Small Town Murder — "Serial Killer Desires: Waterford, Connecticut"

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman
Episode: "Serial Killer Desires - Waterford, Connecticut"
Release Date: January 1, 2026

Overview: A Haunting Tale of Lost Potential and Murder in Small-Town Connecticut

In this episode, James and Jimmie dig into a pair of eerily similar murders in Waterford, CT, during the late 1990s, whose victims were vulnerable women with tragic life stories. The show’s core is the heartbreaking journey of Renee Pellegrino—a gifted, once-promising woman whose life spiraled into addiction and street sex work. With their trademark mix of exhaustive research, dark humor, and empathy for victims, the hosts chronicle Renee’s unraveling and the investigation’s long, winding path to justice. Along the way, the case broadens to reveal systemic failures, the grim realities of sex work, and the escalation of a violent local predator.

1. Setting the Scene: Waterford, CT

Town Profile (05:38–15:52)

• Waterford described as quiet, family-oriented, with low crime but little nightlife.
• Demographics: ~19,500 people, median age 46.6, more women than men.
• Economically average for Connecticut, culturally typical of blue-collar New England.
• Noted for small-town quirks: free (brief!) outdoor concerts, Pumpkin Fest, and humorously unambitious late-night food options.
• Violent crime below national average—but not always so.

Memorable moment:

• “It’s a town that doesn’t dance. We got a lot... Married with children, low divorce rate…no dancing here. It’s a town that doesn’t dance.” —James (12:01)

2. The Unraveling of Renee Pellegrino

Early Life & Talents (21:08–39:41)

• Renee grows up poor in Westerly, RI, with an abusive, alcoholic WW2-veteran father and a tough but loving mother.
• Shows prodigious musical ability—plays Beethoven by memory at 4, multi-instrumentalist, fluent in French.
• Fiercely intellectual, but ashamed of poverty; turns to shoplifting as a teen to get the clothes she covets. “Shoplifting was her forte...it was her gift and she did it extremely well.” —Friend, Jacqueline Malagrino (37:08)

Academic Ambitions and Struggles (33:48–47:49)

• Excels at prestigious Catholic schools thanks to her mother’s sacrifices.
• Dreams of Smith College, attends Rhode Island College and later Connecticut College, impresses professors with intellect and curiosity.
• Periodic disappearances linked to stints in Las Vegas—where she’s arrested for prostitution.

Quote:
“She understood what men wanted and she was ready to supply it if it was in her best interests. To her, it was an exchange. It was a business.” —Sister Diane (44:36)

Downward Spiral: Addiction, Mental Health, & Loss (53:00–87:11)

• After sister’s accidental death and her own failures at law licensing (due to criminal record and persistent shoplifting), Renee succumbs to depression and cocaine/crack addiction.
• Cycles through rehab, therapy (which she resists with intellectual gamesmanship), and relapses.
• Prostitution becomes her primary means of survival; she is described by friends and family as both brilliant and deeply troubled, “almost too smart for her own good.”
• Loses custody of a daughter born in jail, continues using, and lives in “an endless cycle of drugs, shoplifting, and prostitution” (81:17).

Quote:
“She became quiet, more easily angered and aggressive…if you have someone who’s cynical and acerbic in their nature, you add a coke habit into that—holy shit.” —James (71:27)

3. The Murders: A Serial Predator Surfaces

The Murder of Renee Pellegrino (109:21–115:36)

• June 25, 1997: Renee’s naked, posed body is discovered on Waterford Parkway South—crucifix-like, arms outstretched, no belongings, single pink hair tie. She is 17 weeks pregnant.
• Cause of death: Both manual and ligature strangulation—a rare method (only 3 of 6,000 autopsies in CT chief ME’s experience).
• She had been seen getting into a car just after release from jail.

Key quote:
“They said the arms and legs were very thin…track marks…no clothing, no jewelry…body appeared to have been placed during the rainstorm—so that gives you a timeline.” (111:52)

Another Victim: Michelle Comeau (118:43–123:44)

• May 1, 1998: Michelle’s body found naked, posed identically, same cause and method of death, evidence of restraint, also a crack-addicted sex worker recently released from jail.
• Background: Abused, institutionalized from age four, lifelong mental illness and addiction.

A Pattern Emerges (121:00–131:30)

• 29 M.O. similarities: Victims’ backgrounds, circumstances, posing, strangulation methods, and substances in their systems.
• Investigation stalls despite efforts, rewards, and media attention.

Quote:
“That’s a signature, that’s an M.O.—that’s a calling card.” —James (131:17)

4. Catching the Killer: The Anderson Connection

Pattern of Violence: Dickie Anderson Jr. (141:38–149:03)

• Series of assaults, specifically against women, several involving strangulation; domestic violence, criminal history detailed extensively.
• Notable: DNA required after a 2008 felony strangulation conviction leads to match with evidence from Renee’s murder.

Police Work & Interrogations (150:17–155:32)

• Dickie initially denies knowing Renee, then admits to sex—but blames an invented “Darryl” for her fate. For Michelle, claims only to have “exposed himself” at his father’s house.
• Multiple witnesses place Dickie with victims near their times of death. Ex-girlfriend and sister testify to his confessions.

Jailhouse Informant Revelations (156:27–158:04)

• Arthur Moore, a seasoned felon, placed in Dickie’s cell. Dickie describes killing a prostitute after refusing to pay her; dismisses culpability in Michelle’s case.

5. Justice (or Not): Trial and Aftermath

Arrest, Trial, and Verdict (158:04–169:05)

• 2010: Dickie arrested, charged with both murders.
• 2012: Dual trial. Prosecutor ties distinctive M.O., DNA, confessions, and history of violence. Defense points to other potential suspects and challenges informant credibility.
• Jury convicts Dickie of Renee’s murder, but deadlocks (mistrial) on Michelle’s.

Memorable Trial Moment:
The prosecutor having to stop the jailhouse informant to translate street slang for the jury:
“He said he caught a body. —The prosecutor said, ‘What does that mean?’” (165:34)

• Sentencing: 60 years, maximum allowed.
  “You, sir, may fuck off. 60 years in prison, which is the maximum.” —Judge (169:56)
• Michelle’s family never gets justice by conviction.

6. Lives Shattered, Lessons Echoed

The Victims’ Families (169:06–175:08)

• Emotional victim impact statements: compassion, sorrow, prayers even for the Anderson family.
• Renee’s mother: “If that dear baby couldn’t save Renee, nothing could.” (90:22)

Communities & Systemic Failure

• Both Renee and Michelle fell through systemic cracks (mental health, addiction, criminal justice).
• Anderson likely responsible for more unprosecuted violence and perhaps additional murders—“Who the fuck strangles and kills two prostitutes and then stops and then quits?” (175:37)

The Reward (173:49–175:08)

• $50,000 reward ultimately partially awarded to Dickie’s ex-girlfriend, whose cooperation was crucial.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “She was so clever, so bright, such a little manipulator...she could get away with it. She was funny, witty, attractive, and would flirt with police.”—Friend on Renee (38:26)
• “She had this big tote bag…would take 15 CDs and go back for 15 more and then want to go back to get the last three. It was absolutely an addiction.” —Diane, sister (66:38)
• “Sell sex, smoke crack. That’s what I’m doing.” —Renee, to author Mark Bronstein (98:38)
• “My job today is to see to it that you are separated from society for as long as possible...You, sir, may fuck off.”—Judge at sentencing (169:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Waterford Town History & Real Estate: 05:38–15:52
• Renee’s Childhood and Talents: 21:08–39:41
• Addiction and Prostitution: 53:00–87:11
• Discovery of Renee’s Body: 109:21–115:36
• Details on Michelle Camo: 118:43–123:44
• Discussion of Serial Pattern: 121:00–131:30
• Dickie Anderson’s Background: 141:38–149:03
• Interrogations and Informant: 150:17–158:04
• Arrest, Trial & Outcome: 158:04–169:05
• Impact, Lessons, and Reward: 169:06–175:08

Conclusion

This episode masterfully intertwines the individual tragedy of Renee Pellegrino—a woman of immense potential hostage to her demons—with the chilling procedural of small-town serial murder. The hosts underscore both the horror of predatory violence and the silent epidemic of addiction, mental illness, and lost women in communities everyone likes to imagine as “safe." This is true crime with deep empathy, sharp insight, and unflinching honesty.

For More:

• Listen to the full episode for further darkly comic asides, town reviews, and post-case reflections.
• Follow the hosts for updates on new episodes and live shows.

Quote to Remember:
“Both were caught and trapped in one of life’s deceiving webs, as many others are.” —Juror, reflecting on the murdered women (169:56)

Note: All ad breaks, intros, and extraneous content omitted. For timestamps and segment highlights, see above.