HOUSTON – For some families, the hardest part isn’t just losing a loved one — it’s not knowing exactly what happened.
That uncertainty has returned to the forefront after Houston police recovered two more bodies from local bayous this week, bringing the city’s total number of bayou-related deaths this year to 33, nearly matching last year’s total of 35.
One body was found Monday morning in Buffalo Bayou near downtown Houston, after a passerby called 911. The second was discovered near Brays Bayou, on rocks close to the water near Texas Spur 5 and Old Spanish Trail. Police say both bodies were recovered around 9:30 a.m.
READ MORE: Two bodies found near Houston bayous within hours
Investigators have not yet identified either person. In one case, Houston police said the body was so significantly decomposed that investigators could not determine the individual’s age or other identifying details at the scene.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct autopsies and work to determine the identities and causes of death.
Why some cases are ruled “undetermined”
Many bayou-related deaths in Houston are ultimately ruled undetermined, a conclusion that can be deeply frustrating for families searching for closure.
According to forensic criminologist Dr. Elizabeth Gilmore of the University of Houston, an undetermined ruling does not mean investigators failed to do their jobs. Instead, it reflects the limits of the evidence available.
“What that means is that the pathologist has done as thorough as an examination as they possibly can,” Dr. Gilmore said. “And what they have decided is that they cannot attribute what the manner of death would be… there’s just not enough information for the doctor to say this is what happened.”
Bodies found in water present unique challenges. Gilmore explained that when someone enters a waterway, the body typically sinks at first. As decomposition progresses, gases can build up, eventually causing the body to rise and surface — sometimes long after death.
Heat plays a major role in that process. And, the combination can erase critical evidence.
In Houston’s consistently warm climate, higher temperatures accelerate decomposition, which can destroy soft tissue, erase signs of trauma, and make it difficult to determine how long a body has been in the water or how the person died.
Those same conditions can also delay identification, forcing investigators to rely on dental records, fingerprints — if skin is still intact — or DNA testing, all of which take time.
The impact on families
For families, an undetermined ruling can feel like an unanswered question that never goes away.
Alexis Curry’s brother Anthony’s body was found in White Oak Bayou. While Anthony’s death was ruled accidental, Alexis says her family has little answers as to what Anthony’s last moments alive may have looked like, and what may have led the accidental death. She describes the emotional toll of not knowing what happened.
“It’s heartbreaking… to not know for real,” Curry said. “It just has your mind running… it’s scary and it’s heartbreaking.”
“For some people, your mind just runs all day trying to figure it out,” Curry added.
Dr. Gilmore says that lack of certainty is often the most painful part.
“One of the toughest things for family members is just not knowing… not knowing what happened,” she said.
Investigators urge anyone with information to come forward
Authorities say some cases can still change if new information emerges — including witness statements, surveillance video, or tips from the public.
Investigators urge anyone who may have seen something or knows details about a missing person to contact police, even if the information seems minor.
For families waiting on answers, experts say even one detail can make a difference.