Houston on edge as 14 bodies, including Jade McKissic, found in local waterways: Five recovered in a single week

Houston is grappling with a disturbing surge in fatalities across its bayous and canals, with 14 bodies discovered in local waterways since the beginning of the year.

The latest developments, including the recovery of five bodies in just a single week, have heightened public concern and cast a spotlight on the city’s extensive network of waterways.

The McKissic case

Among the most notable recent cases is that of 20-year-old Jade McKissic, a University of Houston student and Spring ISD alumna. McKissic was reported missing on September 14. She was last seen leaving a gathering with friends three days earlier.

Four days later, her body was recovered in Brays Bayou, less than three miles from where she was last seen. Authorities have said that an autopsy revealed no obvious signs of foul play or trauma. The official cause of death is still pending further examination by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

McKissic’s death has sent shockwaves through the university community. Students and faculty admired McKissic for her work as a campus tour guide, social media editor, and Honors College student. Those who knew her remember McKissic as “a friend to many.” A student advocacy group, Deeds Not Words at UH, has called for strengthened campus safety measures, and a vigil is being planned in her honor.

A series of grim discoveries

The week also saw the discovery of three other bodies in separate locations across Houston’s waterways. One was recovered from Greens Bayou, and authorities determined the cause of death to be natural. Another was found in White Oak Bayou, while a third was discovered in Buffalo Bayou after a man reportedly entered the water and failed to resurface.

In all cases, official investigations are ongoing, and the Harris County Medical Examiner is still reviewing the circumstances of death. Later in the week, a fifth body was located in Buffalo Bayou near Hirsch Road, but officials have not yet released the identity of the deceased or the cause of death

Houston’s bayous—ranging from Brays Bayou to Buffalo Bayou—crisscross the city, winding through residential neighborhoods, parks, and industrial areas. While they are vital for drainage and flood control, these waterways have long been sites where accidents and tragedies occur, and their size and accessibility can make investigations especially challenging.

The unusual concentration of recoveries has fueled public speculation, with some residents raising concerns about the possibility of a serial killer. Experts caution, however, that the cases do not appear connected.

Speaking with the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Krista Gehring, a criminology professor at the University of Houston-Downtown, noted that at least one death was ruled accidental and another is believed to have been a suicide. She attributed much of the public anxiety to a cultural fascination with true crime rather than evidence suggesting a coordinated series of homicides.

Houston Police Department spokesperson Shay Awosiyan emphasized that each case is being investigated individually. While the clustering of deaths is unusual, there is currently no evidence of a linked pattern, Awosiyan said.