“THE RAINEY STREET RIPPER STRIKES AGAIN,” read headlines in early 2023, following the 8th mysterious death at Lady Bird Lake. Since 2022, body after body has washed up on the banks, igniting a frenzy in the general public. Many beg the question: Does Austin have a serial killer in its midst?
Rumors of the alleged killer have been circulating since July 14, 2022, when Ricky Parks was found drowned near the intersection of Lady Bird Lake and Rainey Street. Though the case closed soon after and the Austin Police Department ruled out foul play, rumours still run rampant online.
After a long absence of casualties, the conspiracy took a back seat, and Austin started to focus on alternative political issues. However, with the appearance of a new victim just days ago, the case has been the subject of public speculation once again. Some still theorize that the deaths are connected to foul play, yet the majority of Austin’s citizens bring forth a more compelling argument: the true “murderer” is the Austin City Council.
For years, Rainey Street has been a popular destination in the entertainment district of Austin, littered with bars, clubs, and concert venues. However, in the time the city has been profiting off of Austin’s nightlife, no strides have been made to improve the safety of the area. Though many bars are only a stone’s throw away, the bank of the river has no regulations in place to ensure the safety of citizens, particularly inebriated ones.
In light of the recent death, the Austin City Council has agreed to allocate funding for increasing patrols and placing security cameras by the river. Yet, little change has been noted, prompting citizens, such as Mitchell Gutierrez, to speak out. “When I brought up how safety measures needed to be implemented to prevent this from happening again, not one thing was done — no lighting, no surveillance, no fencing,” said Gutierrez, who lost his brother in late 2022.
While there is no way of knowing for certain, it is a safe assumption that the pattern of deaths in the past three years has little to do with deranged killers and more likely to do with the carelessness shown by Austin’s city council. Though the idea of a “Rainey Street Ripper” may seem intriguing to many true crime fanatics, the reality is much more gruesome – though Austin is willing to profit off the money spent on drinks, they have no concern for the people that consume them.
