Found Deceased TX - Delano Burkes, 26, missing after night out with friends, went to use the bathroom, seen running, Houston, 13 Nov 2022

[HoustonGuy]

Delano Burkes' body found floating in Port of Houston weeks after reported missing, family confirms

According to family members, a body found in the water Friday at the Port of Houston is that of missing man Delano Burkes, 26, who was reportedly last seen leaving a bar in the Heights in mid-November.

www.fox26houston.com

 

[HoustonGuy]

Here's the water levels of White Oak Bayou about 2 miles down from where Bevis meets TC Jester.

Site 520 Rainfall Alert

www.harriscountyfws.org

Bottom of the stream is roughly 6.5ft, the night after he went missing levels rose to about 11ft so thats a pretty decent amount of water. It oscilates over the last few weeks as we've gotten a fair amount of rain. I maintain that it would have been difficult for a body to make it from there all the way to where he was found without getting caught, stuck, or seen. But then again, stranger things have happend and with the amount of rain, the amount of people on the neighboring trail (there's a walking and bike trail that runs all the along the bayou all the way to downtown) wouldn't have been high. With that said, it's certainly not impossible. Access to the water where he was found seems pretty stringent as it's a port area with security and gates, so i doubt he was dumped there. The only other option would that he was dumped somewhere between the bar and where he was found.

The last point get's me back to that video... did he get in that silver truck? If its a homicide i'm sure everything will start to be under more scrutiny and now they can use that to look at where his phone was pinging.

 

[MissMYB]

RIP Delano. Condolences to his family and loved ones.

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, Delano.

 

[potatovine]

$5,000 reward offered for answers in the disappearance of Delano Burkes last seen at Heights bar

It's been more than a week since a Houston man vanished after leaving a popular Heights bar.

abc13.com

In the video in the above - does it look like he got into that truck at 1:23? I can't tell if its just his head passing by the truck window or a reflection given the relatively poor quality video (although still pretty good quality for security footage) - but it looks like the door to that silver pickup truck opens? Am I seeing things?

Edit: Unless the family knows something we don't (entirely possible) i don't love their continued use of the word "distressed" - he's definitely not sprinting in the videos, or obviously running away from anything. And if someone or something was chasing him, wouldn't it have also been picked up in these videos?

MOO - But the more I think, hear, and see of these videos - the more i think he ingested something either knowingly or unknowingly. He looks lost more than distressed or scared.

Edit 2: Will be off work before it gets dark today so planning to walk my side of the bayou as the water should be receding by later this afternoon.

Are there any other news articles with this video? All the other video surveillance footage in other news articles clip this video to cut off before the point where it looks like he gets into the truck…I wonder why

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I don't see that it's been called a homicide, I've seen the press change "investigate as if and treated it like" a homicide to it's a homicide in fact. Unfortunately, I think time, 12 days or so, in the water is going to complicate the autopsy.
I sure hope it's very clear if it's a homicide/murder, but it started out as so many missing/found deceased young men go, with the victim behaving oddly and then later being found deceased.

Just in case this is an accidental death: As far as his body being in the water and not being seen and now surfacing, this is not unexpected and not suspicious, if he has been in the water all along. Here's an article to remind us that the body will immediately sink at death and then resurface days/week later. Perhaps I can suggest some reading for those that have questions about drownings/water decomposition, there are lots of studies/documentation found on the internet.

Man’s body found floating on water at Houston Ship Channel is believed to be missing 26-year-old Delano Burkes, Texas EquuSearch says

Houston police are investigating after a man’s body was found floating on water at Houston’s Ship Channel on Friday.

www.click2houston.com

https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/196709NCJRS.pdf

Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review - PMC

Drowning, which typically involves a watery environment, remains a serious public health concern claiming an estimated 362 000 lives per year worldwide across all socioeconomic classifications and has remained under close observation by the World ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[youarentsilly]

I'll weigh in to say that, IMO, there is a difference between LE considering a death a homicide and proceeding with a homicide investigation. I believe that oftentimes when the death is for unknown reasons the default it to proceed to investigate it as a homicide until proven otherwise. It doesn't necessarily mean they think its a homicide or that there is any evidence of such. Again, IMO.

 

[youarentsilly]

IMO the fact that a young man, last seen drunk and alone, was found dead is the water is the expected outcome.

Start the search for the smiley face (teasing).

 

[PromotedPawn]

This is a sad one. I was really hoping he would turn up alive somewhere. Such a handsome young man, just out having a good time. RIP in Delano.

 

[Tbone144]

Dang..I had hopes he was hiding out somewhere. RIP Delano.

 

[PommyMommy]

Rest peacefully, Delano.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

The below article was updated late this evening.

Yea. It literally says it is now considered a homicide. They didn't have to say anything considering the autopsy hasnt been completed. Apparently they saw something that made them firm enough in the belief to mention it to the media. JMO.

Incorrect.

"Police have not said if they believe Burkes fell into the water on his own or if foul play may be involved. The case has been turned over to HPD's Homicide Unit, but that's standard anytime there's a death associated with a missing person's case."

Seems to me LE must be fairly certain Delano was murdered seeing how Crime Stoppers is offering a reward even before the COD is known.

The Crime Stoppers reward was made before his body was found, it was donated by


"Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee helped them amplify their efforts by bringing awareness to Burkes' disappearance and announcing a $5,000 reward via Crime Stoppers"

Body of missing Houston man last seen stumbling out of Heights bar found, medical examiner confirms

Burkes' body was found Friday in the Houston Ship Channel, officials confirmed, about 12.5 miles away from where he was last seen alive.

www.khou.com

 

[Taffy550]

How did he get 15 miles from the bar and end up found in a freaking shipping channel? I just saw this on the news. Wow, this better be looked at. There has to be more video or his cell phone tracking to help figure this out. Tragic and scary. Jmoo

 

[JessG78]

How did he get 15 miles from the bar and end up found in a freaking shipping channel? I just saw this on the news. Wow, this better be looked at. There has to be more video or his cell phone tracking to help figure this out. Tragic and scary. Jmoo

When the press conference was done a few days ago, his mother alluded to the “friends” not being very helpful with information or the search effort.

Just my opinions…

A few things that I’ve gleaned, I feel like the “friends” possibly set him up.

Drunk men pee outside. They don’t typically find a bar to go to the restroom after they’ve just left another bar.

If he was so under the influence that someone else had to drive, someone needed to be with him.

If he went to the restroom at one place, why would the friends go to another place and wait…then go looking for him?

At what point do friends just give up and leave you, go home, with your car, and call your spouse almost 12 hours later???

I kinda feel as if he may have been running away from the “friends” in that video. The same “friend(s)” who probably gave him whatever was suspected to cause his behavior.

Jealousy is the root of so many crimes.

 

[Taffy550]

When the press conference was done a few days ago, his mother alluded to the “friends” not being very helpful with information or the search effort.

Just my opinions…

A few things that I’ve gleaned, I feel like the “friends” possibly set him up.

Drunk men pee outside. They don’t typically find a bar to go to the restroom after they’ve just left another bar.

If he was so under the influence that someone else had to drive, someone needed to be with him.

If he went to the restroom at one place, why would the friends go to another place and wait…then go looking for him?

At what point do friends just give up and leave you, go home, with your car, and call your spouse almost 12 hours later???

I kinda feel as if he may have been running away from the “friends” in that video. The same “friend(s)” who probably gave him whatever was suspected to cause his behavior.

Jealousy is the root of so many crimes.

Good points all around. I hope you are wrong and his friends had nothing to do with his death. That to me is so scary to think his friends would as a group hurt him. Why?? Jealousy as a group crime. Doesnt sound plausible. I hope the family gets answers. I read some ones stupid comment about the smiley face killer, its not that hard of a reach. JMOO

 

[Alicia<3]

Sounds like he was maybe drunk, a friend was the designated driver. Maybe the place he went into asked him to leave because he was intoxicated? Especially if he was just there to use the restroom and not purchase anything. Or maybe he got into it with someone and that’s why they asked him to leave? Weird that his friends just left him though. Anyone know this area? What’s it like?

The Heights is a more upscale area of Houston. I have not been to the McIntyres but it is known to be safe and is an area where there are many bars and restaurants. He was found in the ship channel according to reports. Very sad.I am new to this site so please forgive me if I am posting a link that has already been shared.
Body of missing Houston man last seen stumbling out of Heights bar found medical examiner confirms

 

[JessG78]

Good points all around. I hope you are wrong and his friends had nothing to do with his death. That to me is so scary to think his friends would as a group hurt him. Why?? Jealousy as a group crime. Doesnt sound plausible. I hope the family gets answers. I read some ones stupid comment about the smiley face killer, its not that hard of a reach. JMOO

I spent years working in LE Communications and was often privy to hearing the accused snitch on each other in situations like these. It actually happened pretty often where a couple of people set up an acquaintance to be robbed but it ended in homicide.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

From the immediately previous post :
" "Someone gave him a drink", said Monee Burkes, Delano's sister. "

Reminds me of the case of Matej Peris (thread findable on websleuths) who apparentally got roofied via a drink - ended up running around the streets & drowned after trying to swim down a river.

Delano Burkes may have experienced similar mental confusion a while after being roofied as the drug kicked in - if he stumbled around and passed out, is the weather there cold enough for him to have died of exposure in some woods?

His sister wasn't there and really couldn't know that.

Matej Peris died of an overdose, combining alcohol, amphetamine, and cocaine. I don't see that he was "roofied".

Prosecutors Say Matej Periš's Death Not Due to Violence, Toxicology Report Published

ZAGREB, 21 June 2022 - The death of Croatian national Matej Periš was not due to violence or a crime but toxicology analyses have revealed the presence of toxic concentrations of amphetamine, ethyl alcohol and cocaine, Belgrade media quoted local prosecutors as saying on Tuesday. The prosecutor...

www.total-croatia-news.com

 

[Sillybilly]

View attachment 383295 - from the 4th paragraph below.

Delano Burkes' body found floating in Port of Houston weeks after reported missing, family confirms

According to family members, a body found in the water Friday at the Port of Houston is that of missing man Delano Burkes, 26, who was reportedly last seen leaving a bar in the Heights in mid-November.

www.fox26houston.com

from the above article:

"I want thank the layers of police, with HPD as a lead, that began this investigation as a missing person’s investigation," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. "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."

I think Congresswoman should leave MOD to the medical examiner to determine . Ruling out natural causes does not necessarily mean homicide. Could still be accident or suicide or undetermined.

 

[jb29pdx72]

I watched the video several times, in my opinion, the two people aren't following him. I don't think it could be his friends, reportedly, they had left in the missing man's car. When he first leaves (escorted out?) the bar, in my opinion, he starts the jogging and arm movement. Maybe he was refused service.

Search continues for Delano Burkes seen on video running away from Heights area bar

26-year-old Delano Burkes was last seen outside a bar in the Heights on Nov. 12. His family and friends continue searching for him after six full days of him missing.

www.fox26houston.com

Why in the world would his friends leave the area in his vehicle leaving him stranded with no wallet/ID and a dead cell phone?? Appears to be running from something?? So sad, hope he's found soon