Overview
- County records show at least 24 people recovered from Houston waterways in 2025, nearly triple the tally at this point in 2023 and equal to all of last year.
- Cause of death remains unresolved in 17 cases, with eight ruled undetermined for lack of evidence and nine still pending further testing and investigation.
- Of the seven cases with confirmed causes, five were drownings, one was a suicide, and one was a cardiac-related death, according to autopsy results.
- Seven bodies were recovered in less than a month between September and October, intensifying public scrutiny as the mayor and police reiterate there is no evidence of linked cases or a serial killer.
- Forensic experts cite decomposition and lost scene context in water as key hurdles to definitive rulings, while families and city council members press for more transparency and potentially a dedicated task force; a separate KPRC review counts 192 bayou recoveries since 2017.