Latest news with #WesterlyPolice
Fox News
16-05-2025
- Fox News
Rhode Island police chief rejects serial killer theory after human remains found near Taylor Swift's mansion
The top cop in a Rhode Island beach town says there is no connection between human remains found Wednesday and online fears of a serial killer in New England. "As far as I'm concerned, as far as right now, this has nothing to do with any serial killer [or] any New England murderer," Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella told Fox News Digital Friday. The remains were found in the wealthy coastal enclave of Watch Hill, part of the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, just down the beach from a sprawling mansion owned by pop superstar Taylor Swift. A five-star beach getaway, the Ocean House, a luxurious resort on the Watch Hill bluffs overlooking the sea, stands just a few miles away. Gingerella attributed the serial killer fears to "the power of social media. Despite the rumors, he still thinks social media "has more benefits than negatives," he added. The speculation has gripped New England after 13 bodies have been discovered in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts since the beginning of March. Gingerella told Fox News Digital the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office is working to positively identify the remains. Of the 13 bodies found, five have been found in Massachusetts, five in Connecticut and three in Rhode Island. Six of the deceased have been identified as females and three as males. The sexes of the remaining four are unknown. The age ranges of those identified also vary. Seven of the victims were older than 45, while two were between the ages of 25 and 44. The discovery in Westerly comes three weeks after an unidentified male was found in the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Westerly and Pawtucket are about 48 miles apart. The first body found in Rhode Island was that of Michele Romano, found in the town of Foster in March, about 49 miles from Westerly. Romano's family said her death is unrelated to any potential serial killer. "In light of the recent comments being made, we know that Michele's passing is in no way related to any type of serial killer," the family said when her remains were identified. "We have complete faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice sooner rather than later! We would appreciate it, if people on social media/news or other platforms would stop making false statements that our Michele is in any way the victim of a serial killer!!" The Rhode Island State Police and the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- News.com.au
Human remains found near Taylor Swift's Rhode Island mansion amid fears a serial killer is on the loose
Human remains were discovered down the road from Taylor Swift's Rhode Island mansion amid fears a New England serial killer is on the loose. On Wednesday morning local time, police in Westerly were called to Everett Ave in the Watch Hill neighbourhood following reports of possible remains, according to NBC10. When officers arrived to the location, which is just about 500 metres from Swift's home, they located what appeared to be a human leg bone. They collected the remains and transferred them to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office for further analysis. The case is being investigated by the Westerly Police Department Detective Division. Taylor Day, a Westerly resident, happened to be driving by the 'alarming' scene as investigators were arriving. 'It's just something very out of the ordinary for Westerly,' she explained to the outlet, adding, 'I would never expect anything like that — especially not in Watch Hill.' Police insist no foul play is suspected at this time, but Day 'would definitely disagree with that,' as she emphasised that 'finding a leg is very suspicious.' There have been a dozen discoveries of human bodies and remains in multiple Northeastern states in recent months, leading residents to worry about a possible serial killer — who seemingly targets women. 'My mind immediately went to all the theories that are being thrown around,' Day said. '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.' Despite the multiple — and eerily similar — discoveries, officials have continued to rule out foul play, even claiming that there is no 'connection' among the cases and 'no known threat to the public.' Reps for Swift, 35, did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
‘Human remains' found near Taylor Swift's beachside mansion reigniting ‘serial killer' fears after 12 bodies discovered
FEARS of a serial killer have spiralled after the discovery of a possible human leg near Taylor Swift's beachside mansion. The alleged human leg bone was found washed up in Rhode Island - and is rumored as being the 13th body found in three months, say reports. 5 5 Investigators in Westerly are currently awaiting official confirmation of the identity of the remains. The gruesome find came after cops were called to the Watch Hill neighborhood at about 9:30 am yesterday to reports that a likely human leg bone had been found, said NBC10. The remains have since been transferred to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office, said the Westerly Police Department Detective Division. Taylor Day, a Westerly resident, said she saw three police cars and a medical examiner "pulling in behind me." Day said, 'It was probably a couple football fields away from Taylor Swift's house and the Ocean House. "I would never expect anything like that — especially not in Watch Hill.' She added, 'It kind of alarmed me, and it was just something very out of the ordinary for Westerly." After NBC10 told her that cops had indicated they didn't suspect foul play, Day replied, 'I would definitely disagree with that - I think finding a leg is very suspicious.' Mystery surrounds the latest discovery after 12 remains were found in 11 cities and towns across three states, reported Northeastern Global News. The remains have been found in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts over a period of several months this year. Tragic final text of Taylor Swift superfan Logan Federico, 22, before being 'executed by serial criminal' as she slept It has reignited fears that a serial killer is lurking in New England. The multiple deaths have sparked a Facebook conspiracy group, titled 'New England Serial Killer,' which has attracted tens of thousands of members. It was created to discuss any possible killer - although cops have dismissed such claims as mere 'internet rumor." VIGILANT Day said that such unproved claims were unsettling for her and other residents. She said she had "immediately" thought about "all the theories that are being thrown around." Day said she was taking extra precautions, including being "more aware of my surroundings. "I don't go [to] places that are kind of dim or where I could be alone. Just trying to stay out in public and be vigilant.' Upon arrival, officers located what appeared to be a human leg bone Westerly Police Chief Paul J. Gingerella In a statement, Westerly Police Chief Paul J. Gingerella said cops were dispatched around 9:30 a.m. to the Watch Hill neighborhood 'following a report of possible human remains being discovered.' He added, 'Upon arrival, officers located what appeared to be a human leg bone. 'The remains were collected and transferred to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office for further analysis. 'Currently, no foul play is suspected." 5 5 5 The discovery added to the number of people found dead in the region since February. Fox News reported that officials in New England had discovered a body behind a school in Massachusetts in late April, and had suspected foul play. Stephan Myers, 39, was found fatally shot behind Bristol Plymouth High School in Taunton, Massachusetts, at a construction site, said the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. Myers was the 12th body to have been found since February in the New England area - before the possible human leg bone washed up near Swift's home in Rhode Island. The U.S. Sun has contacted the singer's representative, and the Westerly police for comment. Prior to these grim discoveries, detectives found the body of Paige Fannon, 35, in the Norwalk River in Norwalk, Connecticut, in early March. And on March 6, a human skull was found in a wooded area in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The remains of missing 59-year-old Denise Leary were discovered by residents clearing brush in New Haven on March 21 - but investigators have ruled out foul play. The body of Meggan Meridith, 45, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was found on March 22. New England 'serial killer' fears Speculation has been growing about a possible serial killer hunting victims in New England - but investigators have squashed such claims. Timeline of bodies: March 6: Paige Fannon, 35, from New York, was found in New Haven March 6: A hunter discovered human remains in a wooded part of Plymouth, Massachusetts March 19: The body of a woman believed to be 40-60 years old is found in a suitcase in Groton, Massachusetts March 21: Denise Leary, 59, is found dead in New Haven, Connecticut March 25: Michele Romano, 56, is found in Rhode Island months after she went missing April 9: Unidentified remains were found in Connecticut April 10: Unidentified remains were found in Massachusetts April 21: Unidentified remains were found in the Seekonk River in Pawtucket by a boater April 22: Meggan Meredith died after being found "unresponsive" near a bike path - Springfield police are treating her death as a homicide April 23: The bodies of two men were discovered in the woods near a Walmart in Salem, Massachusetts May 14: Likely human remains were found washed up in Rhode Island However, police departments have denied connections between any of the cases, despite allegations shared by internet sleuths. Police Chief Karl Jacobson told NBC 10 of Leary's death, 'It is not looking like a murder and certainly not looking like a serial killer." He also urged wannabe sleuths against traumatizing relatives of those found dead. Jacobson said, "Just be careful, because I think it has a potential to taint investigations. 'We don't want to rehash the death of Miss Leary or any of the other deaths continuously over and over again in the media, because that is trauma to the families and we do want to get answers to them as quick as possible." Laurie Kramer, a Northeastern professor of applied psychology, told Northeastern Global News said she understood the escalation of such rumors. 'When people have beliefs that they feel very strongly about and that are being responded to with some pushback, then those beliefs can become even more strongly held,' Kramer said. 'Maybe it will turn out to be one perpetrator. But whatever is discovered, people are going to need evidence to accept it." NO PATTERN But James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminologist, told the uni paper he couldn't see any obvious connection between the deaths. He said of the discovery of the remains, "There's no pattern to the dump sites. 'A lot of serial killers will have a particular dump site where they dispose of their bodies. 'It's much safer for them to kill in a place where they know the terrain. "Plus they tend to have jobs and families, which means they kill part time — literally, they have some free time to kill. And in general they can't spend weeks and months traveling around finding victims.'
