Five bodies have been discovered within a week in Houston-area bayous, fueling speculation online about a possible serial killer. Local officials, however, are pushing back against those claims.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire addressed the matter at a press conference, dismissing the rumors and stressing the importance of relying on verified information rather than social media chatter.
“We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas,” Whitmire said. “Let me say again that there is no evidence that there is a serial killer loose on the streets of Houston. If there was, you would hear it from me first.”
Despite his statement, unverified claims continued circulating on platforms like X after the discovery of Jade “Sage” McKissic’s body. The 20-year-old University of Houston graduate had been missing for four days before being found in Brays Bayou.
On the same day, another body surfaced in Greens Bayou. By the end of that week, police recovered three additional bodies from White Oak and Buffalo bayous. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those victims.
Mayor Whitmire acknowledged that many of the city’s homeless residents live near the bayous, and that alcohol use, mental health struggles, and accidents are often contributing factors in such deaths, according to The Independent.
Houston Police Chief confirmed that five bodies were recovered between September 15 and 20 but emphasized the deaths were unrelated. He added that 14 bodies have been pulled from Houston’s waterways so far this year, local media reported.
Officials also clarified that foul play is not suspected in McKissic’s case.
While authorities have shut down speculation of a serial killer, they advised residents to avoid the bayous due to dangerous currents and hidden debris.
