Fears that a serial killer is terrorising the streets of Houston, Texas, have resurfaced after more bodies were pulled from a local river this week, bringing the total number recovered in 2025 to 34. The remains of three people were pulled from the city's waterways, with resultant widespread social media speculation forcing officials to address the grim finds and insist there is no evidence that the deaths are connected.

"There must be someone out there. Because it's ridiculous that so many people are dying in the bayou, I think it's unfortunate that they haven't found the person," resident Erick Cortez, told ABC13. "The math isn't mathing, I think there's a serial killer," added Juan Sandoval. "I get Nevada's 'for you' page now, and even in Nevada, they're talking about Buffalo Bayou, so it's that bad, it's reaching another state, across state lines". Meanwhile, Joseph Giacalone, a retired New York Police Department sergeant and criminal justice professor, told Fox News: "Something is afoot. A coincidence? Unlikely. A careful inspection of each case is warranted, including the 48 hours prior to the discovery of their disappearance."

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told KPRC: "There is nothing, nothing, and I want to be crystal clear, to indicate that there is someone operating here as a serial killer. There are many reasons for these deaths. None of them are a serial killer."

However, he did concede "there are times where we recover bodies that were placed in the bayou criminally, no question", but that this was not a "regular occurrence".

He added that it is a well-established fact that if people enter Houston's bayous - a body of water typically found in a flat, low-lying area with extremely slow-moving streams - it is very difficult to get out.

"When you combine that with someone that is high on some substance, someone that is intoxicated somehow, it makes it even more difficult."

The renewed speculation comes after Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Mayor John Whitmire held a joint press conference in September, during which they urged people to stop speculating and spreading rumours about the high numbers of deaths.

Among this year's deceased was 20-year-old University of Houston student Jade McKissic, who disappeared on September 11. Her body was uncovered in Brays Bayou, which flows through the Houston area, on September 15. No trauma was detected, but her cause of death was ruled "undetermined" - the same as around 40% of the cause of deaths in the area, reported the New York Post.

The same day that Ms McKissic was found, another body was discovered in nearby waters, according to Houston Public Media.

The total number of bodies recovered from local bayous in 2025 has now reached 34, according to local media. This is just less than the number pulled from the water last year, which reached 35. According to a Houston Chronicleanalysis of medical examiner records from 2017 to November 2025, 201 deaths have been recorded in Harris County bayous.

The Express has contacted the Houston Police Department and the Houston Mayor's office for comment.