Michigan Criminology Professor Urges Caution Amidst Lansing River Trail Deaths Investigation

Lansing, Michigan, is on edge as police investigate the unnerving possibility that five recent deaths along the Lansing River Trail may be connected to a single attacker. The Lansing Police Department announced the probe earlier this month, raising concerns in the community.

Karen Holt, a criminology professor at Michigan State University, advised residents to exercise caution. "I definitely think we need to be cautious, but we also need to be rational," Holt told Fox News Digital. She noted that a pattern with violent offenders often involves targeting vulnerable individuals. "One of the patterns with either single or serial, homicide offenders or just violent offenders is that they tend to go after individuals who are particularly vulnerable," she said.

Holt suggested that offenders may perceive homeless individuals as less likely to be believed, thus decreasing their perceived risk of being caught. "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," she stated.

Timeline of Deaths

Authorities are investigating the following incidents along the trail:

• Oct. 14, 2025: Gino Chouinard, 54, was found unconscious and later died on Oct. 27, 2025. His cause of death remains undetermined.
• July 9, 2026: Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was discovered unresponsive under the Kalamazoo Street bridge. He died July 16, 2026, with his cause of death undetermined.
• July 13, 2026: Robert Smith, 57, was found with severe head trauma and died on July 17, 2026. The medical examiner ruled his death a blunt force homicide.
• Aug. 20, 2026: Daniel Lusk, 22, was found fatally stabbed under the East Michigan Avenue bridge. Police arrested Edward Joseph Smith, 23, on Sept. 3, in connection to this case.
• Aug. 30, 2026: Louis Woodruff, 57, was found under the East Cesar Chavez Avenue bridge with severe facial trauma. He died Sept. 1, 2026, and police ruled his death a blunt force homicide.

All of the victims were identified as homeless. Police have not yet linked Edward Joseph Smith, who was arrested for Lusk's stabbing, to the other four deaths.

Holt pointed out that Lusk's stabbing death differs from the other cases, which involved head injuries or blunt force trauma. "I would love to learn more about the relationship between that victim and perpetrator," she said, noting that no motive has been announced in Lusk's murder.

Police have not confirmed an arrest in connection to a potential serial killer operating along the trail. Holt advised the public to consider avoiding the trail. "Don't walk the trial would be my advice. Maybe walk a different trail," she said.