Residents and grieving families in Houston were seen raising the alarm after a 16th body was discovered from the city’s bayous, prompting fears of a possible serial killer operating in the waterways.

The city government was led by John Whitemire, and the Houston Police Department has repeatedly stated there is no kind of evidence linking homicides, arguing that the high number of water recoveries was reflecting longstanding hazards in the city, criss-crossed by nearly 2500 miles of lake and drainage channels.

Families of victims disagreed, stating how the pattern was of young people who were seen in nightlife districts, lost phones, wires off, bodies pulled from dark bayou embankments, which is just too consistent to be dismissed.

Many accused City Hall of gaslighting the public by labeling concerns as speculations grew as they failed to launch any dedicated task force or public safety campaign to address the out-of-sight risk zones.

While officials are continuing to go ahead with the investigation, the delay in autopsy results and lack of detailed public data are fueling serious mistrust.

Communities want the government authorities to do better so citizens feel safe again, adding that the discovery of 16 bodies in 2025 alone so far is devastating to say the least.