HOUSTON – New records from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences are offering a clearer picture of the bodies that were recovered from the bayou so far this year.
According to data reviewed by KPRC 2, 22 deaths this year list a bayou as the place of death, excluding cases that involved vehicles. Of those, only six have finalized causes. The majority remain pending or undetermined.
Recommended Videos
The records show that:
- Four victims drowned, with toxicology results showing drugs or alcohol in at least two of the cases.
- One victim died of sudden cardiac death, tied to hypertensive heart disease and hypothermia.
- One case was ruled a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
19 of the deaths were men, three were women. The ages are varied with the majority falling between 29 to 55 years old.
21 of the bodies were found in Houston’s waterways and one was found in Channelview.
These findings come as Houston leaders face mounting pressure to respond to community fears. At a press conference this week, Council Members Letitia Plummer and Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said there is no evidence of a serial killer, despite speculation circulating online.
“This community wants answers, and we will deliver them,” Plummer said. “We don’t want assumptions. We don’t want rumors. Families deserve the truth.”
Dr. Evans-Shabazz directly addressed the high-profile case of a University of Houston student, saying investigators found evidence she walked into the bayou and that no foul play was involved.
Plummer cautioned that the city will not comment further until reports are finalized, stressing respect for the family.
For now, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant around the city’s 2,500 miles of waterways. They warn that strong undercurrents, debris and hidden hazards make bayous dangerous, even when they appear calm.
Here is a list of the names, dates and cause of deaths KPRC 2 has collected so far (we have excluded the name of the suicide victim):
Douglas Swearingen — 2025-01-11 — Age 44 — Drowning (Acute methamphetamine toxicity)
Carl Newton — 2025-02-14 — Age 24 — Sudden cardiac death (hypertensive cardiovascular disease, KCNQ1 variant, with hypothermia)
Rodolfo Salas Sosa — 2025-03-22 — Age 56 — Drowning with blunt force trauma
Anthony Azua — 2025-03-30 — Age 33 — Pending
Juan Garcia Loredo — 2025-03-31 — Age 69 — Pending
Kenneth Jones — 2025-05-07 — Age 34 — Undetermined
George Grays — 2025-05-09 — Age 54 — Pending
Culcois Racius — 2025-05-09 — Age 39 — Pending
Anthony Curry — 2025-05-17 — Age 35 — Drowning with acute toxic effects of PCP and ethanol
Shannon Davis — 2025-05-30 — Age 14 — Drowning
Ernest Armstrong — 2025-06-09 — Age 62 — Undetermined
Brent Brown — 2025-06-12 — Age 28 — Undetermined
Raymond Hatten — 2025-07-07 — Age 30 — Pending
Latrecia Amos — 2025-08-21 — Age 57 — Pending
Jamal Alexander — 2025-08-27 — Age 31 — Pending
Jade McKissic — 2025-09-15 — Age 20 — Pending
Rodney Chatman — 2025-09-15 — Age 43 — Pending
Name not captured — 2025-09-16 — Age 55 — Pending
Name not captured — 2025-09-18 — Age 41 — Pending
Michael Rice — 2025-09-20 — Age 47 — Pending
Name not captured — 2025-09-25 — Pending
RELATED: Remains found in cooler on Hirsch Road identified as missing woman Dionne Williams