Law enforcement officials and serial killer experts have initiated investigations into a series of mysterious deaths across three New England states, raising concerns about potential connections between the cases.
According to Daily Mail, 11 bodies have been discovered across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts since early March 2025, prompting leading experts Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Dr. Ann Burgess to analyze possible links between the deaths.
The string of discoveries began on March 6 when authorities found the body of 35-year-old Paige Fannon in Connecticut's Norwalk River. That same day, a human skull was discovered in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The discoveries continued throughout March and April, with bodies found in various locations, including cemeteries, rivers, and wooded areas.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a forensic psychology professor at DeSales University known for studying BTK killer Dennis Rader, emphasizes the importance of avoiding premature conclusions. She explains that while some victims share similar characteristics, such as being women in their 50s, this alone does not definitively indicate a pattern.
Dr. Ann Burgess, renowned for her work in developing serial killer profiles with the FBI's behavioral unit, notes that the number of bodies found in such a short timeframe is concerning. However, she maintains that more information is needed before establishing concrete connections between the cases.
Dr. Ramsland shares her perspective on the public's growing suspicion of law enforcement handling these cases:
I think people are highly influenced by the LISK [Long Island serial killer] situation where remains were found all over the place and now they're beginning to be connected to one individual. Because of the way that investigation was poorly handled, because there were cover-ups and the FBI was shoved out, I think people are very suspicious of police handling these investigations.
The cases have garnered significant attention on social media platforms, with a Facebook group dedicated to the theory growing to 68,000 members within days. Videos discussing the cases on TikTok have accumulated millions of views, leading to both productive discussions and problematic speculation.
Law enforcement agencies have found themselves responding to various claims made online, including investigating an anonymous confession posted in a Facebook group. A two-day search involving detectives and cadaver dogs was conducted after the poster claimed to have buried bodies near a Massachusetts beach.
The social media attention has also affected victims' families. Michele Romano's sister publicly demanded her sister's name and pictures be removed from online discussions, stating that Romano was not killed by a serial killer.
Several cases have already been resolved independently of any serial killer theory. Suzanne Wormser's roommate, Donald Coffel, has been charged with her murder, while police have ruled out foul play in Denise Leary's death.
Dr. Burgess emphasizes the need for more information about death circumstances, victimology, and crime scene patterns before establishing potential links between cases. She suggests continued monitoring of the situation to determine if more bodies are discovered.
Law enforcement agencies maintain there are no confirmed connections between the cases, though experts believe they are likely comparing notes behind the scenes.
A series of mysterious deaths across New England has prompted investigations by leading serial killer experts Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Dr. Ann Burgess. The discovery of 11 bodies in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts since March 2025 has sparked widespread speculation about potential connections between the cases. While some deaths have been explained through individual investigations, experts continue to analyze the remaining cases for possible links while cautioning against premature conclusions about the existence of a serial killer.
