Mother Seeks Answers After Son Found Dead in Houston Bayou

Keyo Kingsley's body was recovered from Buffalo Bayou nearly two months ago, but his cause of death remains unknown.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Nearly two months after the body of 40-year-old Keyo Kingsley was found in Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston, his mother Mildred Amos says she is still waiting for answers about how he died. Kingsley's death is one of several recent cases involving bodies found in Houston's bayous, with the causes of death often remaining undetermined.

Why it matters

The lack of information surrounding Kingsley's death and other similar cases in Houston's bayous has left grieving families searching for answers and calling for increased safety measures along the waterways, such as more lighting, patrols, and surveillance cameras.

The details

Kingsley's body was recovered from the water where Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou meet on January 6, 2026. Amos says investigators told the family there was no visible trauma to Kingsley's body, but nearly two months later, the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office still lists his cause and manner of death as pending. Amos says she doesn't know if her son's death was a homicide, suicide, or something else.

  • Kingsley's body was recovered from Buffalo Bayou on January 6, 2026.
  • Amos received the call about her son's death while getting ready for work.

The players

Keyo Kingsley

A 40-year-old man whose body was found in Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston.

Mildred Amos

Kingsley's mother, who is still searching for answers about how her son died.

Harris County Medical Examiner's Office

The office that is still investigating the cause and manner of Kingsley's death.

Houston Police Department

The department that is continuing to investigate Kingsley's case and other similar deaths in Houston's bayous.

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What they’re saying

“'She was telling me, 'Are you sitting down?' And she said, 'We pulled him up from the bayou.' And it kind of threw me because I was like, why would he be at the bayou?'”

— Mildred Amos, Kingsley's mother (click2houston.com)

“'I don't know what happened to my son. Homicide, suicide, what? I don't have answers.'”

— Mildred Amos, Kingsley's mother (click2houston.com)

What’s next

Houston Police are continuing to investigate Kingsley's case, and the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office is still working to determine the official cause and manner of his death.

The takeaway

The lack of answers surrounding Kingsley's death and other similar cases in Houston's bayous has left grieving families searching for closure and calling for increased safety measures to prevent future tragedies along the city's waterways.