Mayor Accused of ‘Gaslighting’ the City Over Serial Killer Concerns After 16th Body Found in Bayous

Houston Mayor John Whitmire Previously Dismissed Serial Killer Speculations

A city mayor faces accusations of 'gaslighting' Houston amid serial killer fears, following the retrieval of a 16th body from a bayou.

So far this year, 16 deaths in the bayous have been reported in Harris County, a troubling number that has led to speculation about a serial killer possibly being at large.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has previously dismissed these allegations, stating earlier this month: "We do not have any evidence that there is a serial killer loose in Houston, Texas."

The mayor described the drownings as 'not a new phenomenon', attributing them to drugs, alcohol, and homelessness.

"Unfortunately, the homeless, when they pass, often end up in the bayou," he stated in a press briefing earlier this month.

However, Lauren Freeman, who lost her cousin Kenneth Cutting Jr. earlier this year, accused the mayor of 'gaslighting' the city of Houston with his recent remarks.

The mayor has been accused of 'gaslighting' an entire city

Kenneth Cutting Sr., the victim's father, told Fox News Digital: "All those people didn't commit suicide or accidentally fall into the bayou and drown. It's absurd.

"There have been so many of them in the last three years."

UNILAD has contacted Whitmire's office for a statement.

Cutting disappeared after a night out in Houston in June, with police recovering his body from the bayou days later.

An autopsy on Cutting's death showed no external injuries, and a toxicology report found no drugs in his system.

Kenneth Cutting Sr. told Fox News Digital: "Something happened to my son. My son didn't just fall into the bayou and drown."

There have been 16 reported deaths in the bayou within the Harris County area this year (Jill Karnicki/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Freeman commented: "Either there’s a serial killer at large, or unsavory individuals have realized they can dispose of bodies in the bayou during the heat, allowing them to decompose without being caught. You can’t just stab or shoot them."

Anthony Curry was among those found this year, with his death determined to be an accidental drowning. An examination revealed PCP and ethanol in his system.

Curry's family is seeking answers, with his sister, Alexis Curry, telling Click 2 Houston: "That’s not my brother. He would find a place to relax rather than just jump into water."

Alexis described her brother as her 'superhero' and expressed uncertainty about how his body ended up in the bayou.

"I really want to know what happened," she added.