Growing dread has turned into outright fury in one southern U.S. city after a sixteenth body was pulled from the same network of bayous — and the mayor continues to publicly deny that a serial killer could be involved. What began months ago as whispers on neighborhood forums has now exploded into a full-blown confrontation between fearful residents and city officials, with many accusing the mayor of “gaslighting an entire city.”
The most recent discovery was made early Monday morning when a group of volunteers cleaning debris from the murky waters stumbled upon a partially submerged body along the edge of a popular walking trail. Within hours, crowds gathered near the crime scene, chanting “Sixteen is not a coincidence!” as local police taped off the area. The victim, believed to be in their 20s, has not yet been publicly identified.
It’s the sixteenth person to be recovered from the same bayou system since late 2022 — a chilling pattern that many residents say can no longer be explained away as coincidence or “unfortunate accidents.” When pressed by reporters, Mayor Lisa Thornton insisted there is “no evidence of a serial killer,” adding, “We must remain calm and trust law enforcement to do their jobs.”
Her comments, however, have only fueled the outrage. One resident told The New York Times, “Every month another body shows up, and she’s telling us everything’s fine. She’s not calming anyone — she’s gaslighting us.” The remark has since gone viral on X, with the hashtag #BayouBodies trending nationally.
“Every month another body shows up, and she’s telling us everything’s fine. She’s not calming anyone — she’s gaslighting us.” @nytimes
Authorities claim that several of the previous deaths involved intoxicated individuals who may have fallen into the water, but families of victims insist those explanations don’t match the circumstances. “My son didn’t just wander off,” one grieving mother said during a candlelight vigil covered by NBC News. “He was careful, healthy, and happy. And now he’s gone, just like the others.”
The police department has maintained that the cases are being investigated separately, but residents say they see clear similarities: young adults, late-night disappearances, and bodies turning up in nearly the same stretch of bayou. Flyers warning of a “possible predator” have begun appearing on streetlights, despite official attempts to discourage speculation.
Meanwhile, amateur sleuths and local podcasters have descended on the area, analyzing maps, timelines, and security footage. A widely shared thread on Reddit has been comparing the bayou case to other infamous serial investigations that were initially downplayed by authorities — drawing particular parallels to the early stages of the Gilgo Beach murders.
“The official narrative is falling apart,” one user wrote. “You don’t get 16 bodies in the same place over two years and call that bad luck.” That sentiment has been echoed by crime reporters and social media users who’ve accused the mayor of protecting the city’s tourism image over public safety.
“You don’t get 16 bodies in the same place over two years and call that bad luck.” — Reddit user in viral thread @reddit
In a tense press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Thornton again denied any cover-up, telling journalists, “This administration is fully committed to public safety. Fear is not evidence. Rumors are not facts.” She also announced the formation of a “community liaison team” meant to improve communication between city officials and residents.
But her remarks were met with immediate backlash. Chants of “We don’t feel safe!” erupted outside City Hall, as demonstrators held signs reading “SIXTEEN” and “Stop the Lies.” Multiple speakers at the protest demanded that federal agencies step in, with one calling the situation “a catastrophic failure of local leadership.”
One prominent criminologist told CNN that, while not every string of suspicious deaths is the work of a serial killer, “sixteen bodies in a concentrated geographic zone should absolutely trigger a coordinated investigation.” He added, “Even if these aren’t linked homicides, the public perception alone requires transparency and urgency.”
“Sixteen bodies in a concentrated geographic zone should absolutely trigger a coordinated investigation.” — Criminologist on CNN @cnn
Federal authorities have so far declined to comment, but sources speaking to Reuters confirmed that the FBI has “been made aware” of the situation. Whether they will formally join the investigation remains unclear. Residents say they can’t wait any longer. “We’re being hunted,” one woman shouted at a community meeting. “And they’re pretending nothing is wrong.”
Crime scene footage shared online shows several of the recovery sites cordoned off in similar ways — something amateur investigators claim indicates a pattern. Law enforcement has neither confirmed nor denied whether the bodies show signs of foul play, citing “ongoing investigations.”
Meanwhile, local businesses say tourism has already started to dip, with several river tour companies reporting cancellations. The city’s official tourism board released a statement urging the public “not to spread unfounded rumors” — a move that only amplified accusations of a cover-up.
“This is exactly what they care about,” one resident told Associated Press. “Money, not lives. Sixteen people are dead and they’re worried about hotel bookings.”
“Sixteen people are dead and they’re worried about hotel bookings.” — Resident at community meeting @AP
City police have increased patrols near the bayous, but residents say they won’t feel safe until the mayor acknowledges the possibility of something more sinister. “No one’s walking alone at night anymore,” said a shop owner near one of the discovery sites. “People are locking doors early. This place feels different now.”
Late Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil was held at the waterfront in memory of the sixteen victims. Photos of the dead were placed along the bank, illuminated by dozens of flickering candles. The names were read one by one, followed by a single chant from the crowd: “We deserve answers.”
