Since March, four men have been found dead near an Austin lake, sparking fears that a serial killer is on the loose as experts call it a “striking coincidence.”
Jason John, 30, Clifton Axtell, 40, Jonathan Honey, 33, and John Christopher Hays-Clark, 30, have been found dead in or near Lady Bird Lake since mid-February.
Another four male deaths dating back to 2008 have been linked by online sleuths to the so-called Lady Bird Serial Killer or Rainey Street Ripper.
The lake is about two miles from a popular entertainment district on Rainey Street. There are no surveillance cameras covering the area around the water.
A Facebook group spreading conspiracy theories about the dead, Serial Killer Lady Bird Lake/Rainey Street Killerhas amassed more than 70,000 followers, with a local news outlet recently headlined, “Fears of a Rainey Street Ripper.”
Lady Bird Lake is approximately 1.8 miles or a 35 minute walk down the street. There are no cameras around the lake
Cliff Axtell, 40, was found March 5 in Lady Bird Lake after going missing on February 25 near Stubb’s downtown. He left behind his wife and two children
Jason John, 30, was found on Feb. 13 after he was last seen on Rainey Street a week earlier. His parents believe there is more to his disappearance
This year, four bodies were found in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake. Earlier this month, 33-year-old Jonathan Honey (pictured) was found dead on April 1
Local police have tried to pour cold water on these theories and released an official statement saying foul play was not suspected in any of the deaths. The statement reminded the public of responsible drinking and the dangers of being near water.
“I realize there’s a widespread rumor of a potential serial killer here in Austin. We found no evidence for that,” said Austin Police Department spokesman Chief Joseph Chacon FOX7 this week.
“It is a terrible circumstance that we have these, and we look at each one to determine the circumstances in which they occurred. Some are unfortunately accidental, some are also suicides,” the chief added.
Law enforcement says that while each incident occurred at the lake, “the circumstances, exact locations and demographics surrounding these cases vary.”
The chief stressed that his office would keep the public informed of the investigations.
Earlier this month, the city of Austin announced further safety measures, including lighting and fencing around the lake. The city is also considering stationing park rangers around the water and more surveillance cameras.
Investigators have not released details of the whereabouts of any of the men before their deaths, but have revealed that both Jonathan Honey and Jason John were seen on Rainey Street before their separate disappearances.
The autopsies of the men who died this year were not available, but police said their bodies showed no signs of trauma.
In an interview with KXAN, Dr. St. Edward’s University’s Carsten Andresen said the rumors surrounding Lady Bird Lake’s death are similar to conspiracy theories being spread in cities across the country.
“Human nature has always looked at things and looked for patterns that may or may not exist. But also social media and the ability to just put these rumors online and let them spread like wildfire,” he said.
Police patrolled the lake after Hays-Clark’s body was found on Saturday. A photo of John was not immediately available
Johnathan Honey was last seen at a food truck on Rainey Street before disappearing
Jason Jones was also last seen on Rainey Street before his disappearance
Andresen pointed out that Austin has a reputation as a city where people go to drink and let loose.
“I don’t think we’ve seen anything that would lead to the conclusion that there’s a serial killer on the loose. But we do know that people in Austin drink too much and that men often engage in risky behavior,” he added.
While Texas Municipal Police Association executive director Kevin Lawrence told the station that the increased scrutiny of social media will not affect the police investigation.
In the KXAN interview, Andresen also said that many on the Internet view evidence as merely “propaganda.
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“I think that makes it extremely difficult for someone to put out a message when everything is considered propaganda,” he said.
Former Austin Police Department forensics director Mark Gillespie stressed in an interview with KVUE this week that the public should believe the police when they say there is no foul play involved.
“They’re looking for foul play, and so if APD comes out with a statement that they don’t suspect foul play at this point, I promise you they were looking for it, and they were looking really hard, so I respect that,” said Gillespie.
On the other hand, a former NYPD detective, Kevin Gannon, told me Fox news in an interview that the number of deaths is not consistent with accidental drownings.
“Just because of the sheer number and the fact that there are so many in such a short time, I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” said Gannon.
Rainey Street (above) is a vibrant Austin neighborhood known for its nightlife and array of bars, food trucks, and restaurants. Lady Bird Lake is about 2 miles or a 35 minute walk down the street. There are no cameras around the lake
Lady Bird Lake is a popular Austin destination for water activities, including kayaking
Jason John’s family believes there is more to the story behind their son’s death and think the four men are somehow connected. He was last seen walking home
Jason was 30. Jonathan Honey was 33. Two in the morning. Rainy street. So there were some similarities in the case,” Elsie John, Jason John’s mother, told Fox7.
Elsie added that she disagrees with the initial statement that no foul play was involved. She fears that more men will die.
“We strongly disagree with that,” she said. “We don’t know how many Jasons, how many Martins, and how many Jonathans will lose their lives again. And this is not acceptable.’
Meanwhile, Cliff Axtell, 40, was identified by his sister on Facebook. Axtell, a married father of two, was found in the lake on March 5 after going missing on February 25 near Stubb’s downtown.
Other bodies previously found in the lake include 22-year-old Julio Santos in 2015 and 25-year-old Martin Gutierrez in 2018.
Christian Pugh, 21, was found alive in the lake in 2019, but in a ‘raw’ condition. He suffered a blow to the head and bruised hands.
Gutierrez was found with several injuries after landing in the lake after a night out on Rainey Street — the same place Honey was last seen — his brother, Mitchell, previously told the news outlet.
Austin residents have been frightened by the many incidents and are warning others to stay safe.
Several people urged others not to visit Rainey Street alone and to stay with someone else at all times.
Others have also taken their concerns to TikTok, posting videos warning of an alleged serial killer as questions about the men’s disappearances remain unanswered.
“Is there a serial killer among us?” asked a TikToker.
Some have pointed out that the conditions in which the men were found resemble those of the Smiley Face Killers.
These deaths began in 1997 and all had striking similarities.
Most of the men were young, athletic, and high achievers academically.
On the Lady Bird Lake Serial Killer/Raney St Killer Facebook page, group members share their theories and their own stories of being drugged or assaulted while drinking on Rainey Street.
A popular theory about the group is that the “killer” is a bartender who threw date-rape drugs into party drinks.
A spreadsheet created by a group member attempts the death of a man named Riad Hamad to the same ‘murderer’.
Hamad, a public school teacher, was found dead on the south side of the lake, his hands and feet bound. His death was ruled a suicide.