Houston – Since 2017, more than 200 people have been found across Houston’s 2,500 miles of bayous. Social media is full of questions: How did these people die? Was someone responsible? And if there is a killer, what are police doing to stop them?
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare says there is no serial killer dumping victims into the bayou. But every time a body is found in Houston’s waterways, some people believe otherwise.
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KPRC 2 spent two months speaking with a victim’s family, Harris County’s top prosecutor, and others for a 30-minute special, “Bodies in the Bayou.”
Lauren Freeman, cousin of Kenneth Cutting Jr., expressed frustration with the investigation.
For 19 months, she has searched for answers about what happened to her cousin. His body was found in a bayou east of downtown Houston in June 2024. Houston police investigated but later closed the case.
“It’s pretty close ended if you know what I mean,” Freeman said. “It’s like, if you bring evidence, okay, what do you want us to bring? What exactly do you need to reopen his case?”
Kenneth Cutting Jr. is among 40% of people found in Houston bayous since 2017 whose deaths were ruled undetermined by the Harris County Medical Examiner. That statistic has fueled public speculation about a serial killer.
Andy Kahan, director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, said, “Not only is the public obsessed that this potentially could be a serial killer, from my perspective, it almost appears like they want there to be a serial killer.”
Experts also examined the bayous themselves and whether they pose dangers.
Dr. Phil Bedient, chair and professor of environmental sciences and engineering at Rice University, said, “The bottom is very, very slippery, and you slip on that muck down there. There’s a chance, yeah, you could drown.”
District Attorney Sean Teare emphasized the bayous are part of Houston’s identity.
“We’re the Bayou City. It is part of who we are. It’s not something to be feared. None of them are something to be feared. They’re something to be respected.”
Meanwhile, families like Kenneth’s want answers, justice, and peace.
Freeman said, “Maybe somebody else’s family member that’s going through the same thing will see this. And they will get the courage to come forward and say, no more, just like I am. And they’ll talk.”
Grizzy, from Grizzy’s Hood News and a dedicated community advocate, is raising awareness about the people found in Houston bayous. She follows local news closely and says she is approached daily by residents asking about a possible serial killer in the city. Grizzy also hears from family members desperate for answers about unsolved bayou deaths.
We heard you. We are getting answers.
“Bodies in the Bayou” airs Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. on KPRC-TV, KPRC Plus and on KPRC’s YouTube.
Contact KPRC 2 News about Houston bayou deaths
KPRC 2 News is digging into the unsolved deaths in the Houston bayous. Fill out this short form to send us your comments and contact information.
You can also contact Producer/photojournalist Beth Peak at BPeak@kprc.com or Producer Andrea Slaydon at ASlaydon@kprc.com.
We are hoping to share your stories and find answers for families and the community.