At least six bodies have been recovered from Buffalo Bayou or its banks in 2026. The latest discovery happened Oct. 2.
Another body found in Buffalo Bayou is raising questions in Houston.
Houston police are investigating after firefighters recovered a man’s body from Buffalo Bayou Friday morning, October 2. The discovery happened near Hirsch Road and Clinton Drive in east Houston.
It is at least the sixth documented body recovered from Buffalo Bayou or its banks in 2026.
The cases stretch from downtown Houston to the Houston Ship Channel. Some victims have been identified. Other cases still have unanswered questions.
Man found in Buffalo Bayou on October 2
The latest discovery happened Friday morning.
Houston firefighters responded after someone spotted a body floating in Buffalo Bayou. Crews launched a rescue boat near the 7300 block of Clinton Drive.
Firefighters recovered the body of a man.
Houston police homicide detectives are investigating. Authorities have not released the man’s name or age.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will determine his cause and manner of death.
January 6: First Buffalo Bayou body of 2026
The first reported Buffalo Bayou recovery of the year happened January 6 near downtown Houston.
A maintenance crew spotted a man’s body in the water near Commerce and Main streets.
Houston firefighters received the call around 1:46 p.m.
Police said the man was clothed and wearing a gray jacket. Authorities did not immediately release his identity.
The discovery came just days into the new year.
February 2: Fisherman found near Port of Houston
Houston police recovered another man from Buffalo Bayou on February 2.
The discovery happened at 8300 High Level Road near the Port of Houston.
HPD said the 62-year-old man wore several layers of clothing and appeared dressed for cold-weather fishing.
Detectives learned that a missing man had last been seen fishing at the same location on January 26. Investigators also found his vehicle and fishing equipment along the shore.
Police reported no obvious signs of foul play.
April 30: Kenneth Young found near Buffalo Bend Nature Park
Kenneth Young, 33, was found dead near Buffalo Bend Nature Park along Buffalo Bayou on April 30, 2026. Photo courtesy of Young’s family.
A cleanup crew found another body along Buffalo Bayou on April 30.
The crew spotted the badly decomposed body near Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive and Buffalo Bend Nature Park.
Authorities later identified the man as 33-year-old Kenneth Young.
Authorities identified Young through his fingerprints.
His family has continued searching for answers about what happened to him.
July 20: Workers find decomposed body near J.W. Peavy Drive
Workers made another discovery on July 20.
They found a man’s decomposed body along the banks of the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel at 7220 J.W. Peavy Drive.
Houston firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene.
HPD said investigators found no apparent wounds or trauma.
At the time of the initial investigation, authorities were waiting for an autopsy to determine the man’s cause of death.
August 11: Body later identified as Carl “Clint” Mueller
Carl “Clint” Mueller, 73, was found dead along Buffalo Bayou near Nance Street on Aug. 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Texas EquuSearch.
Houston police responded to another Buffalo Bayou discovery on August 11.
Officers found a man’s body along the banks of the bayou in the 2200 block of Nance Street.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
HPD reported no obvious signs of trauma.
Texas EquuSearch later identified the man as 73-year-old Carl “Clint” Mueller.
Mueller had been missing since July 30. He was last seen near the 1400 block of Saint Joseph Parkway in downtown Houston.
Another August case happened near Buffalo Bayou
Police also investigated a body found August 7 in a wooded area near Buffalo Bayou and Beltway 8.
Officers responded to the 10400 block of Deerwood Road.
Police said that investigators were handling that death as a suicide.
Because the body was found in a wooded area near the bayou, rather than confirmed in Buffalo Bayou or along its banks, it is not included in the six confirmed Buffalo Bayou recoveries listed here.
Bodies have also been recovered from other waterways across Houston and Harris County in recent years.
Those deaths do not all share the same circumstances.
Some involved accidents or medical issues. Others involved drugs, drowning, suicide or violence. In some cases, investigators could not immediately determine how the person died.
That distinction matters.
Finding several bodies in Houston’s bayous does not mean the deaths are connected.
More than 200 bodies recovered from Houston-area bayous
More than 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017, according to Harris County medical examiner records.
The Buffalo Bayou cases are part of a much larger issue across Houston.
Records from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office show that more than 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017. By February 2026, the documented total had already reached 208.
The cases involve several Houston-area waterways, not just Buffalo Bayou. Causes of death have varied widely. Drowning has been the leading cause, while other deaths involved drugs, injuries or other circumstances. Some cases remain undetermined.
Authorities have also pushed back against speculation that the deaths are connected or the work of a serial killer.
What happens next?
The October 2 case remains under investigation.
Houston police have not announced the man’s identity or cause of death.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct the examination.
For now, Friday’s discovery adds another case to a troubling list of deaths involving Buffalo Bayou in 2026.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose will continue following the case as authorities release new information.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
Former Deputy Kent McGowen Responds to Susan White 911 Call, Allegations Before 1992 Shooting
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
More than three decades after the fatal shooting of Susan White, former Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kent McGowen is publicly responding to allegations White made before the shooting, including claims she voiced during calls to 911.
In an exclusive interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, McGowen discussed the August 25, 1992 shooting, disputed allegations that he sexually harassed White, addressed why she repeatedly mentioned his name and shared courtroom demonstration photographs that he says support his version of events.
The interview pairs portions of White’s 911 call with McGowen’s current account, allowing readers to compare both versions of events.
Viewer Note: This story contains discussion of a fatal officer-involved shooting and includes portions of a 911 call that some readers may find disturbing.
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Before entering law enforcement, Kent McGowen served in the U.S. Air Force. He later worked as a Houston police officer and Harris County deputy before the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White that led to two criminal trials and his eventual conviction.
Background Before the Case
Before beginning his law enforcement career, Kent McGowen served in the United States Air Force.
After leaving the military, he joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he received commendations and officer recognition awards.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Kent McGowen joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Before beginning his law enforcement career, Kent McGowen served in the United States Air Force.
After leaving the military, he joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he received commendations and officer recognition awards.
McGowen’s career changed forever on August 25, 1992, when deputies serving a felony warrant fatally shot Susan White at her home.
A jury convicted McGowen of murder in his first trial. An appellate court later overturned that conviction. A second jury convicted him in 2002. He ultimately served approximately 19 years in prison before his release in 2021.
Book About the Case
Journalist Jerry Langton later examined the case in Reasonable Doubts: How Rumor and Innuendo Convicted Deputy Kent McGowen of Murder. The book explores the investigation, the two trials and McGowen’s conviction.
In addition to the trial record, Kent McGowen has provided investigative records and expert reports that he says support his account of the shooting.
Among the records McGowen provided is a forensic review by consulting forensic scientist Dr. Edward E. Hueske.
Hueske prepared the review during McGowen’s legal proceedings.
McGowen also provided a statement he wrote at the request of Harris County Assistant District Attorney Baldwin Chin, then chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Post Conviction Integrity Review Unit, during the office’s review of his case in 2011–2012.
According to McGowen, the statement summarizes the case and his account of events as they existed during the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Post Conviction Integrity Review in 2011-2012.
After two criminal trials stemming from the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White, Kent McGowen was ultimately convicted of murder. He served approximately 19 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice before his release in 2021.
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Watch the Full Investigation
The television report below includes exclusive interview excerpts with Kent McGowen, courtroom demonstration photographs and additional background on the Susan White case.
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Listen to Susan White’s 911 Call
The audio below captures one of Susan White’s calls to 911 before deputies entered her home.
During the recording, White repeatedly asks dispatchers for help and expresses fear as deputies remain outside the residence.
The call contains emotional language and may be disturbing to some listeners.
Susan White’s 911 Call Before Deputies Entered The Home
The video and audio above include one of Susan White’s 911 calls before deputies entered the home.
During the recording, White repeatedly asks dispatchers for help while describing people outside her home.
The recording contains emotional language that some listeners may find disturbing.
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McGowen Strongly Disputes White’s Allegations
Kent McGowen while serving with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office at age 19, before joining the Houston Police Department pending completion of his background investigation.
During his interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, McGowen firmly denied White’s allegations.
According to McGowen, he never sexually harassed White, never stalked her and never had the repeated contacts she described.
“I had never pulled her over. I’d never spoken to her,” McGowen said during the interview.
McGowen believes White confused him with another deputy who previously worked in the area.
He told Tammy Rose that investigators later uncovered witness statements he believes support that explanation.
According to McGowen, White mistakenly identified him after seeing him during the arrest of her son and others connected to a burglary investigation.
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Why Did White Know McGowen’s Name?
Susan White. Investigators and former Deputy Kent McGowen have offered differing explanations for why White repeatedly mentioned his name before the August 25, 1992, shooting.
One of the questions surrounding the case is why White repeatedly mentioned McGowen by name before the shooting.
McGowen offered his explanation during the interview.
He said White arrived at the scene after deputies arrested her son and began asking officers who “McGowen” was.
According to McGowen, several deputies pointed in different directions while trying to identify him, causing White to approach multiple officers before eventually speaking with him.
McGowen believes that encounter explains why she later knew his name.
He disputes claims that he had an ongoing personal conflict with White before the shooting.
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McGowen Says White Mistook Him for Another Deputy
McGowen also challenged allegations that he repeatedly stopped or harassed White before the shooting.
Instead, he told Tammy Rose that another deputy had previous contact with White and believes she mistakenly associated him with those earlier encounters.
McGowen said he never received phone calls from White, never contacted her outside official duties and never had a personal relationship with her.
He also pointed to subpoenaed telephone records that he says failed to show communication between them.
Those statements reflect McGowen’s account. Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose continues reviewing court records, witness statements and other documents connected to the case.
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McGowen’s Description of White’s Condition
McGowen also discussed White’s condition while deputies attempted to serve the warrant.
According to McGowen, White appeared to be slurring her speech as deputies tried to communicate with her through the front door.
He told Tammy Rose he believed White was impaired and described her behavior as confused and erratic.
McGowen said those observations influenced how he interpreted her actions that morning.
His statements represent his account of the encounter and should not be interpreted as independent findings of fact.
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The Warrant That Led to the Shooting
Left to right: Confidential informant Michael Shaffer, Susan White and Jason Aguillard, Susan White’s teenage son.
According to McGowen, deputies went to Susan White’s home to serve a felony retaliation warrant after investigators alleged she threatened a confidential informant connected to a burglary investigation.
McGowen said he first attempted to obtain the warrant during the overnight hours but claimed a judge was unavailable to sign it. He returned the following morning with the approved warrant and several deputies to serve it.
He told Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose that deputies knocked on the front door for several minutes, repeatedly identified themselves as members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and asked White to come outside.
According to McGowen, White refused to open the door.
McGowen said deputies eventually forced entry after obtaining permission from a supervisor.
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McGowen Describes What Happened Inside
According to McGowen, deputies entered the home and began clearing rooms while searching for White.
He told Tammy Rose he saw White move through the house toward a bedroom. He followed her and said she picked up a handgun after entering the room.
McGowen said he ordered White three times to drop the weapon.
He claims White raised the handgun toward him and began placing her finger on the trigger.
Believing his life and the lives of the other deputies were in danger, McGowen fired three shots.
He has consistently maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Prosecutors disputed that version of events during both criminal trials.
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Courtroom Demonstration Photos
Former deputy Kent McGowen recently provided Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose with these courtroom demonstration photographs, which he says were used during legal proceedings to illustrate his version of the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White. The images reflect McGowen’s account and are presented for context alongside court records, the 911 call, and his interview.
McGowen recently provided Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose with courtroom demonstration photographs that he says were used during legal proceedings to explain his version of the shooting.
Several photographs include handwritten descriptions showing where McGowen says he was standing, where White was positioned and where he believes the handgun came to rest after the shooting.
Other images illustrate the angle from which he says he observed White inside the bedroom.
The photographs are not crime scene photographs. Instead, they are courtroom demonstrations created to illustrate McGowen’s account during litigation.
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One Issue Continues to Draw Attention
One issue discussed during Tammy Rose’s interview involved which hand White used to hold the handgun.
McGowen maintains White pointed the weapon with her right hand before he fired.
During the interview, Tammy Rose asked McGowen about reports indicating White was left-handed.
McGowen stood by his account and said the position of the handgun after the shooting matched what he remembered seeing inside the bedroom.
That issue remains one of several points that have been debated for years.
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McGowen Says Jurors Never Heard Everything
During the interview, McGowen repeatedly argued that jurors never heard all of the evidence he believes supports his account.
He pointed to witness statements, subpoenaed records and other documents that he says were unavailable or never fully presented during trial.
McGowen also criticized how the case was investigated and prosecuted.
Those claims have not been independently verified by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose and remain part of McGowen’s account of the case.
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Two Trials, Two Different Juries
The Susan White case was presented to two different juries.
McGowen’s first murder conviction was later overturned on appeal, resulting in a new trial.
Following that second trial, another jury convicted McGowen of murder in 2002.
He ultimately served approximately 19 years in prison before his release in 2021.
Since leaving prison, McGowen has continued speaking publicly about the shooting and maintains he acted lawfully while serving the warrant.
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Why Revisit the Susan White Case Now?
More than 30 years after the shooting, Kent McGowen continues to challenge the conclusions reached during his criminal case.
Since his release from prison in 2021, he has participated in interviews, worked with author Jerry Langton on a book about his case and continues to review court records and investigative documents.
His recent interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose offers readers an opportunity to hear his account in his own words while comparing those statements with court records, courtroom exhibits and the 911 call placed by Susan White.
As with any decades-old criminal case, many questions remain disputed.
Tammy Rose will continue reviewing court records, witness statements and other documents connected to the investigation as additional records become available.
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Editor’s Note: This article includes court records, historical documents, portions of Susan White’s 911 call, and an interview with Joseph Kent McGowen. McGowen disputes allegations made against him before the shooting. The interview is presented so readers can review his response in full.
This interview is part of an ongoing investigative series examining Kent McGowen’s criminal case and new claims he has made since his release from prison.
Readers can also follow Tammy Rose’s continuing investigation into McGowen’s allegations involving convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart.
