After Fifth Body Is Found In Austin Lake, Fears Of Serial Killer On The Loose Grow

Residents of Austin, Texas, fear that a serial killer may be on the loose after a fifth person was found dead in a local lake. 

In the past six months, there have been five deaths in the Lady Bird Lake area. Authorities have been downplaying the speculation that there may be a serial killer, but residents are starting to get concerned. 

Seargent Lee Knouse of Austin police said in a statement, “If there was any immediate public safety concerns, we would release that information, right.” 

He noted that none of these deaths are linked to each other, but officials are still investigating.

The latest victim’s name has not been announced, but most have been men in their 30s who have been turning up dead in Lady Bird Lake after drinking on Rainey Street, a local entertainment district. 

In February, Jason John was found in the lake a week after he went missing. He was last seen on Rainey Street. A bystander saw John nearby the water and his remains were found eight days later. His death was ruled an accidental drowning after the toxicology report found that he had alcohol in his system. 

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Clifton Axtell was the third death. He was found in the same lake on March 5. On April 1, Jonathan Honey was also discovered in the water after he was last seen on Rainey Street at a food truck. The last death was John Christopher Hays-Clark, who had been located two miles away from the other deaths near a dam. 

The city has increased safety measures in that area and on Rainey Street and has not found any signs of foul play or a serial killer. 

Prosecutors are investigating whether the cold cases are connected to a local serial criminal, Raul Meza Jr.

Meza Jr. was convicted of killing multiple people, including shooting a man in 1975, killing a girl in 1982 and confessing to two other murders earlier this month.

The ex-con was arrested by U.S. Marshals after it was found he was connected to the murder of Jesse Fraga, his former roommate. On May 20, Meza Jr. allegedly murdered Fraga by strangling him with a belt and then stabbing him, causing his spine to sever. After Fraga was discovered by police, a manhunt began and ended shortly after Meza Jr. turned himself in. 

Meza Jr. was also found to be the murderer of Gloria Lofton, who he killed in 2019. 

Officers are still investigating the five deaths and are warning citizens to take caution when on the water.