Nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston’s bayous since 2017, raising public concern despite officials denying a serial killer is involved.

Of the 189 deaths, 17 were ruled homicides, 75 remain unexplained, and the majority were between ages 18 and 39, with accidental drowning accounting for 24 percent.

Recent high-profile cases, such as those of Jade Elise McKissic and Kenneth Cutting Jr., have drawn criticism of the police and mayor for dismissing the possibility of foul play.

Experts and private investigators have called for deeper investigations, suggesting patterns or connections among some deaths, while citing errors and inconsistencies in autopsy reports, the Daily Mail has reported.

Houston officials continue to attribute the high numbers to homelessness and drug abuse but face growing demands for accountability and more thorough scrutiny of the bayou fatalities.