Serial Killer Fears Grip Michigan College Town

Fears of a possible serial killer are spreading through a Michigan college town after five unhoused men died following violent or suspicious incidents along a popular river trail near Michigan State University.

Lansing police are investigating whether the deaths along the Lansing River Trail over the past year could be connected, pointing to several troubling similarities between the cases.

Police Chief Robert Backus has stopped short of declaring that a serial killer is responsible, but acknowledged investigators are seeing patterns that have raised serious questions.

All five men were unhoused, all were White and ranged in age from 22 to 70. Police believe the injuries in the cases occurred during nighttime or early-morning hours, when parts of the trail were largely deserted.

Four of the men suffered significant injuries to the head or face that police described as consistent with blunt-force trauma. Investigators believe some of the victims may have been lying down or sleeping when they were attacked.

The fifth victim, 22-year-old Daniel Lusk, was stabbed to death.

The string of deaths has attracted national attention and prompted Michigan State University officials to remind students to use extra caution, particularly when traveling at night.

The Lansing River Trail runs through Lansing and connects with areas near Michigan State University in neighboring East Lansing. Lusk was found less than a mile from campus.

MSU Police and Public Safety said the university-controlled portion of the trail has additional LED lighting, emergency Green Light phones equipped with cameras and regular police bike patrols.

University officials are encouraging students to remain aware of their surroundings and take precautions when using the trail after dark.

The first case now being examined occurred in October 2025.

Gino Chouinard, 54, was discovered injured in the 300 block of East Oakland Avenue on Oct. 14. Police said he had injuries to his face. He died at a hospital on Oct. 27.

The medical examiner ultimately listed Chouinard’s cause of death as undetermined.

Months later, another man was found critically injured.

Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was discovered unresponsive near the Kalamazoo Street Bridge on July 9. He was breathing but had apparent facial injuries when authorities found him.

Dunnebacke died July 16 after being removed from life support. As of police’s latest public update, the medical examiner had not issued a final ruling on his cause of death.

Just four days after Dunnebacke was discovered, 57-year-old Robert William Smith was found unresponsive and bleeding from his head in the 300 block of East Oakland Avenue.

Police immediately noticed similarities between his case and Chouinard’s because of the location and nature of the injuries.

Smith died July 17.

The medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide.

Then, shortly before 4 a.m. on Aug. 20, officers discovered Lusk suffering from multiple stab wounds beneath the Michigan Avenue bridge. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died at the scene.

Edward Joseph Smith, 23, was later charged with open murder in Lusk’s death and is being held without bond.

Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and authorities have not accused him of involvement in any of the other four cases.

Another death followed only days later.

Louis Woodruff, 57, was found shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 30 near East Cesar Chavez Avenue with apparent facial injuries. He died Sept. 1.

Police are investigating Woodruff’s death as a homicide.

The similarities have placed investigators in a difficult position. Three of the deaths have been treated or classified as homicides, while medical examiners have not conclusively determined homicide in the remaining cases.

Backus said investigators nevertheless cannot ignore the patterns.

The locations also present challenges for detectives. Several incidents happened during hours when few people were nearby, leaving police with limited witnesses and surveillance footage.

Authorities have increased patrols and deployed additional camera equipment along portions of the trail.

The circumstances surrounding the victims are another major focus of the investigation. Police believe all five belonged to Lansing’s unhoused community, a population that can be particularly vulnerable to violence and may sleep in secluded areas where crimes are less likely to be witnessed.

Officials have also faced questions over why some of the deaths were not publicly disclosed sooner.

Lansing officials have defended their handling of the cases, saying police generally wait for medical examiner findings before publicly describing a suspicious death as a homicide.

Despite the growing national attention, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has said the downtown area and River Trail remain safe for residents and visitors.

Police have stressed that the suspicious incidents occurred primarily during the early-morning hours, including times when the trail is normally closed.

Authorities have nevertheless boosted their presence downtown and along the river while outreach teams continue working with unhoused residents.

For now, the central question remains unanswered: Are Lansing detectives looking at several unrelated tragedies, or are some of the deaths the work of the same attacker?

Police say they are examining every possibility.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with information about the deaths or suspicious activity along the Lansing River Trail to contact Lansing police or Crime Stoppers.