Rumors have swirled in Houston: is there a serial killer using the bayous as a dumping ground?
The theory comes from a chilling statistic – the number of bodies found in the water over time. To many, that pattern looks like the work of one person.
But crime experts say the evidence doesn’t support that.
Andy Kahan, director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, is a serial killer expert. He says what we know about serial killers doesn’t match what’s happening in the bayous.
Typical serial killer victim patterns
-Pick certain gender
“If you go back in Houston through crime history, we’ve only had a few serial killers. Serial killers, for the most part, are gender specific. Very rarely do serial killers kill both male and female victims.
-Pick certain ages
“They single out a particular victim. They usually stick to a specific age range.”
The bodies found in Houston’s bayous don’t fit that narrow profile.
“In the body count that we sadly have in the bayous, ages are from teenagers all the way up to senior citizens.”
-Don’t typically use drowning
Kahn also points to the suspected cause of many of these deaths: drowning.
“There’s never been a serial killer that has basically used drowning as a method to kill their victims. Drowning is hard. It’s not easy. It’s just frankly impossible to even perceive.”
That’s why Kahn is clear: based on what investigators know right now, the “Bodies in the Bayou” rumor does not point to a single serial killer stalking Houston.
Families are desperate for answers. But experts say the reality is likely separate, individual cases — not one serial murderer behind them all.
“Bodies in the Bayou” airs Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. on KPRC-TV, KPRC Plus and on KPRC’s YouTube.
Contact KPRC 2 News about Houston bayou deaths
KPRC 2 News is digging into the unsolved deaths in the Houston bayous. Fill out this short form to send us your comments and contact information.
You can also contact Producer/photojournalist Beth Peak at BPeak@kprc.com or Producer Andrea Slaydon at ASlaydon@kprc.com.
We are hoping to share your stories and find answers for families and the community.