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Former detective says string of Houston deaths may be linked to alleged ‘Smiley Face’ killer network

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Former detective says string of Houston deaths may be linked to alleged ‘Smiley Face’ killer network

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Bodies keep surfacing — and so do questions.

There’s a dark current in Houston’s bayous this year, with 16 bodies recovered, five of them in the same week last month.

City leaders are downplaying speculation about a potential serial killer, but retired NYPD Sgt. Kevin Gannon, who has long espoused the theory that a group known as the “Smiley Face Killers” is responsible for hundreds of suspicious drowning deaths around the U.S., says he believes the deaths may be connected.

“We’ve never seen drowning numbers like this before, especially with a drowning occurring every other day in the same location,” he told Fox News Digital.

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HOUSTON POLICE DISCOVER 16 BODIES IN BAYOUS THIS YEAR AS MAYOR DISMISSES SERIAL KILLER SPECULATION

Houston fire and police personnel recover a body from White Oak Bayou near the Heights in Houston, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Jill Karnicki/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Gannon examines dates, times and locations along with other details when judging whether he believes the Smileys may be involved. And the pattern fits in Houston, for the most part, he said — except for the fact that some of the victims were in their 60s.

“This is an aberration and not the normal age of our 700-plus ‘potential victims,’” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be involved in killing these older individuals also, as they feel like they are pretty invincible right now and can act with impunity due to the police response.”

Under the controversial “Smiley Face Killers” theory, a mysterious but organized gang of serial killers is believed to target young men, many of them in college fraternities, and dump their bodies in the water. As the theory goes, they mark the scenes with graffiti. It places most of their activity in the Midwest and Northeast, in big cities and college towns near the water.

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BODIES STACK UP IN TEXAS CITY AMID FEARS OF SERIAL KILLER, RUMORS OF ‘ROOFIE’ ATTACKS

The Bayou running through Piney Point Village on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Houston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Houston authorities have said they have uncovered no signs of a serial killer in connection with the bodies pulled out of the bayous so far this year.

Police have said the bodies belonged to both males and females, and ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s.

“There is no evidence, and I repeat no evidence, to suggest that any of these incidents are connected,” Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz told reporters last month.

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Two more bodies have washed up since then.

FOUR FOUND DEAD IN MILLION-DOLLAR SAN FRANCISCO HOME AS POLICE PROBE ‘SUSPICIOUS’ DEATHS

Houston Mayor John Whitmire called the deaths alarming but said that drownings in the city’s 2,500 miles of bayous is “not a new phenomenon.”

HPD Police Chief Noe Diaz listens as Mayor John Whitmire comments on a recent number of bodies found in Houston bayous during a news conference in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

He urged patience as police investigate and suggested drug and alcohol abuse among the homeless could be a factor.

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“Unfortunately the homeless, when they pass, often end up in the bayou,” he said, suggesting that some are thrown in by others living on the streets.

BANK ACCOUNTS OF NEW YORK ‘ROOFIE MURDER’ VICTIMS DRAINED VIA FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

Retired NYPD Sgt. Joseph Giacalone, a criminal justice professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley and a skeptic of the Smiley theory, said the mayor’s remarks were premature.

“You have 16 bodies, you can’t just say everybody’s dying and getting thrown into the river and everybody’s homeless,” he told Fox News Digital. “You don’t even know if they’re from your town.”

The Sims Bayou Greenway near the Houston Botanic Garden and the Glenbrook Park is shown in Houston, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

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Each case, he said, should be individually investigated.

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“You need an individual autopsy and full toxicology on each one of these bodies,” he continued.

Forensic pathologists can also determine whether the victims were dead before they went into water — or if they drowned, he said.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man stabbed to death after violent dog attack on Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Man stabbed to death after violent dog attack on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Loved ones are devastated after a 37-year-old man was attacked by a dog and stabbed to death by several men on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The unprovoked attack happened on May 20 as Berry Henderson, 37, was standing at a bus stop near Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue around 3 p.m.

Surveillance video showed Henderson running into the street as a dog was seen chasing him and aggressively biting him. 

Henderson managed to pull out a knife and stabbed the dog to defend himself. That’s when a group of four men, one of whom was the dog’s owner, rushed over to attack Henderson. A suspect who was armed with a machete was seen stabbing and punching Henderson.

  • A group of four men stabbed and punched Barry Henderson after he stabbed the attacking dog in defense on May 20, 2026. (Henderson Family)
  • Berry Henderson, 37, tried to escape the area from his attackers who quickly cornered him again on May 20, 2026. (Henderson Family)
  • Loved ones held a candelight vigil at the crime scene on the Hollywood Walk Fame to honor Berry Henderson on May 29, 2026. (KTLA)
  • Berry Henderson, 37, is seen in a family photo.
  • Berry Henderson, 37, is seen in a family photo.
  • The victim's cousin, Demeya Brewer, speaks with KTLA at a candlelight vigil in Hollywood on May 29, 2026. (KTLA)
  • Surveillance video showed Berry Henderson, 37, running into the street as a violent dog was seen chasing him and aggressively biting him near Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood on May 20, 2026. (Henderson Family)

The victim’s cousin, Sharon Grimes, said she was stunned that no bystanders acted to help Henderson.

“People around weren’t doing anything,” she said. “I didn’t see anybody try to come to his rescue, with all that blood. Nobody picked up the phone.”

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“That’s what makes it so shocking,” said Najee Ali, a community activist. “That someone could actually be stabbed to death, beaten and bit by a dog in broad daylight with no one helping.”

Henderson, who was critically injured, stumbled across the street while trying to escape the attackers, but the men quickly came after him again.

“He was running away,” said Demeya Brewer, the victim’s cousin. “He was down on the ground, running away and they still continued to attack him.”

Henderson, who had suffered multiple stab wounds, died from his injuries at the hospital. 

Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the scene and were able to locate and arrest three suspects. The fourth male suspect managed to escape.

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On Friday night, Henderson’s family gathered at the scene for a candlelight vigil to honor Henderson, who was a student at a local trade school. Family members said he was a peaceful man who was loved by his friends and community.

“My cousin was not a threat to anyone,” Brewer said. “This was his area, his neighborhood. Business owners knew him. We need more love and peace.”

Henderson’s family believes there are witnesses who likely know where the fourth suspect is hiding. They’re asking anyone with information on the case to call the LAPD at 213-382-9470.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man arrested for multiple Los Angeles freeway shootings: CHP

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Man arrested for multiple Los Angeles freeway shootings: CHP

A man suspected of repeatedly shooting at other vehicles while driving on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles County was arrested on May 29, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP pulled over the suspected shooter, Martin Moreno-Pacheco, in South Los Angeles at about 3:40 a.m. Friday. Prior to his arrest, CHP officers suspected that Moreno-Pacheco was connected to multiple freeway shootings in recent days.

On May 26, a driver reported a car-to-car shooting, which they said happened on the 405 Freeway near Wilmington Avenue on May 23. The victim told investigators that the person responsible for the shooting was driving a black pickup truck.

“The victim reported an unprovoked shooting occurred, resulting in damage to the victim’s vehicle,” CHP said.

The 405 Freeway near Wilmington Avenue in Los Angeles. (Google Street View)

On May 28, at about 5:30 a.m., another car-to-car shooting was reported on the 405 Freeway south of Vermont Avenue. The victim told investigators that their car was damaged in a shooting committed by someone in a black pickup.

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“Based on the investigation conducted, both incidents, as well as a third incident, which occurred on May 22, 2026, were determined to be committed by the same individual,” CHP said.

Moreno-Pacheco was found and arrested a week later. Upon searching Moreno-Pacheco’s truck, CHP officers found a loaded BB gun inside the truck’s passenger compartment.

No one was injured in the shootings, CHP said. CHP is asking any additional witnesses or victims of the alleged crimes to contact Officer C. Ortega at the CHP South Los Angeles Area office at (424) 551-4000.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Rescued sea lion pups released in Manhattan Beach

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Rescued sea lion pups released in Manhattan Beach

Three rescued California sea lion pups were released back into the Pacific Ocean in Manhattan Beach Friday morning after weeks of rehabilitation for malnutrition, dehydration and other health issues. The public release event took place on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier and was hosted by the Marine Mammal Care Center, Los Angeles […]

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