Augusta, Ga. — The body of missing 16-year-old Michael Houston was recovered Sunday from the Savannah River in Augusta, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Authorities are working with the coroner to complete identification and determine the cause of death.
Houston’s death is the latest in a series of bodies found in Augusta’s waterways over the past few years.
At least three other recoveries have been reported recently:
• In July 2024, a fisherman found a man’s body in the Savannah River near Riverfront Drive.
• In September 2025, deputies recovered a male body washed ashore along Riverbend Road in the river.
• In October 2024, a man was found dead in the Augusta Canal near Greene Street in what authorities called a suspicious death.
Earlier cases — including a 2022 recovery of a man’s body from the Savannah River — show that waterway recoveries in the area are not uncommon.
While the river and canal are popular for recreation, these incidents highlight ongoing risks and investigative challenges along Augusta’s waterways. Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution and report information that may aid investigations.
This leaves many Augustan’s asking, “what will they pull out next?”
