Overview
- The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences reports at least 25 bodies found in bayous and waterways this year, more than double the prior year.
- Mayor John Whitmire and Houston police say cases are unrelated, and none of the reviewed deaths has been classified as a homicide.
- By the end of September, authorities had determined causes in six of 22 cases—four drownings, one suicide, and one cardiac death—leaving most pending or undetermined.
- Autopsy findings for 20-year-old Jade McKissic showed no signs of trauma, with the cause still pending, as several other recent cases also remain unresolved.
- City council members Letitia Plummer and Carolyn Evans-Shabazz have pressed for a formal task force and safety measures such as lighting, signage, cameras, and increased monitoring, while families continue to demand clearer answers.