What We Know About 6 Bodies Found Across New England — and the Serial Killer Fears They've Sparked

Residents across several New England towns are expressing concerns about a possible serial killer after at least six bodies have been recovered in a little over a month.

The remains were found in four towns in Connecticut, one town in Massachusetts and one town in Rhode Island — all within a couple of hours of each other and on the Atlantic coast.

As the notion of a possible serial killer floats across social media among web sleuths, some investigating agencies have dismissed the theory, PEOPLE previously reported.

Two of the women connected to the case disappeared in the fall, per local media reports. 

Here’s what we know about the victims and the timeline of the bodies discovered:

March 6, Norwalk, Conn.

Paige Fannon, Female, 35

The body of Paige Fannon was recovered by Norwalk police’s scuba team and fire rescue team on March 6, local outlets The Hour and the Daily Voice reported.

Norwalk police were assisting authorities in nearby Wilton, Conn., search for a missing person, The Hour, the Daily Voice and the New Haven Register reported at the time.

Per the New Haven Register, Wilton authorities were looking for Fannon, a resident of West Islip on Long Island, as she was seen in their jurisdiction on March 5, a day after she was reported missing in New York.

Authorities located clothing and personal items left on the bank of the Norwalk River before eventually discovering Fannon’s body. 

A GoFundMe has been set up to assist her family as they cope with her untimely death. 

March 19, Groton, Conn.

Unnamed, Female, 40 — 60-years-old 

Authorities recovered a body inside a suitcase near a cemetery in Groton, WTNH reported.  State police told the outlet they do not believe there is any information suggesting a connection to the discovery of other remains. 

Groton’s police chief echoed the statement, urging people to not “rush to judgement,” per the outlet. 

Groton is 80 miles east of Norwalk.

March 6, Plymouth, Mass.

Unnamed, no information on gender or age 

Human remains were found by a hunter in a wooded area in Plymouth, Mass., about 108 miles east of Groton and 178 miles east from Norwalk. 

The hunter initially thought the remains belonged to an animal, before realizing the bone was not consistent with the shape of animal bones, Boston 25 reported at the time. 

Officers responding to his report determined the bone was the top half of a human skull, with its jaw and nasal area missing, per the outlet. 

Authorities did not release any identifying information, such as the age and gender, of the victim.

PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from Plymouth police regarding updates. 

March 20, New Haven, Conn. 

Denise Leary, Female, 59

Authorities in New Haven found the body of Denise Leary after residents reported discovering human remains in a wooded area near a home, the New Haven police announced on X at the time. 

The remains were “in an advanced state of decay” when they were found, police said. 

On March 25, police confirmed the body belonged to Denise Leary, who disappeared in September, per WFSB and the New Haven Register.

Police claimed Leary suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, per WFSB.

New Haven is about 156 miles west of Plymouth and about 50 miles west of Groton.

March 26, Foster, R.I. 

Michele Romano, Female, 56

The body of Michele Romano was found on March 26, eight months after she disappeared.

Her remains were found in a wooded area, Rhode Island authorities said at the time, per WJAR.

Investigators began looking into the “suspicious circumstances” surrounding her death.

A man in the neighborhood told WJAR that his dog may have noticed the remains before they were found by the individual who reported it.

“I know my dog has been acting strange when he comes out here,” Tom Slater told the outlet. “He’s always sniffing over that way. I don’t know how long the body has been over there but he would pick up on it.”

Foster is about 89 miles northeast of New Haven.

April 9, Killingly, Conn. 

Unnamed, no information on gender or age 

Last week, unidentified human remains were found in Killingly, the Connecticut State Police previously told PEOPLE in an email.

“This investigation is in the early stages, remains active and ongoing, and there is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries actively under investigation by CSP or other CT law enforcement agencies,” the agency said.

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While police across the towns remain tight-lipped, online sleuths are gathering on TikTok, Facebook and Reddit to discuss the matter.

Many have joirned Facebook group “New England SK” to stay updated on the case and similar news.