The recent string of mysterious deaths in Houston’s bayous has sparked growing concern and skepticism among residents and families of the victims. With 16 bodies recovered from the area this year, including that of 22-year-old Kenneth Cutting Jr., the city’s authorities have faced mounting pressure to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding these deaths more thoroughly.
Colman Ryan, a local private investigator working closely with the family of Kenneth Cutting Jr., has challenged the official narrative, suggesting that the possibility of a serial killer remains open. Ryan emphasized that the lack of clear evidence and the dismissive stance of officials have fueled doubts about the cause of death for Cutting, who was found in Buffalo Bayou with an undetermined cause of death. He questioned whether the deaths could be attributed solely to homelessness and substance abuse, pointing to the absence of signs of trauma and the apparent lack of clear motives among the victims.
Cutting’s family has also raised concerns about inconsistencies in the autopsy report. His cousin, Lauren Freeman, mentioned an unexplained orthopedic hardware in his neck, which no one in the family was aware of. She also highlighted conflicting details regarding his height and weight, as the reported measurements diverge from what the family knew about him. Freeman expressed frustration, as the family feels that official narratives are being undermined by the lack of transparency and clarity in the reports. The family claims that someone from the medical examiner’s office informed them that the hardware was a clerical error, adding to their doubts.
In addition to Kenneth Cutting’s case, other recent deaths in the bayous have raised similar concerns. For example, Jade McKissic, a 20-year-old University of Houston student, was found dead in Brays Bayou days after she was last seen leaving a downtown bar on September 11. Authorities have not provided a clear motive or cause for her death, further fueling suspicions about an underlying pattern, which some experts believe may be linked to an alleged Smiley Face Killer network, as reported by former detectives who have investigated the city’s string of murders.
Mayor John Whitmire has downplayed the possibility of a serial killer, instead attributing the deaths to homelessness and substance abuse. However, critics, including the family of Cutting and the private investigator, argue that this narrative may be dismissing the true nature of the crime. With limited progress in the investigations and no clear answers, the families and local investigators are calling for a more comprehensive and transparent examination of the cases. Meanwhile, the Houston Police Department has yet to provide substantial comments on the matters, leaving many questions unanswered about these tragic incidents.