Five unhoused men died after violent incidents along the trail, prompting police to examine whether some or all of the cases are connected.
LANSING, MI — Police are investigating whether five deaths along the Lansing River Trail over roughly 11 months are connected, a possibility that has stirred fears of a serial killer in Michigan’s capital and raised safety concerns near Michigan State University.
Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said investigators have identified patterns among the cases but have not determined that one person is responsible for all five deaths. The victims were men between ages 22 and 70 who police believe were unhoused. Investigators said the incidents occurred overnight or during early morning hours, and four of the men suffered serious injuries involving blunt-force trauma or injuries to the face. A fifth victim was stabbed.
“One question that we are being asked is, ‘Do we have a serial killer in Lansing?’” Backus said during an Oct. 2 news conference. He said all of the cases remain under investigation and that police are examining whether they may be related. Backus said investigators look for trends and patterns when reviewing violent deaths with similarities, but authorities have stopped short of declaring that Lansing has a serial killer.
The earliest case identified by police involved Gino Chouinard, 54, who was found badly injured near Center and Monroe streets on Oct. 14, 2025. He died Oct. 27. Police have said no suspect has been identified in that case, and authorities were awaiting a final determination concerning the circumstances of his death when investigators publicly discussed the series of cases.
Three more men were found critically or fatally injured during a seven-week period in the summer of 2026. Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was found with facial injuries July 9 under the Kalamazoo Street bridge and died July 16. Police said information about his death has been conflicting, including whether his injuries resulted from a crime, and a final medical examiner determination had not been released. Robert William Smith, 57, was found unresponsive with a head injury July 13 near Center and Monroe streets. He died July 17, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Daniel Lusk, 22, was found fatally stabbed under the East Michigan Avenue bridge early Aug. 20. Police later arrested Edward Joseph Smith, 23, in connection with Lusk’s death, and Smith was charged with open murder. Authorities have emphasized that Smith has not been accused of involvement in the other four deaths, and the charge against him is an allegation that must be proven in court.
Louis Woodruff, 57, was found with serious facial injuries along the River Trail early Aug. 30 and died Sept. 1. His death is being investigated as a homicide. Taken together, the cases drew particular attention because several victims suffered similar injuries, were believed to have been unhoused and were attacked along a relatively limited section of the trail. Police also believe some of the victims may have been lying down when they were attacked.
The investigation has been complicated by the conditions along the trail during overnight hours. Police have cited limited surveillance coverage and a lack of witnesses as obstacles in determining what happened in each case and whether the deaths share a common offender. The Lansing River Trail extends through the city and connects with areas near Michigan State University in East Lansing, putting portions of the trail within reach of students, commuters and other regular users.
Michigan State University Police and Public Safety has highlighted security measures on the campus portion of the river trail, including LED lighting, Green Light emergency phones, public-safety cameras and police bike patrols. The department has encouraged people using the trail to remain aware of their surroundings, particularly at night. The university has not said the five Lansing deaths occurred on its campus.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has said the downtown area and River Trail remain safe for residents and visitors and that Lansing police have increased their presence downtown and along the trail at all hours. At the same time, authorities have continued to investigate each death separately while comparing evidence for possible links. The concentration of cases has also focused attention on the vulnerability of people living without stable housing, who can be particularly difficult for investigators to trace through witnesses, routines and digital records.
Police have not announced evidence proving that a single person committed the five attacks, and key questions remain unresolved, including the final circumstances of some deaths and whether the similarities reflect one offender or separate incidents. The investigations remain active as detectives review evidence and search for information that could establish or rule out connections among the cases.
Author note: Last updated October 11, 2026.