HOUSTON – New data obtained by KPRC 2 shows there have been a record number of bodies found in the Buffalo Bayou in 2025.
We previously reported data from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office which showed that there have been 189 bodies found in Houston area waterways since 2017.
According to Houston Police, there have been 59 bodies found in just the Buffalo Bayou from 2015 until now.
Here is the breakdown by year:
2015: 6
2016: 5
2017: 1
2018: 5
2019: 2
2020: 7
2021: 3
2022: 7
2023: 4
2024: 9
2025: 10
One of the bodies found in Buffalo Bayou last year is that of 22-year-old Kenneth Cutting Jr.
His cousin Lauren Freeman said there were multiple mistakes in his autopsy report, but Houston Police refuse to reopen the case.
“I mean, four pretty large mistakes in my opinion," said Freeman.
The errors included the spelling of where Cutting’s body was found.
Freeman said the location should be 3300 Swiney Street, but the autopsy report lists 3300 Sweeney Street.
The report also states that Cutting is 58 inches tall and 89 pounds. Freeman said Cutting was about 64 inches and 115 to 125 pounds.
But the biggest error, Freeman said, is the claim that there was a medical hardware found in his neck.
Freeman said that is impossible because Cutting never had surgery.
“Once the mistake was made, the the trust in the medical examiner was thrown out the window,” said Freeman.
The medical examiner’s office admitted a mistake and sent KPRC 2 the following statement:
“This was a clerical error that had no impact on the findings or the cause and manner of death. The error occurred during the report editing process, after the postmortem exam was already completed. The pathological findings and conclusions in the report are correct and supported by the forensic pathologist’s notes, x-rays, and over 50 photographs taken during autopsy. The forensic pathologist communicated the error to the family in an effort to maintain transparency.”
Last week, Freeman told us Cutting was in a polyamorous relationship with two men in their mid-30’s, who he had been living with.
Cutting was at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar just a few days before his body was found.
“We can see on camera from footage from Pete’s dueling piano bar that there’s a disagreement between him and one of the boyfriends,” said Freeman.
A spokesperson for Houston Police said its homicide detectives investigated Cutting’s death and determined there was no foul play.