200 have drowned in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake since 2004. A serial killer isn't to blame, study says. - Austin Monitor

200 have drowned in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake since 2004. A serial killer isn't to blame, study says. - Austin Monitor

A new study released this week aims to put a stop to the rumors swirling about a potential serial killer in Austin. Researchers from Texas State University in collaboration with the Austin Police Department found no evidence of a serial murderer during a review of nearly 200 cases. While the idea of a Rainey Street […] The post 200 have drowned in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake since 2004. A serial killer isn’t to blame, study says. appeared first on A…

TXST study finds no evidence of ‘Rainey Street Ripper’ serial killer

A Texas State study found that there is no evidence of the “Rainey Street Ripper” in Austin, instead linking the deaths to drownings.  The September 2025 report was released by the Texas State Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation, which analyzed drowning cases from 2004-25 and showed consistent drowning patterns in the area from before 2023, ultimately debunking the “Rainey Street Ripper” theory. Researchers analyzed records of 1…

200 have drowned in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake since 2004. A serial killer isn't to blame, study says.

The study from Texas State University done in partnership with the Austin Police Department found neither direct evidence nor indirect warning signs of a serial murderer.