Tensions continue to rise in Austin as yet another body has been recovered from the waters of Lady Bird Lake—marking the 38th death tied to the lake since 2022 and fueling persistent fears that a serial killer may be targeting young men.
Last month, Austin police responded to an early morning 911 call and discovered the body of a male in the lake. The man was wearing the same clothing as a 17-year-old who went missing two days earlier after falling out of his kayak without a life jacket. His kayak was later found abandoned, containing his backpack and the life vest he never wore.
Authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the body, but say there were no signs of trauma, and foul play is not suspected. Still, with six bodies pulled from the lake in 2024 alone, the community remains on edge.
Growing Pattern of Young Male Victims
The case is just the latest in a disturbing string of deaths. Since 2022, at least 38 bodies have been recovered from or near Lady Bird Lake—30 of them men, many between the ages of 30 and 49. The pattern has sparked ongoing speculation about the possible presence of a serial killer, despite official statements to the contrary…