The recent rise of bodies found in Chicago’s public waterways has TikTok audiences speculating that a killer is among the masses.
“I first saw about the serial killer attacks when I was on TikTok,” said 21-year-old Marisa Letizia, a frequent user of the app.
“I was stunned to hear the news of all these killings. I started watching more videos on it, and I am entirely convinced there is a serial killer in Chicago targeting young individuals,” Letizia said.
Social media influencers on platforms such as TikTok receive upwards of 141,100 views on their videos regarding the issue.
Speculations began to arise after the body of a Northwestern student named Peter Salvino was found near the Canon and Fullerton drives on Dec. 21, 2022. In April of 2021, ABC7 reported that three bodies were found in Lake Michigan in only two days.
On TikTok, many believe there is a possible serial killer on the loose. But Autumn Ferguson, a junior psychology major, believes that while it may be possible, some will not take it seriously.
“Since we do not feel personally affected, conspiracies (such as a possible serial killer on the loose) turn into a distraction and almost serve as entertainment,” Ferguson said.
In many of these comment sections, people have expressed:
“I have literally been saying this! I’ve been keeping up with articles and articles for almost two years now, and it doesn’t look right,”
“I don’t know why they aren’t piecing this all together. It can’t be random.”
One specific online comment claimed:
“Every year at this time of year since the late 1990s. A young man, leaving a bar in the early A.M., has gone missing and shown up dead in Lake Michigan.”
Rumors like these have continued to stir, but other narratives have also surfaced.
Brianna Ortiz, a junior double majoring in environmental science and political science, said she leans towards the “spring thaw” theory as an explanation for the rise of bodies found.
“As far as I know, during normal seasons, due to the way bacteria and decomposition work, the body will become lighter and rise to the surface of the water,” Ortiz said. “In areas like Chicago, where it gets really cold, the process of decomposition can actually get stopped, or really paused. I am guessing that is why we see numbers spike when it gets warmer in spring.”
Ortiz is not the only one speculating nature as the cause of these numbers rising. Maja Stachnik, a senior minoring in environmental communication, said she feels the same.
“Chicago experiences extreme flooding and the ‘sinking’ of the city (four inches in the last 100 years). We tend not to think of it in this way, but Chicago is a coastal city especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” Stachnik said.
On TikTok, no one has mentioned the spring thaw theory. Although, the most linked hashtag to this subject matter, with over 357,300 views, is “#chicagoserialkiller.”
TikTok commentators, such as Chaz or @chazonator, claim the dots have been connected because “it is very clear when 11 people are found in Lake Michigan that something is wrong.”
Chaz, with 390.7K followers and over 3.4 million likes, also posted, “It looks like this serial killer is going after young men who are inebriated. There were two female victims, though.”
He adds that after one of the females was found, one of the woman’s boyfriends, Daniel Sotelo, also drowned.
Chaz claims this has all occurred in Lake Michigan.
He has urged all his followers in the city, “Until there is an official message from City Hall or the police, I would highly recommend that if you are in the club scene or partying in Chicago, be extremely cautious.”
“Watch your back and hang out with your friends, there is power in numbers,” he adds. “Do not talk to strangers in the street, and under no circumstance get in a vehicle with anybody you don’t know,” Chaz said.
While there are only speculations of a serial killer arising on the social media platform, no official reports have been made announcing one.
Photo: Addie O’Rourke
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