Tensions continue to rise in Austin as yet another body has been recovered from the waters of Lady Bird Lake—marking the 38th death tied to the lake since 2022 and fueling persistent fears that a serial killer may be targeting young men.
Last month, Austin police responded to an early morning 911 call and discovered the body of a male in the lake. The man was wearing the same clothing as a 17-year-old who went missing two days earlier after falling out of his kayak without a life jacket. His kayak was later found abandoned, containing his backpack and the life vest he never wore.
Authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the body, but say there were no signs of trauma, and foul play is not suspected. Still, with six bodies pulled from the lake in 2024 alone, the community remains on edge.
Growing Pattern of Young Male Victims
The case is just the latest in a disturbing string of deaths. Since 2022, at least 38 bodies have been recovered from or near Lady Bird Lake—30 of them men, many between the ages of 30 and 49. The pattern has sparked ongoing speculation about the possible presence of a serial killer, despite official statements to the contrary.
Dr. Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist, says the similarities among the victims are too significant to ignore. “If these were all just drownings or suicides, you wouldn’t expect to see this overwhelming gender and age consistency,” she told Fox News Digital. “It suggests the possibility of a targeted predator.”
A Haunting Theory: Spiked Drinks and Nightlife Victims
One theory gaining traction is that some of the victims may have been drugged while partying on nearby Rainey Street, a popular nightlife area just steps from the lake. In recent years, several victims were last seen alive in bars or food trucks along that street before disappearing.
In February 2023, the body of Jason John, 30, was found a week after he was last seen out on Rainey Street. Just two months later, Jonathan Honey, 33, was pulled from the lake after disappearing from a food truck near the same area.
“Date-rape drugs could render someone vulnerable to theft, assault—or worse,” Lieberman warned. “And older men, especially when intoxicated, can be easy prey.”
Police Downplay Fears, But Questions Remain
Despite public unease and the morbid trend, the Austin Police Department insists there is no evidence of a serial killer. In a 2023 statement, APD cited “the combination of alcohol and easy lake access” as the likely cause of most of the drownings, which often occur after park closing hours.
“The vast majority of these incidents involve factors such as substance use, mental health crises, or pre-existing medical conditions,” the department stated.
Still, only one of the 38 deaths has been formally ruled a homicide, with several others still unresolved. Lieberman argues that the presence of water makes it much harder to determine the true cause of death.
“Water washes away evidence—fingerprints, DNA—and decomposition complicates autopsies,” she said. “Murderers may choose water intentionally, hoping the death is misclassified as an accident.”
Pressure on Authorities to Re-examine the Pattern
While law enforcement continues to investigate each death individually, critics like Lieberman say the broader pattern demands deeper scrutiny.
“Unless police uncover a concrete alternative explanation for the sheer number and profile of these deaths,” she said, “we cannot responsibly rule out the possibility of a serial killer.”
As the mystery of Lady Bird Lake deepens, residents are left with few answers and growing concerns—wondering who, or what, might be lurking beneath the surface.
