By USA Daily Now 
Massachusetts authorities are investigating the death of a woman found unresponsive near a bike path in Springfield on Tuesday. According to RYAN WALSH, spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department, officers responded to reports of an unresponsive person near the 1500 block of Hall of Fame Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman who was pronounced dead shortly after.
The SPD Homicide Unit, under the direction of Captain TRENT DUDA, is conducting an unattended death investigation in collaboration with the @HampdenDA Murder Unit. An autopsy will be performed by the Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death, Walsh confirmed.
The woman’s death has sparked online rumors about a possible New England serial killer, following the discovery of seven—and now eight—bodies, primarily women, across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island between March and April. As of Wednesday, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the victims’ deaths.
Walsh emphasized to Fox News Digital that the woman’s cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner and cautioned against spreading unverified internet rumors.
Speculation began on a Facebook group titled “New England Serial Killer,” which has since renamed itself due to platform regulations. Over the past two months, human remains have been found in multiple locations, including New Haven, Norwalk, Groton, and Killingly in Connecticut; Foster, Rhode Island; and Framingham, Plymouth, and now Springfield in Massachusetts.
While some social media users suggest these discoveries indicate a serial killer, Connecticut State Police told Fox News Digital there is no evidence linking the cases or any known public threat.
PETER VALENTIN, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, noted that the Springfield case appears to involve a very recent death, unlike others attributed to the alleged serial killer. He also highlighted that while some remains were intact and identified, others were too degraded for immediate identification.
Valentin expressed curiosity about potential evidence found near the Springfield victim’s body, suggesting investigators may be downplaying homicide suspicions to avoid fueling public anxiety.
At least four of the eight victims—two in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island, and now one in Massachusetts—have been identified as women. Police suspect the victim found in Killingly, Connecticut, was also a woman aged between 40 and 60, though her identity remains unconfirmed.
The renamed Facebook group, now with 65,300 members, has seen significant growth, adding over 15,000 new members this month. Searches for “New England serial killer” on Google surged around April 7, according to search engine data.
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Sources:
Fox News
MassLive.com