A horrifying new discovery near Taylor Swift’s multimillion-dollar estate in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, has sparked growing fears that a serial killer may be operating in the area—after a twelfth set of human remains was found early Saturday morning just 800 yards from the global superstar’s coastal mansion.
Local authorities confirmed that the remains—badly decomposed and partially buried near the dunes by Napatree Point—appear to belong to a young woman in her twenties, fitting the same demographic profile as at least eight of the previously discovered victims. Police have not ruled out a connection, and sources close to the investigation told The Boston Globe that the medical examiner’s early analysis “shows clear similarities in how the body was disposed.”
The proximity to Swift’s estate—an iconic property where she’s hosted everyone from Gigi Hadid to Ed Sheeran—has only heightened media attention. Video of police cordoning off the dune path near her private beach was posted by WJAR NBC10 and has already racked up millions of views. The footage shows state investigators in hazmat suits hauling bags from the sand as stunned locals look on.
“Never in my life did I think I’d be walking my dog and see crime tape near Taylor Swift’s driveway,” said resident Karen DeMarco in an emotional interview with The New York Times. “This has changed how we see this place forever.”
Rhode Island State Police have now expanded the investigation into what they’re calling a “possible targeted series of killings,” spanning the last 18 months. According to ProPublica, six of the twelve victims were found within a five-mile radius—three of them near walking paths frequented by both residents and summer tourists.
A high-ranking law enforcement source told Rolling Stone that FBI profilers have been brought in to assess behavioral patterns and help establish whether the killer may be selecting victims based on location, vulnerability, or time of year. “We are no longer treating these as isolated incidents,” the source said. “There is a distinct and disturbing pattern.”
The story gained explosive momentum online after pop culture blogger @PopCrave posted a side-by-side satellite image showing how close the most recent remains were to Swift’s home. That post has been shared over 110,000 times, prompting public concern about the safety of the area—and whether celebrities themselves could be targets.
Swift, who is currently on the international leg of her Eras Tour, has not yet commented publicly. However, her spokesperson told TMZ that “heightened security protocols are now in place” and that the star is “deeply disturbed by the developments near her home.”
The Watch Hill neighborhood, known for its quiet, luxury properties and low crime rates, has been thrown into chaos. A neighborhood watch group posted a formal advisory on Nextdoor urging residents to avoid wooded areas and travel in groups after sunset.
Online sleuths have been quick to draw comparisons to the Gilgo Beach serial killings and the unsolved cases in Long Island. Reddit’s r/UnresolvedMysteries thread on the Watch Hill deaths has exploded in recent days, with thousands of users combing through local police scanner data and mapping the locations of each known body.
True crime podcaster Bailey Sarian posted a 3-minute reaction video to the discovery on her Instagram, calling the situation “chilling, messy, and way too quiet for comfort.” She added: “This many dead women in one small place? Something is terribly wrong.”
Meanwhile, Governor Dan McKee has faced mounting pressure to declare a state of emergency. In a press conference streamed by WPRI, he called the developments “deeply unsettling” and promised that “no resource will be spared.”
The victim found Saturday has not yet been identified, but police say dental records are being fast-tracked. All previous victims were female, aged 19 to 32, and found either partially buried or wrapped in fabric. Local paper The Westerly Sun reported that a torn piece of a concert T-shirt was found near the newest remains, but officials have not confirmed if that detail is relevant.
With tourism season approaching, residents fear the area’s serene reputation may be permanently damaged. “Watch Hill was always the safe escape,” said café owner Denise Monetti in an interview with NBC News. “Now we’re locking our doors at 4 p.m. and buying pepper spray.”
Famed crime journalist Billy Jensen posted a chilling observation on X: “When a place this wealthy, this visible, sees twelve dead and no answers—imagine what’s happening in towns we never hear about.”
Investigators are urging anyone with information to call the Watch Hill Tip Line. Posters with sketches of unidentified victims are now taped to telephone poles just a few blocks from Swift’s estate.
Locals held a candlelight vigil Saturday night at the town’s historic chapel. Photos from Vanity Fair show mourners laying white roses under a sign reading “Twelve Lives, Still No Justice.”
The unanswered question remains: who is doing this—and why here?
