Rhode Island police chief Paul Gingerella has dismissed concerns that human remains found near Taylor Swift’s mansion are connected to a New England serial killer. The remains, discovered in Watch Hill, a affluent coastal area of Westerly, Rhode Island, have sparked online speculation, which Gingerella attributes to the influence of social media. Despite the rumors, he acknowledged the positive aspects of social media while emphasizing that there is no link between the remains and any serial killer. With 13 bodies found in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts since March, authorities are working to identify the remains and investigate the circumstances surrounding each case. The discovery near the mansion has added to the ongoing investigation into potential serial killings in the region.
Rhode Island police chief dismisses serial killer connections to human remains near Taylor Swift’s mansion
Fears that a body found near Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island beach mansion may be linked to a New England serial killer were dismissed by a police chief Friday. The top cop in a Rhode Island beach town, Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella, told Fox News Digital that there is no connection between the human remains found Wednesday and the rumors of a serial killer in New England.
The remains were discovered 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. Gingerella attributed the serial killer fears to the power of social media, emphasizing that despite the rumors, social media still has more benefits than negatives. The speculation has gripped New England after 13 bodies have been discovered in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts since the beginning of March.
Gingerella said the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office is working to positively identify the remains. The discovery in Westerly comes three weeks after an unidentified male was found in the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Wester’ly 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. 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 search for answers continues as investigators work to piece together the circumstances surrounding each of the cases. With no clear pattern emerging, authorities are urging the public to avoid spreading rumors and to rely on official sources for updates on the investigation. The case near Taylor Swift’s mansion remains under scrutiny as part of a broader investigation into potential serial killings in the New England region.