A series of bodies discovered in Houston’s bayous has fueled speculation about a possible serial killer.
In September, police retrieved 16 bodies from the bayous, which are marshy waterways in the Houston area.
While the causes of death have been determined for some of these individuals, others are still under investigation.
The rising number of bodies has led to rampant speculation about a serial killer being at large in the region.
Houston is surrounded by approximately 2,500 miles of waterways, which pose a significant safety risk.
Here’s what is currently known about the situation.
The short answer is no, there is no serial killer, according to Houston mayor John Whitmire. He has condemned the ‘wild speculation’ and ‘misinformation’ circulating on social media, stating in a press conference on September 23, “enough is enough.”
He stated: “We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas.”
Mayor Whitmire further clarified that any such information would be communicated by him first if it were true.
He added: “So, I’m before you today to let you know that enough is enough of wild speculation. It’s very frustrating to me to be at home, watch the news, or social media, and see people spread what I know to be false.”
Police Captain Salam Zia, who heads the department’s homicide division, also confirmed that there is currently no evidence linking these cases.
Within six days, five bodies were discovered in Houston’s Buffalo bayou.
The 16 individuals found by the police include Seth Hansen, 34, Arnulfo Alvarado, 63, and Michaela Miller, whose age remains unconfirmed, as reported by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Hansen’s body was found on September 16 in White Oak Bayou, while Alvarado was discovered in Buffalo Bayou two days later.
The last reported bayou death in Houston for the month was that of Miller.
Ongoing investigations are being conducted for each case, with police stating: “We have information and/or ongoing investigations and evidence in each case that does not suggest any similarities.”
While the number of bodies might appear high, the extensive network of waterways in Houston presents a significant danger.
Though a serial killer is not the culprit, another issue persists.
Kim Rossmo, a professor at Texas State University, has highlighted that drowning is not a common method for serial killers, indicating a potential problem with bayou safety measures.
Rossmo remarked: “Serial killers stab or strangle or sometimes shoot, but drowning is uncommon.
“And one of the reasons is, if you think about it, it’s really hard to kill somebody by drowning. There’s a lot of steps involved and a lot of chances for people to escape, and so it’s just not the preferred method.”
He concluded: “We don’t have a serial killer, but we do have a drowning problem.”