River Trail Deaths Spark Serial Killer Fears

Crime scene tape near blood on pavement — Photo: Nic Neufeld / Shutterstock

Police in Michigan say five deaths along Lansing’s River Trail may be connected, and three are homicides under active investigation.

Story Snapshot

Lansing police are probing links among five deaths along the River Trail over 11 months.
All victims were unhoused White men, ages 22 to 70, found with severe injuries near the trail.
Three cases are classified as homicides; two remain unresolved or undetermined.
A Michigan State professor urged people to avoid the trail as a precaution.

Police Outline a Focused Serial-Link Investigation

Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said detectives are examining whether five trail deaths are related and confirmed that all cases remain active. He stated the department is “looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases”. Police said the incidents occurred along the Lansing River Trail area over roughly eleven months and shared certain patterns. Investigators asked the public to report tips and emphasized that the probe includes timing, location, and victim details to test for links.

Backus confirmed three of the five deaths are homicides, while two cases await final findings or remain undetermined. Officials have not announced a suspect connecting all five. Police also noted one case, the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk under the East Michigan Avenue bridge, led to the arrest of 23-year-old Edward Joseph Smith, without evidence tying him to the other deaths at this time. Detectives are comparing scenes and methods to confirm or rule out a single offender.

Shared Victim and Location Patterns Raise Alarm

Reporting based on police statements identified the victims as unhoused White men, ages 22 to 70, discovered with serious injuries along or near the River Trail. Police believe the injuries occurred overnight or in the early morning hours. The cluster’s narrow geography and victim profile prompted the serial-link review. Officials stressed they are testing for common methods, timing, or forensic overlaps, which would support a shared-offender theory if confirmed.

City leaders worked to balance caution with calm. Lansing’s mayor said the general public had not been targeted and that the attacks involved unhoused men sleeping along the trail at night. That message aims to keep residents using parks and pathways while police investigate. The police department increased patrols in key areas and continued outreach to people living along the trail, focusing on lighting, visibility, and safer nighttime options for shelter.

Expert Advice and the Definition of “Serial Killer”

Karen Holt, an associate professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, advised students and residents to avoid the River Trail for now, saying, “Don’t walk the trail… Maybe walk a different trail,” while urging people to stay rational and cautious. Her guidance reflects standard risk reduction during uncertain crime clusters. Police have not confirmed a serial killer. A serial killer is commonly defined as the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender in separate events.

"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

The “serial” label depends on proof that one person committed multiple killings. Geography, timing, or victim traits alone do not settle that question. That is why detectives are reviewing cause-of-death rulings and case files to see whether methods match across scenes. One arrest in a single case adds complexity and shows why firm answers require evidence, not headlines. Until police finish that work, officials urge vigilance, especially for people sleeping outdoors near the trail.