What began as online speculation has now consumed entire corners of the internet and the media: a so-called serial killer stalking New England, dumping bodies along rivers, highways, and hiking trails. But is it actually happening?
The serial killer theory, fueled by TikTok and a private Facebook group named New England SK, alleges that more than a dozen deaths since February 2025 are the work of a single killer.
But police say there’s no evidence to support that claim.
In recent weeks, users in the Facebook group have pushed the idea that a serial killer is operating across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut. Posts connect 12 deaths between March and May, mostly involving women in their 30’s to 50’s, with some victims reportedly found in duffel bags, trash bags, or near wooded areas. One theory even links the deaths to the long-unsolved Connecticut River Valley Killer, who was active from 1978 to 1988.
Some online sleuths claim the supposed killer targets lone hikers or women on walking trails. Others believe the person is a truck driver who dumps bodies along interstates.
But police have repeatedly stated that there is “no confirmed connection” between the deaths, and in some cases, no foul play at all.
In two recent incidents, Rhode Island law enforcement deployed cadaver dogs after a member of the Facebook group posted about a “morbid discovery.” Despite the user’s history of hoax-related content, including a “rickroll” reference and a poem spelling out “HOAX”—police responded out of caution. The April 21 and April 22 searches yielded nothing, and many believe it to be a waste of police resources.
Of the 12 deaths being circulated online, only a few have been confirmed as homicides. Suzanne Wormser, 58, was found stuffed in a suitcase near a cemetery in Groton, CT—her roommate was later arrested and charged with her murder. In contrast, other cases remain unclear, such as Denise Leary, whose remains were discovered near her New Haven home months after she was reported missing; her cause of death was ruled undetermined.
Some incidents showed no signs of foul play at all, like the remains found by officers responding to a brush fire in Framingham, MA. Meanwhile, at least one case—that of Stephen Myers, 39, who was found shot behind a Taunton high school construction site—appears to be entirely unrelated to the others.
Still, the lack of public detail has fueled speculation. A recent New York Post article quoted former FBI instructor Scott Duffy, who acknowledged the danger of silence: “There is not a lot of information being released to the public, which is causing people to believe there is a serial killer,” Duffy said.
But law enforcement agencies insist speculation is outpacing facts. So far, the only notable pattern is demographic: several victims were middle-aged women found dead in various parts of New England, some in wooded areas. Beyond that, there is no consistent method of killing, no forensic connection, and no known suspect tying the cases together.
Investigators say they’re not dismissing the possibility of a serial offender outright—but they need evidence, not internet theories.
In the meantime, authorities are encouraging the public to stay alert and cautious, especially when hiking or traveling alone. But they also warn against misinformation spreading through social media and amateur investigations.
Crime podcasts, TikTok creators, and Facebook groups may draw attention to unsolved cases, but experts caution that entertainment often comes at the cost of accuracy. And in this case, the real threat may not be a serial killer—but the viral rumor of one.
