Fears of serial killer in US grow as dozens of bodies pulled from same waterway

The residents are in a state of panic

Three more bodies were discovered in the past week, with two of them found on Monday, just three days before Christmas.

This year alone, at least 34 bodies have been pulled from the city's bayous, just one short of the number of bodies that were discovered last year in the same waters.

Locals are demanding answers from the authorities, who have repeatedly insisted that the high number of bodies found are not the work of a killer.

Meanwhile, Houston Mayor John Whitmire has reassured the residents not to worry or panic because of the tragic discoveries.

In September, he said that “we do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose,” adding that “what do you think happens when a homeless person dies from an illness, diabetes or cancer? What do you think his friends and associates do? They do not take him to a funeral home. Unfortunately, the homeless, when they pass, often end up in the bayou.”

Meanwhile, experts have said that drowning isn’t the way serial killers typically carry out their murders.

According to research by Texas State University professor Kim Rossmo, drowning is an unusual method for serial killers, as they typically use more brutal methods.

“Serial killers stab or strangle or sometimes shoot, but drowning is uncommon. And one of the reasons is, if you think about it, it’s really hard to kill somebody by drowning. There’s a lot of steps involved and a lot of chances for people to escape,” Rossmo explained.

“We don't have a serial killer, but we do have a drowning problem”, he added.

In spite of the explanations given by the officials and experts, panic has been growing among the residents as the idea of a serial killer has been spreading on social media.

At least 198 bodies have been found in Houston’s bayous since 2017, according to records held by the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office and obtained by KPRC 2.