Debated theory of ‘Smiley Face Killers’ arises in Houston drowning incidents

Bodies Found in Houston Bayou Raise Questions

This year, there’s been an unsettling series of discoveries in the Houston Bayou, with 16 bodies recovered so far—five of which turned up in just one week last month.

While local leaders are trying to downplay fears of a serial killer, Kevin Gannon, a retired NYPD sergeant, believes these deaths might be connected. Gannon, who has long supported the idea that a group dubbed the “Smiley Face Killers” could be behind numerous suspicious drownings across the U.S., mentioned some alarming patterns. “We’ve never seen drowning numbers like this before, especially when these incidents are occurring in the same place so frequently,” he told a news outlet.

Houston police, on the other hand, are adamant that there is no evidence linking these deaths to a serial killer, with the police chief explicitly stating that there’s no reason to believe they’re related.

The victims ranged from their 20s to 60s, sparking more speculation. Gannon noted that while it’s unusual for the victims to be older, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of them being targeted. “It doesn’t mean they can’t kill older people,” he pointed out, suggesting that some might feel emboldened by a perceived lack of law enforcement intervention.

The Smiley Face Killers theory suggests a mysterious gang is responsible for the deaths of young men, particularly those connected to college fraternities, by dumping their bodies into bodies of water and leaving behind graffiti. Most such incidents have occurred in larger Midwest and Northeast cities, often near coastlines.

As for Houston’s authorities, they maintain that they have found no signs of a serial killer so far this year, despite the increasing number of bodies. And just last month, Chief Noe Diaz reiterated, “There is no evidence… to suggest these incidents are connected.”

Two additional bodies have appeared since then, adding to the community’s anxiety. Mayor John Whitmire has acknowledged the situation as alarming but emphasized that drownings in the city’s extensive bayous aren’t exactly a new issue.

He also pointed to issues like drug and alcohol abuse among the homeless population, suggesting that it might contribute to these tragic occurrences. “When homeless individuals end up by the bayou, it’s often due to unfortunate circumstances,” Whitmire stated, implying that some might even be pushed in by others.

Still, others doubt the mayor’s conclusions. Joseph Giacalone, another retired NYPD sergeant, expressed skepticism, suggesting it’s premature to categorize all victims as homeless. Each incident, he argued, should receive individual investigation, including autopsies and toxicological analyses to ascertain the causes of death.