A series of bodies were discovered in various bayous scattered around the Houston area, leading to online speculation of a possible serial killer dubbed the “Buffalo Bayou Butcher” by online denizens. Given the discovery of a victim near UHD’s campus, how safe does our community feel?
According to Harris County officials, there are seven confirmed cases as of Sept. 15. The cause of death is still being investigated for all victims. So far, no evidence has been found that would link these deaths.
While investigations are ongoing, Mayor John Whitmire has reminded Houstonians that all claims of a possible serial killer responsible for these deaths are not substantiated and are therefore speculation.
“There is no evidence that there is a serial killer loose on the streets of Houston,” Whitmire said at a recent news conference reported on by KHOU-TV.
As of Oct. 8, six out of seven victims recovered have been identified, with ages ranging from 21 to 66. The seventh victim, found at White Oak Bayou near Taylor Street, has yet to be identified.
With the seventh body being found so close to our own campus, many students describe feeling uneasy when traversing across campus.
“I feel like you have to be more vigilant going to and from classes, especially if you have to cross the bayou,” said Jaskirat Kaur, a student at UHD. “I used to leave campus from 8 to 9 p.m. last semester, but now I never stay past 5 p.m.”
Alternatively, some students say that the discovery of these bodies across Houston bayous has had no bearing on their sense of safety on campus.
“I feel pretty safe overall. I have confidence in UHD’s security, given it’s so close to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office,” said Victoria Le, a student at UHD. “I haven’t heard of anything bad happening on campus.”
Though the spread of misinformation throughout this investigation has influenced the public’s perspective and led to a plethora of fearmongering, it is important to remember that this is an ongoing case with many facts still unknown.
Keeping up with the latest news of the case from official sources is the best way to minimize misinformation and stay informed.
