The mayor of Houston shot down rumors Tuesday of a serial killer after five bodies were found in bayous across the region between Monday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 20. Before disclosing the latest details on each case, Mayor John Whitmire dismissed what he called misinformation and unsubstantiated rumors of a serial murderer on the loose in Texas’ largest city.
‘Enough is enough’
“Enough is enough,” Whitmire said at a news conference alongside Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. “We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas. If there was, you’d hear it from me first.”
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“It’s very frustrating to me to be at home and watch the news or social media and see people spread what I know to be false,” he said. “We do have challenges with public safety, it’s one of the reasons I ran for mayor, but a serial killer on the loose is not one of our challenges today as it relates to public safety.”
Rumors circulating on social media
Whitmire’s remarks come after rumors began to spread on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and X that a serial killer was on the loose.
Chief Diaz urged people on social media to be aware of spreading misinformation about a serial killer in the city and suggested that some rumors may be generated using artificial intelligence.
Body of UH student found
The mayor said the five bodies include 20-year-old University of Houston student Jade McKissic, saying that law enforcement does not suspect foul play in that case. McKissic’s cause of death has yet to be determined.
Other bodies recovered
The other four cases involve individuals who have yet to be publicly identified and whose causes of death are still being determined by the medical examiner’s office.
Diaz said during the press conference that 14 bodies have been discovered in Houston bayous this year, and two dozen bodies were recovered from the city’s bayous last year.
Officials and experts note that it’s not historically uncommon to find bodies in Houston bayous, which can be caused by deaths linked to accidents and suicides.
