Everything we know about the 24 people found dead in Houston bayous this year as serial killer fears grow

Something strange and deeply troubling is unfolding in Houston’s waterways. This year alone, twenty-four people — both young and old — have been discovered dead in the city’s bayous.

Whispers of a serial killer quickly spread across social media, fueling public fear. But Mayor John Whitmire has dismissed those claims, urging calm. “Enough is enough of wild speculation,” he said, emphasizing that drugs, alcohol, and homelessness are the real factors behind these tragedies.

His words point to a painful truth — that many of the victims were already struggling long before they entered the water. Each loss reflects the silent struggles of people society too often overlooks.

Among those who died was 28-year-old Brent Brown, remembered by friends for his kindness and quiet sense of humor. Another, Anthony Curry, drowned while battling addiction. Even 14-year-old Shannon Davis was among the lives cut short too soon.

Every name carries a story — of dreams, hardship, and fleeting hope. To many residents, those stories make the mystery harder to accept.

Police maintain that these incidents are “not a new phenomenon,” noting similar deaths over past years. Still, unease lingers across Houston as people wonder if something more sinister could be at play.

Whether caused by circumstance, neglect, or something yet unseen, twenty-four lives have been lost to the bayous — leaving behind sorrow, unanswered questions, and a city haunted by the thought that it could happen again.