The eerie discovery of seven decaying corpses across three New England states warrants “review and investigation” after police shut down growing fears the deaths are linked to a serial killer, an expert said.
Matthew Mangino, a Pennsylvania-based defense attorney, said police in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island should be working together after the human remains uncovered in nearby coastal towns between March and April fueled online theories of a ruthless lone-wolf on the loose.
“Whether it’s coincidental or not, I think it merits review and investigation, at least,” Mangino, former Lawrence County District Attorney, told Fox News Digital.
“Collaboration between the different jurisdictions to determine whether or not there is some threat out there to individuals – that may be going on as we speak. We don’t know that, but I think it does merit that kind of scrutiny.”
The decaying bodies were discovered in New Haven, Groton, and Killingly, Connecticut, Plymouth and Framingham, Massachusetts, and Foster, Rhode Island – with authorities identifying the remains of three women.
The causes of death have not been released.
“These different jurisdictions need to get together and compare notes and reports,” Mangino added.
“Were these homicides? I mean, we may find that these are natural deaths or…it could be a suicide, it could be accidental. So, the number one issue: is there enough to determine the cause and manner of death?”
The body of Paige Fannon, 35, of West Islip, New York, was found on March 6 in Norwalk River, the outlet reported. On the same day, a human skull was located in a wooded area of Route 3 in Plymouth, Boston 25 News reported.
On March 19, the remains of what appeared to be an adult female between the ages of 40 and 60 were discovered near a cemetery in Groton. Two days later, Denise Leary, a 59-year-old missing mother-of-two, was found in New Haven.
The body of Michele Romano, 56, a missing woman from Warwick, New York, was found on March 26 in the woods in Foster, Fox News reported.
Human remains were then discovered in Killingly on April 9, with another body found in Framingham off the Massachusetts Turnpike the next day, according to FOX 25 Boston.
“There is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time,” Connecticut State Police said in a statement to Fox.
“The investigation is in the early stages and remains active and ongoing.”
The startling discoveries prompted a wave of online discussions in a private Facebook group called “New England Serial Killer.”
The group, which has nearly 62,000 members, garnered more than 10,000 new members last week and over the weekend, as MassLive.com first reported.
Romano’s family also dismissed comments her death was the cause of a 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 wrote in Facebook group “Justice for Michele Romano.”
“We have faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice sooner rather than later!”