Unverified claims can compromise active investigations and contribute to a sense of chaos that does not reflect the full picture."

Social media is full of speculations — and folks are torn over whether these armchair sleuths are helping or hurting.

Residents across several New England towns are expressing concerns about a possible serial killer after at least six bodies have been recovered in a little over a month. The remains were found in four towns in Connecticut, one town in Massachusetts and one town in Rhode Island — all within a couple of hours of each other and on the Atlantic coast.