Practically three years after 23-year-old Te’vion Quinton Antonio Bass was discovered useless within the San Jacinto River, his household continues to be trying to find solutions and justice.
Bass, the youthful brother of Houston inventive and cultural producer Randy Wrosiv, disappeared simply earlier than Thanksgiving 2022. He was final seen strolling alongside U.S. 90 towards North Shore on Nov. 24. His physique was found greater than two weeks later, on Dec. 10, within the bayou close to Shorewick Drive outdoors Channelview. But, the official reason for demise has by no means been launched.
“They informed the general public there have been no indicators of trauma,” Wrosiv mentioned. “However there’s been no reasoning, no transparency, no urgency. I by no means even spoke to a detective. There’s no report, no contact title…nothing.”
A household’s ache and persistence
Wrosiv mentioned his household knew straight away one thing was incorrect when Te’vion stopped calling his grandmother.
“He would a minimum of test in each couple of days,” he mentioned. “By the point we realized he was lacking, we knew he wasn’t simply off someplace attempting to be alone.”
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences publicly requested for assist figuring out the physique, itemizing Bass’ race as “unknown” and releasing solely black-and-white pictures of his tattoos.
“They mentioned he was 6-1 and 114 kilos,” Wrosiv recalled. “However my brother was greater than me, and I’m 185. That’s not a small mistake. It’s negligence.”
Bass was lastly recognized on Dec. 22. Officers publicly talked about that he had been “off his remedy,” a press release Wrosiv believes was used to “devalue the investigation” into his brother’s demise.
“My brother had mental-health challenges, sure,” he mentioned. “However he wasn’t suicidal. The day he disappeared, he was singing and strolling house from a job interview. He was lively.”
A well-recognized sample
Bass’ demise is certainly one of greater than 60 our bodies found in Houston-area bayous and waterways lately — a disturbing pattern that has sparked neighborhood outrage and skepticism.
“When a little bit white woman goes lacking, they convey in canines, drones, total groups. However when it’s Black folks in Houston, we get silence and press conferences that attempt to pacify us.”
Randy Wrosiv
“They need it quietly pushed apart so folks neglect with time,” Wrosiv mentioned. “When issues like FIFA (World Soccer Cup) come to city, they don’t need anybody speaking about this. However these aren’t coincidences. These our bodies of water are actually related. Somebody may simply be preying on folks and dumping them the place the present retains shifting.”
Group members have lengthy questioned why regulation enforcement has not sought federal help or issued broader public security alerts. Wrosiv says he’s seen “no urgency” from native officers.
“When a little bit white woman goes lacking, they convey in canines, drones, total groups,” he mentioned. “However when it’s Black folks in Houston, we get silence and press conferences that attempt to pacify us.”
Calling for accountability
In September 2025, Mayor John Whitmire publicly addressed the string of waterway deaths for the primary time—a press convention Wrosiv described as “overly defensive and dismissive.”
“He mentioned he can relate as a result of he has a daughter, however there was no urgency, no key info, no progress,” Wrosiv mentioned. “Who’s even main these investigations? We need to know.”
He’s calling for a complete and clear assessment of everybody recovered from the waters of Higher Houston over the previous 4 years, together with names, demographics, post-mortem outcomes, and actual places.
“We want a map. We want knowledge. We want solutions,” he mentioned. “If town received’t do it, the neighborhood will.”
Remembering Te’vion
Wrosiv described his brother as a “massive, lanky, playful dreamer” who grew up in a close-knit household. Taken in as a child, Te’vion spent his childhood surrounded by love and music.
“We stored a detailed relationship together with his grandmother,” Wrosiv mentioned. “As a child, he’d say he noticed ghosts, and I informed him to not be afraid. I’d remind him that it’s the dwelling it’s important to be careful for.
“He by no means received to see New York or Paris or Africa. He didn’t even get to start out his profession,” Wrosiv continued. “However I’m going to verify folks know his title. Too many Black lives are discarded. Don’t let this go chilly.”
As households like Wrosiv’s proceed to push for solutions, they’re additionally pushing for unity and for neighbors to talk up and demand transparency.
“Share information. Share sources. Defend our folks,” Wrosiv mentioned. “Should you see one thing that’s not proper, test in. As a result of if we don’t battle for our personal, no one else will.”
Name to motion:Households of different bayou victims are urging the general public to return ahead with any info or patterns associated to our bodies recovered from Houston-area waterways. Contact The Defender Community (reshonda@defendernetwork.com) or native advocacy teams when you’ve got info that will assist join the instances.
Comply with the Defender for full protection of Our bodies within the Bayou.
Houston neighborhood calls for solutions over bayou our bodies
Houston Metropolis Council pressed on Bayou our bodies, residents demand solutions
5 our bodies present in Houston bayous in a single week, together with UH Pupil
