Houston police are investigating at least four deaths reported downtown over a roughly 12-hour period Monday, as extreme cold temperatures swept through the city and put vulnerable populations at increased risk.
Authorities say none of the deaths appear suspicious, but investigations remain ongoing as the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office works to determine official causes of death.
According to the Houston Police Department, officers were first called around 8:45 a.m. Monday after a woman was found deceased at Tranquility Park in the 400 block of Rusk Street. HPD did not release additional details and said there were no signs of foul play. An autopsy has not yet been completed.
Later in the day, just before 1 p.m., police responded to another call reporting a deceased person at the intersection of Congress Street and Milam Street. Investigators said the death did not initially appear suspicious. A Medical Examiner case number has been assigned, but the cause of death has not yet been determined.
Later Monday afternoon, HPD’s command center received a third call reporting two people found dead in the 1900 block of Congress Street.
Houston Fire Department crews, who were proactively checking areas downtown where people experiencing homelessness are known to shelter during cold weather, discovered an adult man and an adult woman beneath an overpass near Congress Street and Hamilton Avenue.
Police said the two individuals were found bundled up, apparently trying to stay warm.
While investigators have not confirmed whether cold exposure played a role, HPD said there were no signs of foul play in that case either.
As authorities wait for autopsy results, a local homeless advocate says the deaths hit especially close to home.
KPRC 2 spoke with Ivan Sanchez, director of Together for Texas, who said he spent several days last week on Congress Street with volunteers handing out clothes, blankets, water and other supplies to people living on the streets.
He said volunteers also encouraged people to go to warming centers, but some refused.
“Cold weather isn’t an inconvenience, it’s life-threatening,” Sanchez told KPRC 2’s Jaewon Jung. “I’m heartbroken. It makes me feel that I could have done a little bit more. Even though by the second day, after three, four hours, my eyes were red and my body felt tired, it just feels like we could have done a bit more.”
Houston police say all four deaths remain under investigation, and the Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official causes.