Unidentified Remains Found in Westerly, RI, Raising Concerns About a Possible New England Serial Killer

They found what appeared to be a human leg bone near Everett Avenue, not far from the town’s most famous historical landmark, the Ocean House Hotel, and Taylor Swift’s 1920s mansion, formerly known as High Watch.

The remains — still unidentified — were taken to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office for analysis and were later confirmed to be, in fact, human. At this time, police suspect no foul play.

Following the discovery, local news outlet NBC WJAR spoke over the phone with Westerly resident Taylor Day. Day was driving past the scene when she noticed three police cars — one undercover — and a medical examiner pulling up behind her.

“It kind of alarmed me. It was just something very out of the ordinary for Westerly,” she said. “It’s scary for Westerly, because Westerly is a — I consider a very safe town,” she continued, adding that finding “just a leg” is “very suspicious.”

Day also shared that the crime scene was “just a couple of football fields away” from Swift’s home and the Ocean House. “My mind immediately went to all the theories that are being thrown around,” she recalled, referring to the ongoing speculation of a rampant serial killer in New England.

So far, there have been 12 discoveries of human remains across the region — in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — since March, making this the 13th. Upon hearing about the latest findings, netizens took to social media to share their reactions.

“Apparently, all of the remains that have been found over the last few months are not suspected to be ‘suspicious’ according to the reports hours after finding the body. Isn’t that up to the medical examiner to determine after his investigation and autopsy?” one person inquired.

“That’s what they said about the other 12 bodies they have found in 3 neighboring States,” another remarked.

“Dozens of bodies being found in southern New England, but don’t worry it’s not a serial killer… So we have dozens of murderers out there?” someone else wondered.

“If it’s not suspicious then explain to us more,” a commenter requested. Former FBI instructor and certified police instructor Scott Duffey echoed this sentiment in a recent interview with Fox News.

Duffey argued that the reason speculation about a possible serial killer has only intensified in recent months is the lack of information. Although police have launched investigations into each of the 12 cases, few developments have been made.

Authorities have also shared very few details about how each victim died. “From what I’ve seen or heard, first and foremost, not enough is being put out there, so we’ll continue to create that serial killer idea,” Duffey said.

Indeed, internet users have even created groups where theories are shared and supposed connections are made between the deaths. Still, law enforcement in the affected areas has shut down rumors of a serial killer.

Duffey concurred. “Nothing that I have seen would arise to a serial killer [being] responsible for any or most of these people who have been found,” the former instructor said. He even reassured his family of this belief.

Even so, he urged the public to remain vigilant. “An individual who’s looking to take advantage of a vulnerable situation will do so,” Duffey noted. He also recommended the buddy system, advising all residents to take someone with them wherever they go, whenever they can. “[…] Have your phone and just be aware of your surroundings,” he added.

NBC 10 WJAR also had multiple experts weigh in on the situation before the 13th human remains discovery. New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson, who found the second body in March, told the outlet, “It is not looking like a murder and certainly not looking like a serial killer.”

Despite this, online chatter continues, and Jacobson has had to tread carefully while sharing information with the public without compromising the investigation.

In another case, back in Narragansett, Rhode Island, a Facebook user shared the theory that bodies are being buried in Scarborough Beach.

Although Narragansett Detective Sgt. Brent Kuzman said the theory was “concerning, but not credible,” he was forced to investigate after receiving multiple calls and emails from concerned residents.

Several officers with two state police cadaver dogs were sent on a two to three-hour-long search, but they found no evidence of clandestine graves. This led to Kuzman acknowledging how social media can impact police investigations and taxpayer resources.

“You have to have a response, you have to at least do your due diligence to debunk the claims that the poster is making, even as vague as they were,” he said.

Peter Valentin, Chair of the University of New Haven’s Forensic Science Department and a former Connecticut State Trooper, has also echoed this observation.

However, he also noted, “As easy as it is or might be to dismiss some of this as idle chatter, it would be wise to pay some attention to it because there might be some useful information that comes through it.”

Still, he acknowledged that the virality of these cases can complicate investigations further. As they continue, with no connections found between all 13 deaths so far, police will protect their leads while maintaining a discretionary level of transparency with the public.