Town file
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut (New London County, Connecticut) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 661, "Serial Killer Desires" (1 January 2026). Renee Pellegrino was born in 1956 in Westerly, Rhode Island, one of four children of John and Jean Pellegrino.
- Town
- Waterford
- County
- New London County
- State
- Connecticut
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 661
- Approximate location
- 41.346, -72.129
Episode 661 / 1 January 2026 / 179 min / full
Serial Killer Desires
"This week, in Waterford, Connecticut... in southeastern Connecticut... this is in New London County" about 0:06:27
The case: Murder of Renee Pellegrino (June 1997); Murder of Michelle Comeau (May 1st, 1998). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 19,558
- Median age
- 46.6
- Median household income
- $95,880
- Median home value
- $316,400
- Two-bedroom rent
- about $1,670
- Cost of living
- 106
- Religious
- 45.2%
- Property crime
- ▼ just below the national average
- Violent crime
- ▼ just below average
- Reward for information
- $50,000
History, in brief
- Originally known as the West Farms of New London. about 0:06:35
- The town of Waterford was incorporated in 1801 and became the 109th town in Connecticut. about 0:06:49
- It got its name for being between two rivers. about 0:07:01
- Residents lived in wigwams before they built houses, following the Native Americans. about 0:07:08
- Plots for 38 houses were dug near the Great Neck area. about 0:07:41
- English colonists first harvested crops there in 1645 and displaced the tribes that were there. about 0:07:47
- The town then went into sheep farming and dairy farming for a long time. about 0:07:54
- Development boomed after the Second World War, with new roads and buildings. about 0:08:00
- The first stop light was added in 1957. about 0:08:14
- The first strip mall was built in 1960. about 0:08:23
The reviews read out
5 stars
"An amazing town, very quiet, no nightlife, great for starting a family."about 0:08:42
5 stars
"The beaches and parks are really nice and the small cafes are enjoyed."about 0:09:11
3 stars
"The area isn't terrible; neighbours are okay though some are harsh."about 0:09:25
2 stars
"No places to get dinner or even pizza after 10 p.m., no nice places to dance, and free concerts last only two hours."about 0:09:54
2 stars
"Almost hit by cars multiple times crossing the road to the bus stop."about 0:10:57
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Niantic, Connecticut4.2 miles
- East Lyme, Connecticut5.3 miles
- East Hampton, New York27 miles
- Guilford, Connecticut30 miles
- South Kingstown, Rhode Island30 miles
- Middletown, Connecticut31 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.