Massachusetts Authorities Investigate Woman’s Death Amid Rising New England Serial Killer Speculation

Massachusetts authorities are probing the death of a woman discovered unresponsive near a bike path in Springfield on Tuesday. According to RYAN WALSH, spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department (SPD), officers responded to reports of an unresponsive person at the 1500 block of Hall of Fame Avenue. Upon arrival, they found a woman who was pronounced dead shortly after.

The SPD Homicide Unit, led by Captain TRENT DUDA, is conducting an unattended death investigation in collaboration with the Hampden District Attorney’s Murder Unit. The cause of death will be determined pending an autopsy by the Medical Examiner, Walsh stated.

The woman’s death has sparked online rumors about a possible New England serial killer, following the deaths of seven—now eight—individuals, mostly women, between March and April across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. As of Wednesday, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the victims’ deaths.

Walsh emphasized to Fox News Digital that the woman’s cause of death remains under investigation and cautioned against unverified internet speculation. The rumors originated in a Facebook group titled “New England Serial Killer,” which has since been renamed due to platform regulations.

Human remains have been discovered in multiple locations over the past two months, including New Haven, Norwalk, Groton, and Killingly in Connecticut; Foster, Rhode Island; and Framingham, Plymouth, and Springfield in Massachusetts. While some social media users speculate these findings indicate a serial killer, Connecticut State Police told Fox News Digital there is no evidence linking the cases or posing an immediate public threat.

PETER VALENTIN, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, noted that the circumstances of the Springfield case suggest a recent death, distinct from earlier discoveries. He highlighted the need to examine evidence surrounding the body, which could provide clarity on the nature of the death.

Of the eight victims, at least four—two in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island, and one in Massachusetts—have been identified as women. Police also believe the victim found in Killingly, Connecticut, was a woman aged 40 to 60, though her identity remains unconfirmed.

The renamed Facebook group discussing the case has surged to 65,300 members, gaining over 15,000 new members this month. Google searches for “New England serial killer” peaked around April 7, reflecting heightened public interest.

[Sources: Fox News Digital, MassLive.com]