Serial killer fears grip Austin as another body is found in Lady Bird lake

Fears of a possible serial killer in Austin, Texas, have resurfaced after another body was discovered in Lady Bird Lake.

A man’s body was found floating on the north side of the lake just before 11 am on Friday.

While the Austin Police Department say the man’s body showed no signs of trauma – and they don’t suspect foul play – the human remains are the second found with the span of weeks.

The APD is also currently investigating the death of 73-year-old Thi Lang Nguyen, whose body was found in the lake on the morning of December 1.

A kayaker spotted her near Brazos and West Cesar Chavez streets and called 911.

Police believe Nguyen, who was experiencing homelessness, may have been attempting to stay warm when she ended up in the water. No signs of violence or suspicious circumstances were found in her case.

The latest death is one of at least seven fatalities in or near Lady Bird Lake this year, raising concerns among Austin residents. 

Despite the growing number of deaths, APD insists there is no evidence connecting the cases.

Earlier incidents include the September death of a man who drowned after behaving erratically near East Cesar Chavez and Nueces Streets, and the February discovery of a woman’s body near the lake’s north shore. 

The APD is also currently investigating the death of 73-year-old Thi Lang Nguyen, whose body was found in the lake on the morning of December 1

Other fatalities include a fisherman spotting a body near the lake’s east end in April, a man found with blunt force trauma near Rainey Street in July, and another body located along a trail near Pleasant Valley Road in September. All were deemed non-suspicious.

Austin police have consistently refuted claims of a serial killer over the past few years, attributing most of the deaths to accidental drownings, often linked to the lake’s proximity to popular nightlife areas like Rainey Street. 

Victims such as Jason John, 30, and Jonathan Honey, 33, were last seen on Rainey Street before their accidental drownings.

However, speculation persists, fueled by accounts such as a bartender’s Reddit post from April, where he recalled a customer making disturbing remarks about targeting men from Rainey Street. 

The patron was described as a muscular, 40-something white man with light brown hair and stubble. 

That same month a man who was drugged and plummeted 25ft off a nearby bridge, narrowly missing certain drowning, told Dailymail.com he believed he had been attacked by the ripper. 

Jeff Jones, 38, was on a bachelor party trip to Austin with a dozen friends from his home in Boston on June 23 of last year. 

He woke up in hospital more than two weeks later with metal rods holding his back together and doctors found the date-rape drug Rohypnol in his system. 

‘Whoever they may be just missed the target and I hit the ground, and luckily because of that I didn’t drown,’ he explained. ‘I just got lucky… Not many people can say they potentially survived a serial killer, so that’s a story I can tell, I guess.’

Four bodies were found in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake in 2023 including 33-year-old Jonathan Honey (pictured), who was found dead on April 1

Jason John, 30, was found on February 13,2023, after he was last seen on Rainey Street a week earlier. His parents believe there is more to the story behind his disappearance

The death of dad Christopher Hays-Clark, 30, (pictured with son) was not deemed to be suspicious

Nguyen’s death is one of at least six fatalities in or near Lady Bird Lake this year, raising concerns among Austin residents

One Facebook group alone has attracted 90,000 followers to its updates on the deaths, but police have continued to insist that the deaths are not linked.  

Yet, former Austin Police Department forensic director Mark Gillespie urged the public to trust police investigations, asserting that authorities rigorously examine each case for signs of foul play.

As police continue to investigate, they remain firm in their stance: the deaths around Lady Bird Lake are not linked, and speculation of a serial killer lacks credible evidence.