Fears of a serial killer are growing after 38 bodies have been recovered from Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, over the past three years. While officials have ruled some of the deaths as suicides, drownings, or overdoses, many cases remain under investigation, fueling public concern.
The latest discovery involves the body of a teenager found in the lake. The teen had vanished while kayaking with his family. His clothing matches that of the missing boy, but authorities await confirmation from the medical examiner. Police suspect accidental drowning, citing an underwater shelf that may have caused the teen to slip and vanish.
Despite reassurances from the Austin Police Department that there’s no mass murderer on the loose, rumors persist. Around half a dozen of the lake deaths remain unexplained, and patterns have raised eyebrows—30 of the victims have been men between 30 and 49 years old.
One such case is Jeff Jones, who was in Austin for a bachelor party. After visiting bars on West 6th Street, he was later found in the lake with serious injuries and Rohypnol, a date-rape drug, in his system. Jones believes he was drugged and pushed into the water.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jones said, “It’s a very specific type of victim, which I fit. Nothing is stolen, they drown, and they disappear at night.”
As speculation mounts, many are demanding a deeper investigation into the mysterious string of deaths linked to Lady Bird Lake.