Amid growing online chatter about a potential serial killer in New England, Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble has indicated the agency is taking note of the cases causing such speculation while underscoring the lack of evidence currently linking them. "As a former homicide detective, certainly I am tracking the news of these tragic deaths," Noble said in an interview at department headquarters in Framingham, as reported by NBC Boston. He added, "there is no evidence to indicate that there is a serial killer at this moment."
Despite nondescript surroundings, the MSP Fusion Center, a central hub where multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels converge for threat-related intelligence, is actively monitoring and tracking the pattern of deaths. Noble told the Boston Herald, "And, certainly, if we do uncover similarities or consistencies between the cases, they have our attention for sure."
The string of cases began with the discovery of skeletal remains in Natick on April 10 and included multiple corpses found across six states. Instances like the death of Paige Fannon in Connecticut and the heinous murder of Suzanne Wormser, found in a suitcase in Groton, have fueled the rumors. However, Wormser's case was believed to be closed after her roommate Donald Coffel was charged with her murder.
Discussions about these incidents have flourished online, leading authorities to urge restraint. "We understand the unease that comes with such acts of violence," Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni stated on April 24, and urged the public to be mindful of social media's role in spreading fear or misinformation. This statement was made in light of one concerned resident, who found human remains in a wooded area of New Haven on March 20. Gulluni emphasized in the same Boston Herald interview, "While online conversations around these incidents continue to grow, we urge the public to be mindful of the role that social media can play in spreading fear or misinformation."
While online sleuths point to patterns such as bodies found in secluded areas, Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox plays down the likelihood of a single perpetrator. "There is little commonality among the victims," Fox mentioned, highlighting the diversity in victims' demographics and the widespread locations. He made these points while speaking with the Boston Herald, reinforcing his stance that a singular serial killer hypothesis is not supported by current evidence.
