The discovery of three bodies in Houston-area bayous this week has reignited online speculation that a serial killer may be operating in the city.
According to ABC 13, the claims have spread quickly across social media platforms, drawing attention well beyond Texas—even as authorities and criminal justice experts push back, saying there’s no evidence to support the theory.
The latest recoveries follow a pattern that has surfaced before. In September, five bodies were pulled from Houston bayous within a single week, prompting similar rumors at the time. According to reporting from the Houston Chronicle, the numbers themselves are not unusual: officials recovered 35 bodies from local waterways last year, and roughly 34 so far this year.
Still, for some residents and visitors, the frequency is unsettling. Juan Sandoval, who was visiting Houston when the latest news broke, said the online chatter has been impossible to ignore.
“The math isn’t mathing. I think there’s a serial killer,” he told ABC 13, adding that conversations about Buffalo Bayou are circulating as far away as Nevada.
Houston resident Erick Cortez echoed that concern, saying, “There must be someone out there…it’s ridiculous that so many people are dying in the bayou.”
Law enforcement officials, however, have been clear in their messaging. During a previous briefing, Noe Diaz warned that unverified claims can escalate fear without facts. “Rumors stir fear and anxiety in our communities,” he said.
Criminal justice experts also stress that the location alone doesn’t indicate foul play. Dr. Krista Gehring of the University of Houston explained that popular crime shows have shaped public assumptions. People often believe bodies are dumped in water to erase evidence, she said, when in reality deaths may involve accidents, intoxication, or self-harm.
Retired Houston Police Captain Greg Fremin added that perspective matters. Houston, he said, is “relatively safe for the most part,” though residents should always remain aware of their surroundings, as they would in any large city.