Delano Burkes: 26-year-old's body found floating in Houston Channel two weeks after going missing from bar
HOUSTON, TEXAS: The body of Delano Burkes, who has been missing for almost two weeks, was discovered floating in the Houston Ship Channel in the 9600 block of High Level Road by tugboat workers on Friday, November 25. Burkes, 26, a real estate company owner, was last spotted leaving a bar in the Heights neighbourhood, roughly 15 miles from where his body was found, on November 13. Burkes' family's released a statement on the same on Monday, November 28, which was corroborated by medical examiners.
As per FOX 26 Houston, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee reportedly said, "I want thank the layers of police, with HPD as a lead, that began this investigation as a missing person’s investigation. They’re still pursuing it, but as this individual has not been determined to have died of natural causes, then it is likely a homicide. That means the person did not die by natural causes."
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The night he went missing, Burkes was out with friends when he entered the McIntyre's Bar nearby West 19th Street to use the restroom. Burkes' friends reportedly abandoned him when he did not come back while they were waiting in his car. Burkes was seen on security footage leaving the bar around 1 am and appeared to be intoxicated. Security cameras caught the 26-year-old staggering and limping through the streets after he was reportedly made to leave the establishment.
Delano Burkes' family and friends have not seen or heard from their loved one for five days now, and video suggests he may have been in distress. https://t.co/wPYdcmSQ3h
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) November 19, 2022
Burkes' wife and friends became worried the following day when he didn't come back with his car. Autumn, Burkes' wife, told KHOU11, "No matter what, he would call me. He would call his family. He will make sure that he gets home. So this is completely just not normal and something's wrong."
BREAKING: According to family members, the body of missing 26-year-old Delano Burkes was found Friday floating in the water at the Port of Houston. Burkes was last seen leaving a bar in the Heights on Nov. 13th, about 15 miles from where his body was located. #houston pic.twitter.com/MnRsA0qaYo
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) November 28, 2022
Over the past week or so, Congresswoman Lee has maintained regular touch with Delano's family. She claimed that everyone was looking for answers about what happened to Delano and was hoping for closure. "There may be a lot of information that could help this family have closure, and comfort during this difficult time," said Lee. "We want to ask people to continue help us find out what happened to Delano Burkes," she added. His cause of death will be investigated by an autopsy. A $5,000 reward is being given by Crime Stoppers of Houston for information reagrding the case.