A lady’s physique was present in a Houston bayou, the sixth in two weeks, however police say there’s no proof the deaths are related.
HOUSTON — A lady’s physique was pulled from the water close to downtown Houston late Thursday evening, including to a string of latest discoveries which have fueled hypothesis on-line.
Houston police stated they obtained a name round 11:30 p.m. about an individual within the water close to Commerce and Milam, simply off the bayou. A gaggle of individuals using scooters first noticed what seemed to be a physique. The Houston Police Division dive crew later recovered the lady’s physique.
Her identification has not been launched. Investigators stated it’s too early to understand how she ended up within the water. The Harris County medical expert will decide the reason for loss of life.
This marks the sixth physique present in or close to Houston’s bayous prior to now two weeks. Police confirmed that solely a type of people has been publicly recognized — College of Houston scholar Jade “Sage” McKissick, who was reported lacking earlier this month. Officers stated a second particular person has additionally been recognized, however their identify has not been launched pending household notification.
Timeline of latest discoveries
The newest restoration comes after a sequence of comparable circumstances in latest days:
- Monday, Sept. 15: Two our bodies had been discovered. One was recognized as UH scholar Jade “Sage” McKissick, recovered from Brays Bayou. Police stated there have been no indicators of foul play in her case. A second sufferer was recovered from a canal close to the East Freeway at Greens Bayou; that loss of life was dominated pure causes.
- Tuesday, Sept. 16: A physique was pulled from White Oak Bayou close to 2200 White Oak Drive after a witness noticed it. The reason for loss of life continues to be pending.
- Thursday, Sept. 18: Witnesses reported seeing somebody bounce into Buffalo Bayou close to Jensen Drive and Navigation Boulevard and by no means resurface. That case was dominated a drowning.
- Saturday, Sept 20: A physique was pulled from the bayou at North York Road.
- Thursday, Sept 25: A lady’s physique was pulled from the water close to Commerce and Milam in downtown Houston.
To this point in 2024, no less than 13 our bodies have been present in Houston waterways. Officers famous that 24 folks had been recovered final yr.
Rumors vs. official response
The cluster of deaths has fueled on-line hypothesis a few attainable serial killer. However each metropolis leaders and legal justice specialists have rejected these claims.
Earlier this week, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. addressed the considerations immediately, urging folks to not unfold misinformation.
“No, I imply, at the moment, there’s no indication — there’s nothing that might give us that indication,” an HPD official stated when requested about attainable connections between the circumstances.
Whitmire additionally spoke firmly at a information convention: “I do say sufficient is sufficient on hypothesis, out of respect for the households and in addition the two.3 million Houstonians in our area. Now we have challenges — we’re assembly these challenges — however a serial killer unfastened in Houston shouldn’t be one in all our challenges in the present day.”
He added that there are lots of causes folks might find yourself within the bayous, from accidents to homelessness to psychological well being crises.
Knowledgeable evaluation
Legal justice specialists have additionally dismissed the serial killer principle.
“The brief reply is not any,” stated Dr. Krista Gehring, a College of Houston-Downtown legal justice professor. “I do know it may be fairly alarming for folks. It’s attainable these are unintended deaths, or folks sadly taking their very own lives. There are a number of different, much less scary explanations for all of those our bodies turning up.”
Gehring added that serial killers usually comply with patterns, comparable to focusing on a particular demographic, which isn’t the case right here.
Former Houston police officer Tom Nixon agreed, noting that our bodies have lengthy been recovered from Houston’s waterways.
“I don’t assume there’s a serial assassin drawback as a result of the causes of loss of life should not constant,” Nixon stated. “Whereas there have been 5 in a single week, total, it’s most likely not going to deviate from any historic sample. It is one thing that occurs.”
Each specialists warned in opposition to fueling concern on-line. “There’s an actual concern about perpetuating concern on social media or within the media — concern that will not be warranted,” Gehring stated.
What’s subsequent
The medical expert will decide the reason for loss of life for the lady recovered on Thursday evening. Police say updates will probably be offered as soon as her identification is confirmed and her household is notified.
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