In the coming days, Houstonians could learn more about the six bodies discovered in bayous across the city over the past few weeks.
City leaders and law enforcement officials joined residents at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Third Ward on Sunday, where safety concerns and growing fears in the community were front and center.
Council Member Letitia Plummer told residents that Houston police are working urgently to identify the victims.
“In the next seven days, the goal of HPD is to identify these bodies urgently, make sure their families are aware first, and with the family’s consent, then we will make sure that you know who they are,” Plummer said.
Six bodies have been recovered from Houston’s bayou system in recent weeks, found days apart. Of those, one has been identified as a University of Houston student, four remain unidentified, and another’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.
The string of discoveries has fueled fears of a serial killer, a rumor city leaders, including Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Larry Satterwhite, have worked to shut down. Officials say there is no evidence of foul play or connections between the cases, though investigations remain ongoing.
At Tuesday’s meeting, community leaders also shared safety reminders such as walking in pairs, carrying mace, and being alert in urban areas.
“We don’t want people to panic, but that doesn’t say we don’t want people to be vigilant,” one speaker said.
Plummer clarified that those reminders are about general safety in Houston.
“I am saying what we normally should do living in an urban city. We are living in the fourth-largest city in the nation,” she said.
Police continue to investigate the deaths, but at this time have not linked them to foul play.
Recent fears of a serial killer prompted the mayor and police chief to publicly address the situation, urging the public that there is currently no evidence of foul play or any connection between the cases. Investigations into the deaths remain ongoing.
During the meeting, Council Member Plummer hoped to provide answers to residents’ concerns, discuss next steps for community safety, and focus on healing amid a difficult and unsettling situation.