Michigan Police Investigate Possible Serial Killer After Five Men Die Along River Trail

Authorities in Lansing, Michigan, are investigating whether five deaths involving unhoused men along the Lansing River Trail may be connected to a single attacker. The cases, spanning October 2025 through August 2026, have raised concerns about the possibility of a serial killer operating in the area. However, police stress that the investigation is ongoing and have not confirmed that all five deaths are linked.

During a press conference on October 2, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus outlined several similarities among the victims. All five were white men between the ages of 22 and 70, and investigators believe they were members of the city’s unhoused community. Police also suspect the attacks occurred during the early morning hours, potentially while the victims were lying down or sleeping outdoors.

Four of the men suffered severe injuries to the face and head consistent with blunt-force trauma. The fifth victim, 22-year-old Daniel Lusk, was found stabbed to death beneath a bridge along the trail on August 20. Authorities have arrested Edward Joseph Smith in connection with Lusk’s killing and charged him with open murder. Investigators have not established whether Smith was involved in any of the other deaths.

The other cases include Gino Chouinard, 54, who was found with facial injuries in October 2025 and died later that month; Denis Dunnebacke, 70, who was discovered unresponsive in July 2026 and died in the hospital; Robert Smith, 57, who was found bleeding from the head and later died, with his death ruled a homicide; and Louis Woodruff, 57, who suffered facial injuries in August and later died. Authorities have noted that some cases initially presented uncertainty about whether the injuries resulted from an assault or a medical emergency.

Police say the similarities have prompted investigators to examine the cases together, looking for patterns that could help explain what happened. The investigation faces challenges, including the lack of overnight witnesses and limited surveillance footage in parts of the trail. Officials are continuing to gather evidence and determine whether the incidents share a common offender.

For now, Lansing police have not confirmed the presence of a serial killer. Chief Backus has emphasized that all five cases remain active investigations, and authorities are asking anyone with information about suspicious activity along the River Trail to come forward. Until more evidence emerges, investigators say the possible connection between the deaths remains a theory rather than an established conclusion.

Source: PEOPLE