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Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Concerns about a serial killer have resurfaced in Texas, particularly in Houston, following a series of body discoveries in waterways.
Three bodies were found in the past week of December 2025, sparking widespread speculation on social media.
These latest discoveries include one body in Buffalo Bayou and one in Brays Bayou on December 22, as well as a third body in Buffalo Bayou on Christmas Eve.
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In total, at least 34 bodies have been recovered from Houston's waterways in 2025, approaching the previous year's figure.
Since 2017, the number of bodies recovered has reached 198, creating a pattern that has alarmed many.
However, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and local police have vehemently denied any evidence of a serial killer by saying that most deaths are due to drowning, suicide, or natural causes, particularly among the homeless.
Increasing Body Discoveries in Houston's Waterways
In December 2025, the city of Houston, Texas, was once again shocked by the discovery of three bodies within a week in its waterways.
This discovery occurred in Buffalo Bayou on December 22nd, followed by another body in Brays Bayou the same day, and a third discovery in Buffalo Bayou on Christmas Eve.
Data shows that throughout 2025, at least 34 bodies were recovered from various waterways in Houston.
This figure nearly matched the total number of body discoveries in 2024, which was only one case short.
More broadly, since 2017, a total of 198 bodies have been recovered from Houston's waterways.
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Official Denials and Public Speculation in Texas
In response to widespread concern, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and local police have repeatedly asserted that there is no evidence to support the existence of a serial killer in Texas.
They stated that most sewer deaths can be explained by factors such as drowning, suicide, or natural causes, particularly among the homeless population.
This explanation is intended to reassure the public and avoid unnecessary panic.However, several deaths remain unexplained, and only one case has been officially confirmed as a homicide.
Autopsy results for the most recent body discovered in December 2025 are still pending, which are expected to provide further clarity.
Numerous posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) voice concerns and link the Houston incidents to previous rumors about the "Lady Bird Lake killer" or the "Rainey Street Ripper" in Austin, Texas.
A post on December 28, 2025, even explicitly asked whether the "Austin killer" had moved to Houston, citing the figures of 12 bodies in Buffalo Bayou and 34 across Houston's waterways this year.
"We don't have a serial killer, but we do have a drowning problem."
Analysis of victim demographics indicates that many of the bodies found in Houston's waterways come from homeless communities.
At Lady Bird Lake in Austin, at least 19 bodies were found over a three-year period between 2022 and June 2025, also fueling rumors of a serial killer.
While there is no concrete evidence linking the two locations, the similar pattern of body discoveries in the waterways has sparked concern and comparisons among the public.
At Lady Bird Lake, 60 percent of the bodies recovered were between 39 and 49 years old, including two teenagers.
Research by Texas State University professor Kim Rossmo highlights that drowning is an unusual method for serial killers, who typically use more brutal methods.
"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,” Rossmo explained.
He added: "We don't have a serial killer, but we do have a drowning problem."
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