SPRINGFIELD, IL — Local resident and self-described “true crime junkie” Melissa Hargrove says she’s “on the edge of her seat” waiting for the next murder in the string of unsolved “Riverwalk Slayings,” which police say have left the community “terrified and traumatized,” but have left Hargrove “completely hooked.”

“It’s been three weeks since the last one,” Hargrove said while scrolling through Reddit threads dedicated to amateur sleuthing. “At first, I thought I wanted justice for the victims. But honestly, if he could just, like, leave a few more clues first, that would really help the narrative arc.”

Neighbors report that Hargrove has been “unsettlingly excited” about the crimes, frequently speculating about the killer’s personality, motives, and favorite podcasts. “She’s been walking around saying things like, ‘He’s escalating,’ with this weird glint in her eye,” said friend Tanya Ruiz. “It’s starting to feel like she’s rooting for him to get a Netflix deal.”

Police Chief Ron Dennison confirmed that authorities are still searching for the suspect, but added that community interest has taken a “disturbing turn.”

Hargrove, who says she plans to start her own true crime podcast about the serial killer titled Blood and Boundaries, insists her enthusiasm comes from “a place of curiosity, not morbidity.” “I just love the mystery,” she said. “Every time I hear a scream at night, I think ooh, content!”