The red arrows on this FBI map, show where the bodies of some of Gumb's female victims were discovered by the authorities. Each body was found in a different river.
In this post, we connect some of Augustine's writings on 'the waters', with the fact that Jame Gumb places his victims' bodies in rivers. Book 13, chapter 7 of the Confessions says,
"Now let him who is able follow your apostle with his understanding when he says, 'Your love is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit, which is given to us'[1 Cor. 12:1] and who teaches us about spiritual gifts and shows us a more excellent way of love;[1 Cor. 12:31 ff.] and who bows his knee to you for us so that we may come to the surpassing knowledge of the love of Christ. Thus, from the beginning, he who is above all was "moving over" the waters.
"To whom shall I tell this? How can I speak of the weight of concupiscence which drags us downward into the deep abyss, and of the love which lifts us up by your spirit who moved over the waters? To whom shall I tell this? How shall I tell it? For concupiscence and love are not certain places in which we are plunged and out of which we are lifted again. What could be more like, and yet what more unlike? They are both feelings; they are both loves. The uncleanness of our own spirit flows downward with the love of worldly care; and the sanctity of your spirit raises us upward by the love of release from anxiety - that we may lift our hearts to you where your spirit is 'moving over the waters.' Thus, we shall have come to that supreme rest where our souls shall have passed through the waters which give no standing ground."
The ideas here of being "plunged" and of flowing downward, are suggested by Gumb's placement of his victims' bodies in rivers: Each body is 'plunged' into the water, then 'flows downward' through the water.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine (Outler)
