HOUSTON – KPRC 2 requested an updated data spreadsheet from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office of the number of bodies found in Houston area waterways since 2017.
Updated records show 208 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017, reflecting an increase from figures previously reported.
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The newly compiled data also indicate four deaths have already been recorded in 2026.
Here is a closer look at the data:
BY YEAR:
Year Deaths
2017 20
2018 18
2019 12
2020 27
2021 16
2022 20
2023 22
2024 35
2025 34
2026 4
BY SEX:
MALE 178
FEMALE 29
UNKNOWN 1
BY RACE:
Race Deaths
BLACK 78
WHITE 75
HISPANIC 45
ASIAN 6
UNKNOWN 4
Percentage breakdown:
Race % of Deaths
Black 37.5%
White 36.1%
Hispanic 21.6%
Asian 2.9%
Unknown 1.9%
BY AGE:
Age Group Deaths
0–12 3
13–17 3
18–24 21
25–34 55
35–44 37
45–54 34
55–64 33
65–74 13
75–84 4
85+ 1
Percentage breakdown:
Age Group % of Deaths
25–34 26.4%
35–44 17.8%
45–54 16.3%
55–64 15.9%
18–24 10.1%
65–74 6.2%
0–12 1.4%
13–17 1.4%
75–84 1.9%
85+ 0.5%
BY MANNER OF DEATH:
Manner Deaths %
Undetermined 84 40.4%
Accident – Drowning 47 22.6%
Suicide 25 12.0%
Homicide 18 8.7%
Accident (other) 12 5.8%
Natural 7 3.4%
Pending 7 3.4%
BY CAUSE OF DEATH:
Cause Deaths
Undetermined 69
Drowning 62
Hanging 8
Pending 7
Homicidal violence 4
Hypertensive / cardiovascular disease (various) 6 combined
Percentage breakdown:
Cause % of Deaths
Undetermined 33.2%
Drowning 29.8%
Hanging 3.8%
Pending 3.4%
Homicidal violence 1.9%
Cardiovascular disease (hypertensive/atherosclerotic) 1.9%
BY ZIP CODE:
Zip Code Deaths
77002 22
77003 17
77023 17
77012 8
77017 8
77021 7
BY BAYOU:
Bayou Deaths % of Total
Unspecified Bayou 121 58.2%
Buffalo Bayou 30 14.4%
Brays Bayou 25 12.0%
White Oak Bayou 7 3.4%
Sims Bayou 6 2.9%
Greens Bayou 5 2.4%
Braes Bayou 2 1.0%
Halls Bayou 2 1.0%
Other / Non-bayou descriptor 10 4.8%
Unspecified Bayou includes entries that say “BAYOU”, “BANK OF BAYOU”, “BAYOU EMBANKMENT” and “UNDER BRIDGE NEAR BAYOU.”
Bayou deaths have drawn a lot of public attention with many on social media speculating there is a potential serial killer.
However, authorities have repeatedly stated there is no evidence linking the deaths to a serial killer.
“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.”
Teare attributed many of the deaths to Houston’s challenges with homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.
On Tuesday Night, KPRC 2 goes deeper with a special documentary called “Bodies in the Bayou,” examining the bayou deaths, the unanswered questions, and the family searching for closure.