• Harris County data reveals 189 bodies recovered from bayous since 2017
• Nearly 40% of deaths remain undetermined by medical examiners
• Mayor and police chief insist no evidence links cases to serial killer

HOUSTON, Texas (TDR) — Staggering data from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office reveals that 189 bodies have been pulled from Houston’s sprawling bayou system since 2017, sparking fears of a serial killer despite persistent denials from city officials. The alarming figures show a steady increase in deaths, with nearly 40% of cases remaining classified as undetermined.

According to medical examiner records obtained by KPRC 2, the city has seen nine bodies recovered in 2023, 20 in 2024, and 25 so far in 2025. The data excludes bodies found inside vehicles along bayous. Of the 189 deaths, 17 were classified as murders while 75 remain marked as unexplained or undetermined, meaning investigators could not confirm whether cases were accidents, suicides or homicides.

Cluster of deaths sparks community panic

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Public alarm reached a fever pitch in September when seven bodies were discovered in Houston-area bayous within three weeks, including five in just five days. The discovery of Jade McKissic, a 20-year-old University of Houston honors student, in Brays Bayou on Sept. 15 particularly shook the community and ignited social media speculation about a potential serial killer.

McKissic had mysteriously vanished after spending an evening with friends at a local bar, leaving alone without her cellphone and stopping at a gas station. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma or foul play, but the cause and manner of her death remain pending from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Officials push back against serial killer theories

Houston Mayor John Whitmire held a press conference Sept. 23 to address the mounting speculation. “There is no evidence that there is a serial killer loose on the streets of Houston,” Whitmire declared. “Enough is enough on speculation, out of respect for the families and also the 2.3 million Houstonians in our region.”

Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. confirmed that 14 bodies were pulled from bayous by late September 2025, compared to 24 in all of 2024. If the current pace continues, Houston is on track to record 32 bayou deaths in 2025, representing a 60% increase from the previous year.

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“We weren’t able to find any kind of typical pattern,” said Houston Police Captain Salam Zia. “It runs the gamut — genders, ethnicities, age range.” Demographic data shows 15 victims were Black, three Hispanic and six white, ranging in age from 14 to 69 years old, with the vast majority being men.

Families demand answers amid uncertainties

The high number of undetermined deaths has left families frustrated and searching for closure. Kenneth Cutting Sr. expressed anger after the medical examiner listed his 22-year-old son’s death as undetermined after his body was found in Buffalo Bayou last year. “He did not fall in that bayou,” Cutting told CNN affiliate KHOU. “I don’t know if there’s a serial killer but the way that they’re dealing with these bodies is ridiculous.”

His cousin Lauren Freeman pointed to multiple errors in the autopsy report, including incorrect height and weight measurements and misspelled locations. The medical examiner’s office acknowledged the clerical errors but insisted they had no impact on findings or conclusions.

Expert analysis disputes serial killer narrative

Criminal justice experts maintain there’s no evidence supporting serial killer theories. Krista Gehring, a professor at the University of Houston, noted that serial killers typically follow specific victim patterns, which isn’t occurring in these cases. “There’s not one specific type of person. It’s really sort of a bunch of different people that are unfortunately losing their life related to these bodies of water,” Gehring said.

Causes of death in the cases have included accidental drownings, suicide, drug toxicity, blunt force trauma and cardiovascular disease. Houston contains more than 2,500 miles of bayous and waterways that serve as the city’s drainage system, with officials noting deaths in these waterways are not a new phenomenon.

Should Houston implement additional safety measures along its 2,500 miles of bayous?

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