Police in Michigan’s capital say five deaths along one trail may be connected, and three are confirmed homicides.
Story Snapshot
- Lansing police are probing links among five deaths along the River Trail
- All five victims were unhoused White men found with severe injuries
- Three cases are homicides; two remain undetermined or open
- A Michigan State professor urged people to avoid the trail for now
Police Examine Links Across Five River Trail Deaths
Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said investigators are testing whether five deaths along the River Trail are connected. He said all five are open cases and that officers are looking at the possibility that they are related. Reporters described a cluster over about eleven months. Police believe the injuries happened overnight or early morning hours. Officials increased patrols and evidence reviews. Detectives are comparing locations, times, and wound patterns for overlap across the cases.
Authorities stated that three of the five deaths are homicides. Two cases remain undetermined or still under medical-examiner review, so they have not been classified as murders at this time. That split matters for how police frame risk. The department is still gathering forensic evidence. Officers are seeking tips, camera footage, and witness leads. The aim is to confirm whether one person is involved or if the events are separate crimes by different offenders.
Who Was Targeted And When The Attacks Occurred
Public reports based on police statements say each victim was an unhoused White man between ages twenty-two and seventy. All were found on or near the same trail corridor with severe injuries. Police believe the harm happened late at night or in the early morning hours when the trail is quieter and visibility is low. City officials stressed that the known victims were sleeping along the trail. They said there is no sign that daytime trail users were targeted.
One case already led to an arrest. Reporters identified a stabbing under the East Michigan Avenue bridge that killed twenty-two-year-old Daniel Lusk. Police arrested twenty-three-year-old Edward Joseph Smith in that case. Authorities have not said that this suspect links to the other deaths, which complicates the idea of a single attacker across all five cases. Prosecutors and detectives will rely on lab work, phone data, and witness accounts to confirm any ties or rule them out as separate events.
Public Warnings, Definitions, And A Careful Path Forward
Karen Holt, a Michigan State University criminology professor, urged caution while the probe continues. She advised people to avoid the River Trail for now and to choose other routes, saying the community should be careful but rational. Her warning aligns with basic safety practices after violent crimes. City leaders also tried to calm fears by noting there is no evidence that the wider public is being targeted during normal trail use hours at this point.
"If we have a community where people can be attacked in this way, then I don't necessarily know that we can call it a safe community."
That's a Michigan State University criminology professor reacting to the possibility that a serial killer is targeting homeless men along the… pic.twitter.com/DuzyHDUEG7
— Fox True Crime (@FoxTrueCrime) October 14, 2026
Police language so far reflects an active probe rather than a verdict about a serial killer. Under the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s current framing, serial murder involves two or more unlawful killings by the same offender in separate events. That requires proof of a common offender, not just similar scenes or victims. For Lansing, the confirmed facts—five cases, three homicides, two undetermined—justify the investigation. The final answer depends on lab results, case files, and court records.
Why This Matters Beyond Lansing
Local families, students, and unhoused residents want straight answers and basic safety. People across the political spectrum also worry that officials often move too slowly, share too little, or default to talking points. This case shows why clear facts and timely updates matter. Police must share what they can without hurting the cases. Residents can help by reporting tips and using common-sense safety steps at night. Transparency and steady work beat rumor and panic.
Sources:
foxnews.com, nbcnews.com, clickondetroit.com, cnn.com, abcnews4.com, synapse.koreamed.org
