Houston, Texas, is on edge after a string of grisly discoveries has locals whispering about the possibility of a serial killer lurking nearby. In less than a week, five bodies were pulled from separate bayous around the city, raising more questions than answers and fueling fears across the nation’s fourth-largest city.
Between September 15 and 20, authorities recovered human remains from Brays Bayou, Green Bayou, White Oak Bayou, and Buffalo Bayou not once, but twice (via The Daily Mail). Constable Alan Rosen from Harris County Precinct One admitted to Fox 26 Houston that even seasoned law enforcement found the pattern alarming: “It’s unusual. Usually, you don’t find four bodies in the bayous in a week.”
Texas has already been shaken by rising crime headlines, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Police say 14 bodies have been pulled from Houston’s waterways this year alone, and now, locals are struggling to feel safe near the city’s once-popular jogging and walking trails. One resident told reporters bluntly: “It’s just kind of scary when there’s that many coincidences.”
Texas Residents Worry About Possible Serial Killer
The case of Jade “Sage” McKissic, a 20-year-old University of Houston student, has only added to the unease. McKissic was last seen leaving a bar on September 11. She left her phone behind but was later spotted at a nearby gas station buying a drink. Surveillance tracked her walking toward Brays Bayou around 1 a.m. Just four days later, her body was discovered in that same bayou. Authorities insist her autopsy revealed “no signs of trauma or foul play,” but for a community already rattled, the explanation feels thin.
And it’s not just Houston. Residents can’t help but compare the unfolding situation to another Texas city, Austin. There, at least 19 bodies have turned up in Lady Bird Lake, sparking talk of a “Rainey Street Ripper.” Police in Austin have repeatedly dismissed serial killer theories, chalking the deaths up to accidents or drownings. But wild speculation has continued, thanks in part to the sheer number of victims and eerie similarities in how they were found.
Experts, however, urge caution before jumping to conclusions. “Unless you have stab wounds, gunshots, strangulation marks, clear signs of homicide, it’s not a serial killer,” explained Krista Gehring, PhD, a criminology professor at the University of Houston. She pointed out that accidents in waterways are more common than people realize: “People slip, people fall, people drown. That’s reality.”
The Jury Is Still Out On The Serial Killer Theory
Still, the lack of definitive answers leaves Houstonians unsettled. Most of the autopsies are still pending, meaning homicide hasn’t been officially ruled out. Until those results are finalized, residents of Texas are left to wrestle with the unknown, whether these deaths are tragic coincidences or the chilling work of someone lurking in the shadows.
“Trump needs to send National Guard,” one person commented. “Texas appears to be a big ole mess,” another stated. “Not buying the serial killer theory yet,” a third person chimed in.
One thing’s for certain, the bayous that snake through Houston, once seen as peaceful green spaces, now carry an unsettling air of suspicion. And unless officials can offer clearer answers, Texas will continue to wonder if a serial killer is hiding in plain sight.
Sabrina Russell 
Hunter Spears 
Joshua Dale 
