Everything we know so far as authorities issue update on serial killer fears after 16th body is pulled from the same bayou
The number of bodies pulled from bayous in Houston has sparked rumors of a serial killer.
Police have recovered 16 bodies from bayous, a marshy outlet, in the Houston area in September.
Causes of death for some the people who were pulled from the water have now been published, but some are still pending.
Since news of the number of bodies being found broke, and the number continued to increase, speculation grew that a serial killer was active in the area.
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Houston has around 2,500 miles of waterways, which can sadly present a fatal hazard.
Here is what we know so far about the situation.
The circumstances in which the bodies were found in Houston bayous
Among the total of 16 people found by police were Seth Hansen, 34, Arnulfo Alvarado, 63, and Michaela Miller, whose age was not confirmed, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Hansen was found on September 16 in White Oak Bayou, with Alvarado's body found in Buffalo Bayou two days later.
The final death in a bayou reported in Houston in September was that of Miller.
The Houston Chronicle reports that among the 22 bodies found in bayous throughout Harris County this year, there were four drownings, one suicide and one 'cardiac death'. The cause of death has not been disclosed for many of the bodies.
Investigations are ongoing for each of the cases, and police have said: "We have information and/or ongoing investigations and evidence in each case that does not suggest any similarities."
The publication shared the following list of bodies that have been identified in the wider Harris County area and when their death was reported:
- Douglas Swearingen, 44 — January 11
- Carl Newton, 24 — February 14
- Rodolfo Salas Sosa, 56 — March 22
- Anthony Azua, 33 — March 30
- Juan Garcia Loredo, 69 — March 31
- Kenneth Jones, 34 — May 7
- George Grays, 54 — May 9
- Culcois Racius, 39 — May 9
- Anthony Curry, 35 — May 17
- Shannon Davis, 14 — May 30
- Ernest Armstrong, 62 — June 9
- Brent Brown, 28 — June 12
- Raymond Hatten, 30 — July 7
- Latrecia Amos, 57 — August 21
- Jamal Alexander, 31 — August 27
- Jade McKissic, 20 — September 15
- Rodney Chatman, 43 — September 15
- Michael Rice, 67 — September 20
Last year, 24 bodies were recovered from bayous in Harris County.
Do police think Houston bayou bodies could suggest an active serial killer?
The short answer is no, and Houston mayor John Whitmire has criticized the 'wild speculation' and 'misinformation' spreading on social media, saying 'enough is enough' in a press conference on September 23.
He said: "We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas.”
The mayor went on to clarify that 'if there was, you would hear it from me first.'
He added: "So, I’m before you today to let you know that enough is enough of wild speculation. It’s very frustrating to me to be at home, watch the news, or social media, and see people spread what I know to be false."
Police Captain Salam Zia leads the department’s homicide division and also confirmed that there is currently nothing linking the cases.
Why are so many people being found in bayous?
It might seem like a high number but sadly the scale of waterways in Houston means that this is a significant danger.
While there isn't a serial killer on the loose, there is another problem.
Research by Texas State University professor Kim Rossmo suggested that drowning is not a popular choice of method for serial killers, but there may be a problem with safety measures around bayous.
Rossmo said: "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, and so it's just not the preferred method."
He added: "We don't have a serial killer, but we do have a drowning problem."
Kit Roberts