With a spate of bodies found across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut since March, online forums have been abuzz with theories about a potential serial killer in New England. However, local authorities have firmly refuted such claims. In a recent statement given to Boston 25 News, the Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni urged the public not to succumb to speculation, emphasizing that "each of these cases is being thoroughly investigated in close coordination with our law enforcement partners." The DA's message addressed the growing concern following findings such as a woman’s body discovered on a Springfield bike path, saying, "Our hearts go out to the families who are grieving."
The rumors reached a point where the Narragansett Police Department investigated leads from an online serial killer group that hinted at multiple bodies buried at the Black Point area of Scarborough Beach. However, the alleged clues turned out to stem from an author working on a novel, leading to an extensive yet fruitless search by detectives and cadaver dogs. "The anonymous poster commented numerous times in the group about it being a metaphorical, and literary work," the department said, according to a report by NBC Boston. As for the online community that has been deeply engaged in these theories, the DA's office cautioned that "Unverified claims can compromise active investigations and contribute to a sense of chaos that does not reflect the full picture."
Some of the incidents fueling the rumors included a human skull found on Route 3 in Plymouth on March 6, human skeletal remains located along the Massachusetts Turnpike in Framingham on April 10, and two bodies discovered behind a Walmart in Salem. Notably, in the Salem case, a 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder. Nonetheless, the Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan informed that foul play did not appear to be a factor in the Framingham case.
Amidst the escalating online discourse, and local police departments have maintained constant communication with federal agencies, including the FBI. However, as the Groton Police Department noted in communications with NBC Connecticut, there is no known evidence linking the incidents in Rhode Island with any cases in their jurisdiction. Addressing the Springfield case where a woman's body was found, the Hampden County District Attorney's office reiterated that there is "no indication” that it is connected with other recent cases, or that it poses "part of a larger public safety threat."
