Lady Bird Lake: Huge calls for probe into serial killer as 19th body pulled from same reservoir

A grieving widow has demanded an investigation is opened into rumours of a serial killer after 19 bodies have been hauled from the same reservoir in three years.

Communities near Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir in Austin, Texas, believe a serial killer is on the loose, following the discoveries of at least 19 bodies from the murky water. The latest of these is 17-year-old Irewamiri Shote, who a paddleboarder found floating on Lady Bird Lake last month.

It has led to Reegan Aparicio, whose partner Christopher Hays-Clark was hauled from the water, to call on authorities to investigate claims a murderer has gone on a campaign of terror. Reegan, 30, said: "I want the police to reopen the investigation, not just for Chris, but for all the people whose relatives have been found dead.

"I want them to reopen the case, do a thorough investigation, and get down to the bottom of what is going on. We all deserve answers; they are our loved ones who died in a tragedy. If you are not going to put up barriers or lights around, open an investigation, give us answers and show us that you care."

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Christopher, 30, was found dead on April 15, 2023. Reegan, a dental assistant, got a phone call from Christopher's best friend to break the news to her but she thought he was joking. She said: "I lost it in that moment - I immediately went to his mum's house, hysterical.

"I was trying to think about how I was going to tell my son. I told him his dad was dead and I was so sorry - he hugged me and said he didn't hate me."

Lady Bird Lake, on the Colorado River in downtown Austin, is very popular with recreational boaters and tour boats viewing the waterfront. Despite the discoveries since 2022, the Austin Police Department has repeatedly said there isn't any evidence that points to the existence of a killer.

But Reegan, who described the find of Irewamiri as another "slap in the face", continued: "There are no answers, I can't give my son an accurate answer of what happened to his father.

"There is never going to be peace; there is no closure for my child. He and his dad were so close, he showed up to be a good dad to his son. It sucks that he doesn't now what happened to his dad, and who knows if he ever will."

Irewamiri was discovered dead two days after his family, of Austin, reported him missing. Reegan added: "Seeing how more bodies are being found is tragic. Police always say the same thing, they say it was a tragic accident. People are still being found dead, and nothing is being done – it is frustrating."

Police insist there isn't any evidence that points to the existence of a killer.