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4 clusters · 19 sources · 9 days · First seen · Last updated

Lansing River Trail serial killer investigation

Overview

Lansing authorities are investigating whether a serial killer is responsible for a series of deaths occurring along a 1.5-mile stretch of the Lansing River Trail near downtown Lansing. The victims are described as unhoused white males ranging in age from 22 to 70, with bodies discovered between October 2025 and August 2026.

Three of the deaths have been ruled homicides. Edward Smith has been charged with the murder of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk, who was stabbed; however, authorities have not linked Smith to the other cases. Smith was allegedly identified through surveillance footage showing him washing blood from his arm at a drinking fountain. Four of the deaths appear to involve blunt force trauma to the facial area, suggesting injuries were sustained while victims were sleeping or lying down during overnight or early morning hours. The cause of death for Gino Chouinard remains undetermined.

Recent developments include the death of 57-year-old Louis Woodruff in September 2026, who was found injured following the arrest of Edward Smith.

Police Chief Robert Backus confirmed that all cases are active investigations as officials explore the possibility that the deaths are related. In response to safety concerns, Michigan State University has upgraded security on its portion of the trail by adding LED lighting, emergency phones, and increased bike patrols. Police have also deployed mobile surveillance cameras along the trail to assist the investigation.

As fears grow regarding a potential serial killer targeting the homeless population, community members have begun organizing. Dozens of residents gathered at Lansing City Hall to demand the establishment of an emergency overnight shelter for the city’s unhoused population.

Entities

Lansing River Trail · Lansing Police Department · Robert Backus · Daniel Lusk · Michigan State University

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 6 sources
    Lansing police investigate possible serial killer targeting homeless men

    Lansing police are investigating a possible serial killer targeting homeless individuals along the Lansing River Trail in Michigan, where five men have died over the past year.

  2. [CRIME] 9 sources
    Lansing police investigate possible serial killer after five deaths

    Lansing police are investigating a possible serial killer targeting homeless men along the Lansing River Trail in Michigan following five violent deaths.

  3. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Lansing police investigate potential serial killer in trail deaths

    Lansing police are investigating a potential serial killer following the deaths of five unhoused men along the Lansing River Trail in Michigan.

  4. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Lansing police investigate potential link between five trail deaths

    Lansing police are investigating whether five deaths of unhoused men along the Lansing River Trail are linked, following a murder charge in one of the cases.

Sources

99wfmk.com · abc17news.com · abc7news.com · independent.co.uk · infokuryr.cz · insider.foxnews.com · internewscast.com · keyt.com · kvia.com · localnews8.com · myfoxdetroit.com · nbcnews.com · newsbomb.gr · rt.com · smh.com.au · theage.com.au · tromaktiko.gr · viagemegastronomia.com.br · video.foxnews.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history