Rumors on social media that there is a suspected serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, are false, according to the local police department. Although a woman’s remains were found in Hot Springs National Park at the end of March 2021, investigators say there is no evidence that they were more than an isolated incident.
A report making this claim is found here, saying, “The Hot Springs police will just hide from the public that there is a serious killer?” THEY HAVE REMOVED ALL GOOGLE INFORMATION !! YOU PLATE WOMEN LIVING AT RISK !! 5 BODIES LOCKED UP !!! ”
Other examples are seen here, here and here.
As reported here by local NBC subsidiary KARK and here by local CBS subsidiary THV11, the body of a 32-year-old woman, identified as Paige Autumn White, was found on March 27, 2021 in Hot Springs National Park.
A April 13 press release from the National Park Service (NPS) states that the “investigation is continuing and there is no indication that it was anything other than an isolated incident” (here).
Under federal law, “serial killings” are defined as “a series of three or more murders” that have common characteristics that indicate that they were carried by the same person or people. But the FBI also defined serial murder as “The unlawful murder of two or more victims by the same offender (s), in separate events,” as set forth here.
Federal law enforcement often helps with investigations into alleged serial killers, but in this case, the FBI is working on the case because it involves federal ground.
Alexandra Picavet, NPS public information officer, told the Hot Springs Sentinel report on March 29 that the FBI’s involvement was due to the incident on federal grounds, which she describes as standard protocol (here).
Local and state agencies are also investigating, according to the National Park Service, which said in its press release that they were working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Hot Springs Police Department, Arkansas State Police and Garland County Sheriff’s Department to find out more about the days before White’s death. ”
The Hot Springs Police Department shared the NPS statement on Facebook (here) and tagged the list of investigative agencies in an attempt to dispel rumors of a serial killer.
A April 13 press release from the FBI Office in Little Rock called for “the community’s help finding out what happened to White” and said the bureau is “eager to hear from family, friends, acquaintances and anyone else who may have seen ‘her recently. ”
‘There is a great possibility that the person who did this will continue to work and / or live in our community. This person is probably familiar with the areas in which Paige was last seen and recovered, “reads the press release.
Investigators are asking that anyone with any information about White or her death contact the NPS Investigative Services branch by phone (888-653-0009), online (www.nps.gov/ISB) or by email ([email protected] ). Reporters can remain anonymous.
VERDICT
Partly false. Although there is an ongoing investigation into murder in Hot Springs, Arkansas, investigators say there is no indication that it was anything other than an isolated incident.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work here to check out social media posts.