HOUSTON – Harris County’s top prosecutor is pushing back against viral social media speculation about a serial killer operating in Houston, even as the discovery of three bodies in local bayous last week renewed public concern about the number of people being found in waterways.
“There is nothing, nothing, and I want to be crystal clear, to indicate that there is someone operating here as a serial killer,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said in a one-on-one interview with KPRC 2. “There are many reasons for these deaths. None of them are a serial killer.”
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The recent discoveries brought the total number of bodies recovered from Houston-area bayous in 2025 to 34, nearly matching last year’s count of 35.
While the numbers have sparked widespread social media speculation and true crime discussions, officials say the reality is more complex and points to broader social issues.
Teare attributed many of the deaths to Houston’s challenges with homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.
“We have a massive homeless problem. We have massive mental health and addiction problem. All of those things are contributing to a lot of the bodies that we’re discovering,” he said.
The city’s extensive waterway system, comprising over 2,500 miles of bayous in downtown Houston alone, presents unique risks.
“It’s kind of a little known fact, but 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.”
Records obtained from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office show nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston’s bayous since 2017, according to reporting by KPRC 2’s Jaewon Jung.
About 40% of these cases remain listed as “undetermined,” meaning investigators couldn’t confirm whether they were accidents, suicides, or homicides.
While some residents remain skeptical of the official explanation, Teare acknowledged that criminal cases do occur but emphasized they are isolated incidents rather than connected events.
“Yes, there are times where we recover bodies that were placed in the bayou criminally, no question, but that is not something that is a regular occurrence,” he said.
The district attorney suggested that addressing Houston’s homeless crisis could help reduce bayou 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.
Every recovered body undergoes an autopsy by the Institute for Forensic Science, with law enforcement agencies continuing investigations even in cases where the cause of death is undetermined.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office maintains a cold case squad specifically dedicated to investigating unresolved deaths.
The timing of recent discoveries, three bodies found in one week during the holiday season, has intensified public concern.
However, Teare noted that this period often sees increases in various types of incidents.
“The holidays are always difficult, and it’s not just the tragedies of people dying in the bayou. We see murders increase, we see intoxication, manslaughter increase,” he explained.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s office confirmed that the police department routinely patrols the city’s bayous as part of their safety measures, though some residents feel more should be done to prevent these deaths.
“One death is too many, and I extend my condolences to those whose loved ones were discovered in a local bayou,” said Mayor Whitmire. “Houston has 2,500 miles of bayous and waterways. The Houston Police Department is routinely patrolling the bayou trails on horseback and bike and other significant ways to enhance safety.”
For now, law enforcement officials continue to emphasize that while each death is tragic and deserves thorough investigation, there is no evidence supporting social media theories about a serial killer targeting Houston’s bayou areas.