Lansing police investigate possible serial killer after five deaths

Lansing police are investigating whether a serial killer is responsible for the deaths of five men found along a stretch of the Lansing River Trail between October 2025 and August 2026. The victims, aged 22 to 70, were believed to be members of the homeless community.

Four of the victims suffered blunt-force injuries to the face, while a fifth was stabbed. While three deaths have been ruled homicides, one remains undetermined and the cause of the fifth is still being established. Investigators suspect the victims may have been attacked while sleeping at night.

Edward Smith has been charged with murder in connection to the stabbing of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk, but authorities have not yet linked him to the other deaths. One victim, 57-year-old Louis Woodruff, died in September 2026 after being found injured following Smith’s arrest.

In response to safety concerns, Michigan State University has upgraded security measures on its portion of the trail, including additional LED lighting, emergency phones, and increased bike patrols. Police have also deployed mobile surveillance cameras along the trail to assist with the investigation.