Over the period of six days, police have discovered five bodies in Houston’s Bayous, igniting a widespread fear and speculation on social media that a serial killer may be stalking the populous city.
However, law enforcement agencies have urged residents to stay calm and wait till facts are confirmed.
The string of discoveries of dead bodies began on September 15th, when the body of a 20-year-old girl was found. The body was identified as Jade McKissic, who was a University of Houston student and had been reportedly missing for days.
Following this, four more bodies were discovered from different waterways including Brays, White Oak, and Buffalo Bayous, sending a wave of unease through the community.
Various conspiracy theories have emerged since with some users even invoking the name of a rumoured fictional killer from Austin. Some users are also reposting a social media post allegedly claiming that police are investigating a serial killer in this connection. However, the post lacks confirmed source.
The Houston Police Department came forward to address the rumours of a serial killer. The Police spokesperson confirmed that all five cases have been investigated individually and have no mutual connection.
“Each death is different. It’s all determined by the cause of death, which is released by the Medical Examiner after an autopsy. It's unfortunate, but each death is different,” the spokesperson added.
Criminal experts have also started investigating the cases, noting that serial killers are exceptionally rare.
Dr. Krista Gehring, a criminology professor at the University of Houston Downtown, believes the deaths must have either been tragic accidents or self-inflicted without any clear measurement of a homicide such as stab wounds or gunshots.
“We've created this cultural boogeyman—the serial killer," she said. "But the truth is, they're incredibly rare. Most deaths like this are accidental or self-inflicted."
She indicated that it is a pity that the bayous in Houston have been used as a common site of drowning, especially during rainy seasons or among people who are vulnerable.
Although the city has a dark past of serial killers such as Dean Corll, the authorities emphasize that there is no trend of a predator present in the current scenario. The conclusive findings, they predict, will be in the form of impending autopsy results from Medical Examiner office. In the meantime, officers are trying to encourage the community not to speculate and wait until the official outcomes are presented.