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Houston police discover 16 bodies in bayous this year as mayor dismisses serial killer speculation

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Houston police discover 16 bodies in bayous this year as mayor dismisses serial killer speculation

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Texas police have found at least 16 bodies in the bayous around Houston so far this year, according to authorities and local reports, sparking concerns of a serial killer which city leaders are working to dispel.

Houston’s mayor has said police have no evidence of a serial killer, but experts are calling for an extensive investigation into the deaths.

“Something is afoot,” said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and criminal justice professor, at Penn State-Lehigh Valley. “A coincidence? Unlikely. A careful inspection of each case is warranted, including the 48 hours prior to the discovery of their disappearance.”

The spate of apparent drownings is reminiscent of another concerning number of deaths in the waters of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.

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SERIAL KILLER FEARS GRIP AUSTIN AFTER DOZENS OF BODIES PULLED FROM LAKE

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)

Five of the bodies were discovered in a five-day span last month, according to Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz. 

“There is no evidence, and I repeat no evidence, to suggest that any of these incidents are connected,” Diaz told reporters.

Capt. Salam Zia, commander of the Houston Police Department’s homicide division, said the youngest victim was 20. Authorities later revealed the bodies belonged to both males and females, and ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s.

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“Rumors stir fear and anxiety in our communities,” the chief said. “It’s important to rely on verified information and investigations.”

However, authorities have discovered at least two more bodies since authorities made those remarks, according to Chron, Houston’s local news site.

NEW ENGLAND SERIAL KILLER FEARS GRIP COASTAL TOWN AFTER PADDLEBOARDER’S ‘TERRIFYING’ MURDER

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)

Houston Mayor John Whitmire slammed misinformation and “wild speculation” online and from political candidates surrounding the cases at a news briefing on Sept. 23.

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“We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas,” he said. “Let me say that again, there is no evidence that there is a serial killer loose in the streets of Houston.”

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)

TEEN’S BODY FOUND UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AT DETROIT AREA CEMETERY PROMPTS INVESTIGATION

He called the number of deaths “alarming” and asked for patience as city police investigate.

“I grew up in Houston,” he told reporters. “Unfortunately, drowning in our bayous is not a new phenomenon.”

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There are 2,500 miles of waterways around the city, he said, as well as a homeless population living outdoors.

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

MISSING NEW ORLEANS BOY, 12, DIED AFTER ALLIGATOR ATTACK, DROWNING: AUTHORITIES

Whitmire suggested that when homeless people die, their friends often throw them in the water.

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“Unfortunately the homeless, when they pass, often end up in the bayou,” he said.

He also pointed to alcohol use and mental health problems as potential factors in the deaths.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

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Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of continued irritation in his left knee, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday.

Ohtani left a June 11 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to irritation in his left knee, which underwent surgery in 2019 to correct a congenital condition called bipartite patella.

According to ESPN, he has been managing the issue since.

Due to the injury, Ohtani will also not travel to Philadelphia or participate in the 2026 All‑Star Game.

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The two-way star will serve as the designated hitter through the weekend, and after the series, “he will have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season,” according to the Dodgers.

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Los Angeles, Ca

O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

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O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

A woman injured during the chaotic Fourth of July beach takeover in Newport Beach is speaking out as authorities prepare for a similar event that could target nearby Huntington Beach this weekend, as well as an Orange County theme park.

The July 4 gathering in Newport Beach devolved into violence, with fires set, businesses looted and law enforcement officers targeted with explosives.

More than 400 people were arrested in connection with the unrest. Authorities later said many of those taken into custody had traveled from Arizona and Nevada.

Among the dozens of people injured was Cassandra Torres, a longtime Orange County resident who said she never expected to become a victim while celebrating the holiday in a city she has visited for years.

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“It’s horrible. It’s disgusting behavior, and now we’re paying for it,” Torres told KTLA.

Torres said she was riding her e-bike when a large crowd of young people suddenly rushed toward her.

“The next thing I know, I’m waking up with strangers around me, which I’m grateful for all of them, and all I hear is, ‘She got pushed off her bike,’” she recalled.

She was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for multiple injuries, including serious cuts, bruising and a concussion.

“I’ve never seen a hospital that busy in my life,” Torres said. “It was supposed to be a safe, fun day, and it turned into a nightmare.”

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As victims continue to recover and investigators sort through the aftermath, law enforcement agencies are now focused on preventing another large-scale disturbance after social media posts promoted a so-called “Beach Bash” in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Police Department acknowledged the online flyer in a social media post Thursday, writing:

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers… Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too. We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”

In a statement to KTLA, the department said it has implemented a comprehensive public safety plan.

“Our comprehensive public safety plan includes increased staffing, proactive enforcement and the deployment of specialized resources throughout the city,” police said. “We are coordinating closely with our regional law enforcement partners and are prepared to respond quickly to any criminal activity.”

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Officials also warned that anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages or participates in criminal acts associated with a takeover event could face arrest and prosecution.

Officials at Knott’s Berry Farm said they were also aware of a social media post promoting a teen takeover of the park over the weekend. Buena Park police officials said they plan to have an increased presence at the park.

As for Torres, a GoFundMe has been organized to cover her medical expenses as she continues to recover and follow up with specialists.

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Los Angeles, Ca

California teen e-biker baiting police to chase tracked by drone, arrested

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California teen e-biker baiting police to chase tracked by drone, arrested

Police in Palm Springs deployed a drone to track and assist in the arrest of a teen e-bike rider who had reportedly been trying to bait officers into a high-speed chase.

In footage released on social media Wednesday by the Palm Springs Police Department, the teen can be seen doing wheelies and donuts while stopped at a traffic light. He is also seen performing similar stunts in an intersection.

“Instead of giving the suspect the pursuit he seemed to be looking for, officers used drone technology and coordinated tactics to safely monitor his movements into Cathedral City,” police said in an Instagram post.

Police in Palm Springs deployed a drone to track and assist in the arrest of a teen e-bike rider who had reportedly been trying to bait officers into a high-speed chase. (Palm Springs PD)

Video shows the rider traveling through grass at a nearby park before getting off the e-bike in the shade of a pavilion.

Police quickly moved into the park and took the teen into custody. Video appears to show a physical struggle before he was eventually placed into a patrol vehicle.

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“While seated in a PSPD patrol vehicle, the suspect apparently wasn’t thrilled with the accommodations and shattered a window, adding felony vandalism to his list of charges,” police said.

  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested

The teen, who has not been identified, was booked on suspicion of reckless driving, resisting arrest and felony vandalism.

E-bikes and e-motorcycles have been a growing concern for law enforcement across Southern California.

Data released in Riverside County shows e-bike crashes surged from 224 in 2023 to 494 in 2024, then nearly doubled again to 958 in 2025, according to county officials, who added that at least 416 incidents have already been reported this year.

Cities in Orange County have enacted new laws that include stricter penalties for violations.

On June 7, shoppers at an Orange County Walmart were left shaken after a group of teens was captured on video riding electric bikes through the store, narrowly missing customers and creating a dangerous scene.

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Video obtained by KTLA shows several riders weaving through aisles at a Foothill Ranch store while customers scrambled to get out of the way.

In April, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced felony charges against the mother of a 14-year-old boy accused of fatally striking an 81-year-old man while riding an e-bike in Lake Forest. Prosecutors allege the mother knew her son had repeatedly engaged in reckless riding behavior before the crash.

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