Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare is shutting down renewed online speculation about a so-called Texas serial killer following the discovery of three bodies in Houston-area bayous last week.
“There is nothing, nothing, and I want to be crystal clear, to indicate that there is someone operating here as a serial killer,” Teare said during a one-on-one interview with KPRC 2. “There are many reasons for these deaths. None of them are a serial killer.”
The latest recoveries pushed the total number of bodies found in Houston’s bayous in 2025 to 34, nearly matching the 35 bodies recovered last year.
While the numbers have fueled viral posts and true-crime speculation online, Teare said the reality behind the deaths reflects long-standing social challenges rather than coordinated violence.
“We have a massive homeless problem. We have massive mental health and addiction problem,” Teare said. “All of those things are contributing to a lot of the bodies that we’re discovering.”
Houston’s geography also plays a role. The city has more than 2,500 miles of bayous and waterways, many of which can be deceptively dangerous.
“When you get into the bayous, it is very difficult to get out,” Teare explained. “When you combine that with someone that is high on some substance, someone that is intoxicated somehow, it makes it even more difficult.”
According to records from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017.
About 40 percent of those cases remain classified as “undetermined,” meaning investigators could not conclusively determine whether the deaths were accidental, self-inflicted, or criminal.
The speculation surrounding a Texas serial killer intensified after three bodies were found in the same week during the holiday season, echoing similar rumors that circulated in September when multiple recoveries occurred within days of each other.
Teare acknowledged that criminal activity does occasionally intersect with bayou recoveries but emphasized those cases are isolated. “Yes, there are times where we recover bodies that were placed in the bayou criminally, no question,” he said. “But that is not something that is a regular occurrence.”
He also suggested that broader intervention could reduce future deaths. “If we were more intentional and better at helping our unhoused population find places to live and supporting them, we would likely see a drop in the numbers,” Teare said.