Authorities in Houston are pushing back against growing public fears that a serial killer may be responsible after 34 bodies were recovered from city bayous over the past year, including three found in just one week around Christmas. The recent discoveries—two in Buffalo Bayou and one in Brays Bayou—intensified speculation among residents, especially as several bodies remain unidentified and autopsy results are pending. Mayor John Whitmire and Houston police have repeatedly stated there is no evidence of a serial killer, but anxiety has continued to spread with each recovery. Witnesses and residents like Erick Cortez have voiced concerns, arguing the number of deaths feels statistically impossible to ignore, while others have publicly questioned how so many people could die in the same waterways without foul play.

Officials and analysts counter that the numbers, while grim, fit long-standing patterns. According to analysis by Houston Chronicle, about 200 bodies have been found in Houston bayous over the last nine years, with drownings, suicides, homicides, and blunt-force injuries making up most cases. Many victims, including Anthony Curry, were part of the city’s homeless population. Mayor Whitmire explained that when unhoused individuals die from illness or natural causes, their remains are often left near waterways rather than taken to funeral homes. Retired Houston PD captain Greg Fremin urged residents to stay vigilant but calm, emphasizing that Houston remains relatively safe and that the bayou deaths, while tragic, do not point to a serial killer—only to deeper systemic issues surrounding homelessness, mental health, and urban life.