City officials are pushing back against viral claims of a serial killer after four bodies were found in Houston-area bayous over a recent two-week period.
The most recent discovery—made Tuesday and marking the first such case of 2026—involved a man who showed no obvious signs of trauma, according to investigators. Police said the body was fully clothed, appeared to have been in the water for a short time, and showed no immediate evidence of foul play.
Data from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office shows that 31 bodies were recovered from local bayous through Dec. 10, 2025. Causes of death have ranged from drug-related drownings to blunt-force trauma, with numerous cases still awaiting final determinations. By the end of the year, the total reached 35.
Fighting the rumors
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare says there is no evidence linking the deaths to a single perpetrator.
“There is nothing, nothing, and I want to be crystal clear, to indicate that there is someone operating here as a serial killer,” Teare said. “There are many reasons for these deaths. None of them are a serial killer.”
For months, city leaders have tried to calm antsy residents demanding answers.
“I want to be very clear from the information that we have obtained from HPD, there’s no evidence of the linking of the deaths that we have seen,” said former City Council member Letitia Plummer. “The rumors on social media have fueled fear.”
By the numbers
The 35 bodies discovered in 2025 matched the 35 deaths recorded in 2024. While the pace of discoveries has fueled “true crime” theories online, officials attribute the trend to a combination of homelessness, mental health crises, and the physical dangers of the city’s 2,500-mile bayou system.
| Year | # of Bayou Cases |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 20 |
*Harris County Forensics Office
Andy Kahan, director of victim services for Crime Stoppers Houston, said the “serial killer” narrative is a product of social media trends rather than forensic reality.
“Rumors get driven by clicks, not evidence,” Kahan said.
He noted that modern technology, including digital footprints and surveillance, makes it nearly impossible for a predator to operate undetected in the manner suggested by online theorists.
Since 2017, nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston’s bayous. Data from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office shows that approximately 40% of those cases remain classified as “undetermined,” meaning investigators could not definitively rule them as accidents, suicides, or homicides.
Teare suggested that the most effective way to reduce the death toll is to address the city’s unhoused population.
“If we were more intentional and better at helping our unhoused population find places to live and supporting them, we would likely see a drop in the numbers,” Teare said.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office continues to utilize a cold case squad to investigate unresolved deaths, while the Institute for Forensic Science performs autopsies on every body recovered.
Fact Check: Houston’s Bayou Deaths
| Fiction | Fact |
| A serial killer is targeting people near Houston’s waterways. | No evidence of a serial killer. District Attorney Sean Teare and Crime Stoppers Houston state these are isolated incidents with no forensic links. |
| The high number of bodies found in 2025 is unprecedented. | The numbers are consistent with 2024. There were 35 recoveries in 2025, compared to 35 total in 2024. |
| “Undetermined” causes of death prove a cover-up. | “Undetermined” is a medical classification. It means forensic evidence was insufficient to distinguish between an accident, suicide, or homicide—often due to environmental factors in the water. |
| The bayous are inherently safe for recreation at all times. | The bayous are high-risk environments. Water levels can rise rapidly during rain, and steep, concrete-lined banks make it nearly impossible to climb out once someone falls in. |
| The city is ignoring these cases. | Investigations are ongoing. Every recovery undergoes a full autopsy, and the District Attorney’s office maintains a dedicated cold case squad for unresolved files. |
