Human Remains Found Near Taylor Swift's Watch Hill Home—What To Know So Far

Forbes

16-05-2025

Westerly, RI - August 22: A man fishes at the Watch Hill Lighthouse for stripped bass with home of ... More Taylor Swift in the background during the eye of the Tropical Storm Henri in Westerly, RI on Aug. 22, 2021. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Taylor Swift's beloved Holiday House is back in the spotlight – but this time, it's not because of her famous Fourth of July bashes. On May 14, authorities made a disturbing discovery less than a mile from the singer's Rhode Island estate.
Police in Westerly, R.I., confirmed that human remains were found in Watch Hill, an exclusive coastal neighborhood where Swift's mansion and other historic estates are located.
Around 9:30 a.m. on May 14, officers arrived at the scene and uncovered "what appeared to be a human leg bone," according to a statement shared with People.
Investigators are now awaiting confirmation of the remains' identity, which has been sent to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office for analysis. At this time, no foul play is suspected.
The remains were found less than a mile from the pop star's home, local authorities confirmed to NBC News.
Westerly resident Taylor Day told NBC10 WJAR that the scene was 'a couple football fields away from Taylor Swift's house and the Ocean House,' adding, 'I would never expect anything like that—especially not in Watch Hill.'
Rumors and theories about a possible serial killer in New England have been circulating online, following the discovery of at least 12 bodies across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut in recent months.
However, New Haven Police, Springfield Police, the Rhode Island State Police, and the Hampden County District Attorney's Office have all dismissed those claims, according to NBC 10 News.
After learning about the latest discovery in Watch Hill, Day said her 'mind immediately went to all the theories that are being thrown around.' She continued, 'I'm more aware of my surroundings. I don't go places that are kind of dim or where I could be alone. Just trying to stay out in public and be vigilant.'
Taylor Swift/Instagram
In 2013, Swift reportedly paid $17.75 million in cash for the colonial-style mansion, according to Business Insider. Originally built in 1904, the estate sits atop the highest point in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and features over 700 feet of private beachfront.
The home was famously owned by oil heiress Rebekah Harkness for more than 30 years. Swift later drew inspiration from Harkness's life for her 2020 Folklore track 'The Last Great American Dynasty.'
"I got the house when I was in my early 20s as a place for my family to congregate and be together," Swift told Entertainment Weekly in December 2020. She said she learned about Harkness "as soon as I was being walked through [her former Rhode Island] home."
The artist continued, 'So I started reading. I found her so interesting. And then as more parallels began to develop between our two lives—being the lady that lives in that house on the hill that everybody gets to gossip about—I was always looking for an opportunity to write about her. And I finally found it.'
Over the years, Swift has hosted several star-studded Fourth of July parties at her seaside mansion. Celebrity guests have included Ed Sheeran, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, the Haim sisters, and Selena Gomez. Most recently, she welcomed friends in 2024 during a break from the Eras Tour. Several outlets reported that Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper, Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes all visited the home.
Stay tuned for more updates.