Concerns of a potential ‘serial killer’ have arisen in a US region after 38 bodies were discovered from the same lake over the last three years.
Speculations have surfaced regarding a possible murderer roaming the streets of a significant Texan city as over three dozen bodies have been extracted from a lake within a brief period.
These apprehensions were heightened when a body, suspected to be that of a teenage boy missing since Sunday (June 1), was discovered by someone on a paddleboard in Lady Bird Lake, Austin, on Tuesday (June 3), raising the total to 38 over three years, according to the Metro.
The alarming development has fueled fears about the presence of an alleged ‘Rainey Street Ripper’ in the city, which hosts nearly a million residents.
The moniker originates from Lady Bird Lake’s proximity to Rainey Street, a bustling nightlife area with a well-known bar scene in downtown Austin.
However, authorities have refuted claims of a serial killer in Austin, affirming only one instance as a homicide, although the causes of death for at least six bodies found in the lake remain undetermined.
Regarding the latest body, whose identity remains undisclosed, officials state the teenager was kayaking with family when he fell into the water and did not resurface, as reported by Fox 7 Austin.
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Corporal Jose Mendez from the Austin Police Department informed the outlet: “Another paddleboarder was here out on Lady Bird Lake and notified us that it appeared that an individual was deceased and floating on Lady Bird Lake.”
This discovery marks the 30th male body retrieved from the waters since 2022, with two additional bodies found in the vicinity in April.
The same outlet further notes that among the 38 deaths linked to Lady Bird Lake, two were teenagers, while 60 percent were aged between 39 and 49.
Deaths have been attributed to drug overdoses, suicides, and accidental drownings.
One of the victims discovered beneath a nearby bridge in April allegedly suffered a ‘cardiac arrest,’ as reported by Metro.
Authorities suspect the vibrant nightlife on the street, located just steps from the water, may contribute to the elevated death toll. Consequently, the city has installed new fencing and lighting around the lake, investing $800,000 in upgrades to enhance the area’s health and safety.
Plans are also in place to post paramedics at the end of Rainey Street to aid those who are intoxicated.
Despite these measures, locals remain worried that many deaths may not be mere drunken accidents, evidenced by a petition last July, garnering over 5,000 signatures, titled ‘Austin Police Department – Acknowledge That The Austin Drownings May Not Be Accidents,’ as per My San Antonio.
In response, the police informed My San Antonio that a medical examiner conducts a ‘hands-on body exam’ to identify any physical injuries before proceeding to the toxicology department for internal damage evaluation.
“Through this process, one death near Lady Bird Lake in December 2022 was ruled a homicide. The other deaths in and around Lady Bird Lake are not considered suspicious due to the results of these investigations,” they stated.