Texas officials have ruled the recent deaths of four people found in a city’s bayous as undetermined.
The five people, including University of Houston student Jade McKissic, 20, were all discovered deceased in Houston bayous in September. Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences classified the deaths of Mikissic, Rodney Chatman, Seth Hansen, and Michael Rice as undetermined, according to WTSM.
McKissic was found dead in Brays Bayou on September 15, five days after vanishing from campus. Foul play is not suspected in her death.
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has provided a cause and manner of death in only one case of someone who was found dead in a Houston bayou in September. Arnulfo Alvarado, 63, was found in Buffalo Bayou on September 18. His death was deemed an accidental drowning with methamphetamine listed as a contributing factor, according to WTSM.
Reports indicated that at least 16 people have been found in Houston-area waterways this year. The previous year, 25 bodies were recovered from local bayous.
Additionally, the Houston Chronicle reported that nine other Houston bayou deaths from this year were ruled undetermined. Officials have provided causes of death in 11 other cases, which ranged from drowning, suicide, and sudden cardiac arrest. Only one was ruled a homicide.
Last month, Houston officials dispelled rumors about a serial killer in the city, claiming the deaths appeared unconnected.
“I do say enough is enough on speculation, out of respect for the families and also the 2.3 million Houstonians in our region,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said. “We have challenges — we’re meeting those challenges — but a serial killer loose in Houston is not one of our challenges today.”
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[Feature Photo: Houston Chronicle]
