The growing mystery surrounding Lady Bird Lake has shaken Austin residents as another young man’s body surfaced last month, marking the 38th death in the area since 2022. The repeated pattern—mostly men between 30 and 49—has fueled suspicions of foul play and a possible serial killer stalking the area despite official claims that accidental drownings are to blame.
Police recovered the most recent body after a 911 call, identifying the victim as a likely match for a 17-year-old who vanished days earlier after stepping out of his kayak without a life jacket. While authorities found no trauma and have not confirmed foul play, they acknowledged the clothing on the body matched that of the missing teen. Austin Police maintain the cause of death appears accidental and linked to unsafe lake access and alcohol use after park hours.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman is not convinced. “The denials by law enforcement and other authorities that these cases are murders or the work of a serial killer are premature,” she said. Lieberman, who has reviewed the string of deaths, points to troubling patterns emerging from Lady Bird Lake that do not align with random accidents.
Among the 38 deceased, 30 were men, with many last seen on Rainey Street—an alcohol-fueled nightlife district near the water. Victims like Jason John and Jonathan Honey disappeared under similar circumstances after nights out. Lieberman noted the potential use of date-rape drugs to incapacitate victims: “They could render them easy prey for a thief and killer.”
Only one death has been ruled a homicide, and nearly a dozen remain undetermined. Lieberman has urged a deeper investigation: “Unless law enforcement finds some other explanation for the large number of deaths… the likelihood of a serial killer cannot be ignored.”
