HOUSTON \u2013 KPRC 2 requested an updated data spreadsheet from the Harris County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office of the number of bodies found in Houston area waterways since 2017.<\/p>\n
Updated records show 208 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017, reflecting an increase from figures previously reported.<\/p>\n
The newly compiled data also indicate four deaths have already been recorded in 2026.<\/p>\n
Here is a closer look at the data:<\/p>\n
BY YEAR:<\/p>\n
Year\tDeaths<\/p>\n
2017\t20<\/p>\n
2018\t18<\/p>\n
2019\t12<\/p>\n
2020\t27<\/p>\n
2021\t16<\/p>\n
2022\t20<\/p>\n
2023\t22<\/p>\n
2024\t35<\/p>\n
2025\t34<\/p>\n
2026\t4<\/p>\n
BY SEX:<\/p>\n
MALE\t178<\/p>\n
FEMALE\t29<\/p>\n
UNKNOWN\t1<\/p>\n
BY RACE:<\/p>\n
Race\tDeaths<\/p>\n
BLACK\t78<\/p>\n
WHITE\t75<\/p>\n
HISPANIC\t45<\/p>\n
ASIAN\t6<\/p>\n
UNKNOWN\t4<\/p>\n
Percentage breakdown:<\/p>\n
Race\t% of Deaths<\/p>\n
Black\t37.5%<\/p>\n
White\t36.1%<\/p>\n
Hispanic\t21.6%<\/p>\n
Asian\t2.9%<\/p>\n
Unknown\t1.9%<\/p>\n
BY AGE:<\/p>\n
Age Group\tDeaths<\/p>\n
0\u201312 3<\/p>\n
13\u201317 3<\/p>\n
18\u201324 21<\/p>\n
25\u201334 55<\/p>\n
35\u201344 37<\/p>\n
45\u201354 34<\/p>\n
55\u201364 33<\/p>\n
65\u201374 13<\/p>\n
75\u201384 4<\/p>\n
85+ 1<\/p>\n
Percentage breakdown:<\/p>\n
Age Group\t% of Deaths<\/p>\n
25\u201334 26.4%<\/p>\n
35\u201344 17.8%<\/p>\n
45\u201354 16.3%<\/p>\n
55\u201364 15.9%<\/p>\n
18\u201324 10.1%<\/p>\n
65\u201374 6.2%<\/p>\n
0\u201312 1.4%<\/p>\n
13\u201317 1.4%<\/p>\n
75\u201384 1.9%<\/p>\n
85+ 0.5%<\/p>\n
BY MANNER OF DEATH:<\/p>\n
Manner Deaths %<\/p>\n
Undetermined 84\t40.4%<\/p>\n
Accident \u2013 Drowning\t47\t22.6%<\/p>\n
Suicide 25\t12.0%<\/p>\n
Homicide 18\t8.7%<\/p>\n
Accident (other) 12\t5.8%<\/p>\n
Natural 7 3.4%<\/p>\n
Pending 7 3.4%<\/p>\n
BY CAUSE OF DEATH:<\/p>\n
Cause Deaths<\/p>\n
Undetermined\t69<\/p>\n
Drowning 62<\/p>\n
Hanging 8<\/p>\n
Pending 7<\/p>\n
Homicidal violence\t4<\/p>\n
Hypertensive \/ cardiovascular disease (various)\t6 combined<\/p>\n
Percentage breakdown:<\/p>\n
Cause % of Deaths<\/p>\n
Undetermined\t33.2%<\/p>\n
Drowning 29.8%<\/p>\n
Hanging 3.8%<\/p>\n
Pending 3.4%<\/p>\n
Homicidal violence\t1.9%<\/p>\n
Cardiovascular disease (hypertensive\/atherosclerotic)\t1.9%<\/p>\n
BY ZIP CODE:<\/p>\n
Zip Code\tDeaths<\/p>\n
77002 22<\/p>\n
77003 17<\/p>\n
77023 17<\/p>\n
77012 8<\/p>\n
77017 8<\/p>\n
77021 7<\/p>\n
BY BAYOU:<\/p>\n
Bayou Deaths\t% of Total<\/p>\n
Unspecified Bayou\t121\t58.2%<\/p>\n
Buffalo Bayou 30\t14.4%<\/p>\n
Brays Bayou 25\t12.0%<\/p>\n
White Oak Bayou 7\t3.4%<\/p>\n
Sims Bayou 6\t2.9%<\/p>\n
Greens Bayou 5\t2.4%<\/p>\n
Braes Bayou 2\t1.0%<\/p>\n
Halls Bayou 2\t1.0%<\/p>\n
Other \/ Non-bayou descriptor\t10\t4.8%<\/p>\n
Unspecified Bayou includes entries that say \u201cBAYOU\u201d, \u201cBANK OF BAYOU\u201d, \u201cBAYOU EMBANKMENT\u201d and \u201cUNDER BRIDGE NEAR BAYOU.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bayou deaths have drawn a lot of public attention with many on social media speculating there is a potential serial killer.<\/p>\n
However, authorities have repeatedly stated there is no evidence linking the deaths to a serial killer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is nothing, nothing, and I want to be crystal clear, to indicate that there is someone operating here as a serial killer,\u201d Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said in a one-on-one interview with KPRC 2. \u201cThere are many reasons for these deaths. None of them are a serial killer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teare attributed many of the deaths to Houston\u2019s challenges with homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse.<\/p>\n