KPRC 2 News reported that 189 individuals have been found dead in Houston bayous since 2017, according to official records.
Nearly 40% of those deaths are listed as “undetermined,” leaving questions about whether they were accidental, suicidal, or homicidal.
Among the unresolved cases is that of 22-year-old Kenneth Cutting, whose body was discovered in Buffalo Bayou more than a year ago. His family continues to seek clarity about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Cutting’s cousin, Lauren Freeman, said his disappearance and death remain unexplained. She noted that Kenneth had never been to the area where his body was found.
According to Freeman, Cutting was last seen at Pete’s Piano Bar in downtown Houston. Surveillance video showed him socializing with friends before his family received a text message claiming he “went crazy” and left a vehicle near I-10 and Waco. His body was later found about a mile away.
In Cutting’s case, the Medical Examiner’s Office admitted to a clerical error in the autopsy report but maintained that it did not affect the findings or cause of death.
Officials said the mistake occurred during the editing process after the postmortem examination was completed. The conclusions were reportedly supported by forensic notes, x-rays, and over 50 autopsy photographs.
Freeman, however, pointed to several inconsistencies, including inaccurate height and weight measurements and a misspelling of the street name where Kenneth’s body was found — listed as Sweeney Street instead of Swiney Street. She is calling on police to reopen the investigation.
Freeman described Cutting as an artist and a vibrant young man who “loved life.”
Authorities said all bayou death cases are reviewed thoroughly and will be reexamined if new evidence comes to light.
