In Houston, the family of a 22-year-old whose body was recovered from Buffalo Bayou is publicly accusing the city’s mayor of dismissing possible foul play as routine drownings, arguing the mayor’s comments amount to “gaslighting” amid a string of unexplained deaths.
Kenneth Cutting Jr. vanished after an outing in June 2024; he was later found in a bayou, with his autopsy revealing no trauma or drugs in his system. Authorities have not ruled out a serial killer, but the mayor has repeatedly attributed such recoveries to homelessness and alcohol, a stance the family says ignores mounting evidence.
The dispute adds pressure on Houston officials, coming as law-enforcement agencies tally at least 16 bodies recovered this year from the city’s waterways. Families say the mayor’s statements minimize their loved ones’ tragedies and stoke frustration over a perceived lack of urgency in the investigation.