorry to sound morbid, but do we have the exact location where they were found? For example, in a tree, shallow grave, etc? A street address?

I’ve been following this as a local resident since the news started popping up, it seems to be catching more steam and I wanted to see what you guys here think.

New England serial killer fears grow as police downplay threat encroaching on wealthy coastal enclaves

Internet sleuths are fueling speculation about a serial killer in New England after the discoveries of several sets of human remains across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

www.foxnews.com

(Archive)

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we know so far (all from March–April 2025):

• New Haven, CT (March 21) – Remains identified as Denise Leary, 59, mother of two, who was previously reported missing.
• Norwalk, CT (March 6) – Paige Fannon, 35, from West Islip, NY, found in the Norwalk River following heavy rainfall.
• Killingly, CT (April 9) – Remains confirmed but not yet identified.
• Groton, CT – No ID yet. Found at Colonel Ledyard Cemetery inside of a suitcase next to bus stop. Adult female between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Framingham & Plymouth, MA – Human remains discovered (unclear if connected).
• Foster, RI – Also under investigation, details sparse.

Connecticut State Police have officially said there’s “no information at this time suggesting any connection” between these cases and that there’s “no known threat to the public.” Still, it’s hard not to notice the cluster, not just geographically, but in timing. We’ve got at least three confirmed identifications, with others still pending.

There are some similarities in the locations (wooded, rural, or near water), and there’s a lot of speculation about whether these are just individual cases or something more coordinated.

So I wanted to bring this here.

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts and dig deeper into the timelines, geography, and backgrounds of the victims. It’s early, but we all know how fast these stories can evolve.

 

[DS2021]

Anyway they have an 1980s unsolved serial murder case 9 victims found two still missing so they really do have serial murders to solve
The New England highway killings .
A book just came out about the case so that probably has helped kick the frenzy off.

Connecticut River Valley Killer - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Connecticut river valley killings are still unsolved too

 

[Soulmagent]

Connecticut River Valley Killer - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Connecticut river valley killings are still unsolved too

That suspect is dead isnt he?

 

[Idawg67]

Is too early to know if all the cases are related. Cases like these could take years before investigators can connect the cases but is good that social media is all over it. Social media helps keeping the cases alive.

Woman SHOULD BE aware of their surrounding,

Women should ALWAYS be aware of their surroundings, no matter where they are. BUT, if women waited for the cops to say anything, or the media to WARN them, well, a lot more women would be dead. I like groups like this that keep stories like this alive !!

 

[Soulmagent]

I'm sorry to sound morbid, but do we have the exact location where they were found? For example, in a tree, shallow grave, etc? A street address?

Close but not exact ,if you read all the links I put with the map post the source links for the locations as close as I could get but everyone listed has a link to things such as the 1500 block of Hall of Fame Ave, or rt 3 and Long Pond Road etc,,,

 

[AloftLament]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1915281568731382138

"In total,
eight bodies have now been discovered across the idyllic region,
sparking community groups and rumors online about whether they're connected."

View attachment 581291

Were any of these found during the large FBI investigation along highway 88 in Westport, MA last summer? There were many police vehicles and a med examiner tent along the highway … is this related at all?

 

[sunshineray]

That is incorrect that there was little to no snow cover. There were several storms, especially in February. Snow in the upper portion to the Northeast did not melt immediately. There was also a period of cold.

The claim about no snow is incorrect. There was snow in New England this winter. There was also a cold snap in January and February. Even without the snow, the cold keeps people indoors more and not walking in the woods for fun. Even without snow, people stay in more during the colder months.

I will also mention that several of the women in CT - Denise Leary in New Haven, Paige Fannon in Norwalk- and Meggan Meredith in Springfield MA were all found quickly after they went missing or died.

Suzanne Wormser in Groton was in a suitcase in a somewhat public area for a month before being found. The man she lived with was arrested for her homicide.

The remains in Killingly CT, Plymouth MA, Framingham MA, and Foster RI were skeletal or partial remains. Framingham remains were found by firefighters during a brush fire. Plymouth skull was found by a man looking for deer antlers.

"Feb 4, 2025 — Bridgeport recorded 4.1 inches of snow during the month of January and has seen 5.4 inches of snow in total since July 1, 2024, the weather service said."

https://www.ctinsider.com/weather/article/ct-snowfall-winter-2025-2024-decrease-nws-data-20145930.php

"Just a trace of snow in Boston for March
This was the sixth consecutive March with well-below-average snowfall. We recorded just a trace on snow (last Friday) in Boston.
This ties Boston with nine other years for the least snowiest March on record."

It's barely snowed in Boston for the sixth March in a row. What will April bring?

This was the sixth consecutive March with well-below-average snowfall in Boston.

www.cbsnews.com

"Rhode Island's snowfall totals for the last three seasons have barely reached what the city [Providence] typically observes in a single winter, indicating a trend of below-average snowfall. " In Providence, Rhode Island, the 2024-2025 winter season saw a snowfall total of 8.1 inches up to mid-February...well below normal. MO

RI Weather: Rhode Island could get its biggest snowfall of the season this weekend

RI Weather: Rhode Island could get its biggest snowfall of the season this weekend

www.yahoo.com

These are just a few mentions. Thete are many more. While a few snow storms came in late Winter, there was below average snow cover in MA, CT and RI overall and a lot of rain. One might even say and agree with that, it created a big question on whether enough snow had fallen to stave off some possible drought situations as a result of the the below normal snowfall.

My point, not a lot of snow cover hiding bodies until a big Spring melt could reveal them. I think the places they (the ones in wooded areas) were recovered were just enough out of the way and foot traffic was low. MO

There's so much we don't know on the conditions of the bodies found, as far as exactly how decomposed they were. "Skeletal remains" gives a clue but "remains" does not, IMO. The victim from Springfield, MA will probably yield the most forensic clues. Hopefully someone saw something.

 

[nancy57]

There's a reason I've been trying to fact check things in here. I know that there's a lot of nonsense being pushed on other sites with no reprocussions.

This level of harmful and non victim friendly activity is my least favorite part of the true crime community.

I was in that Facebook group until this morning when I posted a link to websleuths. I was immediately blocked. Untrustworthy.