For years we have talked about the possibility of a serial killer lurking near the water in Austin. In poking fun at the true crime craze, we (the show) leaned in and dubbed the alleged perpetrator The Lake Austin Siren. After another tragedy this weekend, more amateur investigators are online speculating about the likelihood of there being a mass murderer in Austin.
In reality, however, this is not a cold case podcast and there are real people losing their loved ones. Far too many have died and been found in the water near I-35 and Rainey after a night out. The deaths have spawned rampant speculation and interest but no real solutions.
Thankfully, many family members of the victims and local activists are working to keep this issue in the forefront and push for change.
https://omny.fm/shows/matt-and-cj/what-is-happening-downtown
What can you do?
- Keep reminding city leaders that something needs to happen. Regardless of whether or not these are just accidents – or something more sinister – safety measure need to be put in place such as more lighting, fencing and patrolling.
- When going out, watch over your friends and make sure everyone gets home safe. Watch your drinks, keep your head on a swivel when waling downtown, make sure you are getting into a trusted vehicle for a ride home and stay away from dark, isolated areas.
- Don’t victim blame!
- Drink responsibly and be aware of your surroundings – especially when on or near water.
