Top Stories · October 14, 2026
Five Men Are Slain Along a Michigan Trail and the Police Hunt a Killer
Lansing police are investigating a series of attacks on the Lansing River Trail involving five men between October 2025 and August 2026. The victims, primarily homeless individuals, suffered severe facial or head injuries, with one confirmed fatal stabbing. While 23-year-old Edward Joseph Smith has been arrested and charged with the murder of Daniel Lusk, he has not been charged in the other four cases. Local officials are investigating potential links between the incidents, leading to public concern regarding a possible serial killer. While the Mayor and Police Chief have increased patrols and surveillance, they maintain that the general public does not appear to be targeted.
Read the original coverage
Five Who Lived Along Walking Trail Are Dead and the Police Hunt a Killer
Read at The New York Times ↗- The Center SquareCenter-right
‘Do we have a serial killer?’ Arrest made in one of five deaths along Michigan trail
Read at The Center Square ↗ - New York PostRight
Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University
Read at New York Post ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Five men were attacked or found unresponsive along the Lansing River Trail over a 10-month period.
- Edward Joseph Smith was arrested in September 2026 and charged with the murder of Daniel Lusk.
- The victims included Gino Chouinard, Denis Dunnebacke, Robert Smith, Daniel Lusk, and Louis Woodruff.
- Four of the victims suffered head, facial, or blunt force trauma, while one was stabbed.
- Lansing police are investigating the possibility that these deaths are connected.
- The attacks primarily targeted unhoused individuals sleeping along the trail overnight.
Reported by only some outlets
- One victim was found under the Kalamazoo Street bridge, while others were near East Oakland Avenue and East Cesar Chavez Avenue.
- There was a 268-day gap between the first and second incidents.
- An 'open murder' charge was used against Smith, allowing prosecutors to pursue a conviction without specifying the degree initially.
- The medical examiner ruled the deaths of Robert Smith and Louis Woodruff as homicides, while others remain undetermined or pending.
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