Hunting the 'Lady Bird Lake Ripper': 4 bodies, spiked drinks, uneasy locals and a grisly trail
AUSTIN, TEXAS: After four men — 30-year-old Jason John, 40-year-old Cliff Axtell, 33-year-old Jonathan Honey, and 30-year-old John Christopher Hays-Clark — were found dead at Lady Bird Lake in a short span of time since mid-February 2023, locals are speculating there may be a serial killer on the loose. Calling the assumed murderer 'Lady Bird Serial Killer' or 'Rainey Street Ripper,' internet sleuths have stressed that all the dead men were around the same age and had been drinking on nearby Rainey Street.
A Facebook group named 'Lady Bird Lake Serial Killer/ Rainey St Killer,' which spreads conspiracy theories about the deaths, has garnered more than 81K members, reports Daily Mail. A popular theory in the group is that the killer is a bartender who mixed date rape drugs into the drinks. Not only were theories voiced in the group, but some shared their own experiences of being drugged or assaulted on Rainey Street. Some also linked the recent murders to the 'Smiley Face Murders' theory, in which a series of deaths began in 1997 and continued through 2008. Most of the victims were "young, athletic, and academically high achievers," reports Daily Mail.
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What is the 'Smiley Face Murders' theory?
The theory was put forth by detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, who witnessed their employer declare that no foul play was involved in the 1997 death of 21-year-old Fordham University student Patrick McNeill. Two months later and 12 miles away, McNeill's half-naked body was found near the entrance to New York Harbor. The cause of death of McNeill, who was last seen drinking with friends at a Manhattan bar, was ruled accidental due to alcohol poisoning, A&E reports. But Gannon was not inclined to McNeill's autopsy after his own investigation. As a result, Gannon and Duarte joined retired NYPD detective Mike Donovan and St Cloud University sociology professor Dr Lee Gilbertson, and a team was formed calling it 'Smiley Face Killers' theory.
The term 'smiley face' was coined after the team discovered graffiti with a smiley face near a dozen locations where they suspected the killers had dumped the bodies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. While the faces differed in color, size, and style, the signature of the killer who claimed responsibility confirmed the link between the murders.
Who are the four Lady Bird Lake's dead men?
Regarding the murders of Lady Bird Lake, the first body of 2023 was of Jason John, who went missing on February 5 and was recovered on February 13. Then, on March 5, Cliff Axtell was found dead at Lady Bird Lake. Followed by Jonathan Honey, who was last seen outside a taco truck at 2 am on March 31, and was found on April 1. The most recent one was Christopher Hays-Clark, who was found on April 15. Though the cause of Hays-Clark’s death is still unknown, police said the other three died from a “combination of alcohol and easy access to Lady Bird Lake” and did not indicate any signs of trauma, reports New York Post.
The local police also said that there was no foul play suspected and issued a reminder to the public about responsible alcohol intake and the dangers of being near water, states DailyMail. Austin Police Department spokesman Chief Joseph Chacon told FOX7, "I realize that there is a rampant rumor about a potential serial killer here in Austin. We've found no evidence of that." He said the deaths are tragic, but it happens every year in the city. "It's a horrible circumstance that we have these, and we look at each one to determine the circumstances in which they occurred. Some of them are accidental, unfortunately, some of them are also suicides," he added.
Is there foul play?
The city of Austin also announced that safety measures including lighting and fencing around the lake are being implemented. In addition to that, they are also considering stationing park rangers around the water as well as more surveillance cameras. Former forensic director of the Austin Police Department, Mark Gillespie' said, "They're looking for foul play, and so when APD comes out with the statement that at the current time, they don't suspect foul play, I promise you they were looking for it, and they were looking very hard for it, so I respect that."
On the other hand, Jason John's family believes there was foul play. His mother, Elsie John, said, "Jason was 30. Jonathan Honey was 33. Two in the morning. Rainey Street. So there were some similarities in the case." "We definitely don't agree with that. We don't know how many Jasons, how many Martins, and how many Jonathans are going to be losing their lives again. And this is not acceptable," she added.