5 Men Dead Along Same Michigan Trail

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Police in Michigan are probing five deaths along Lansing’s River Trail to see if one attacker is responsible, and three are confirmed homicides.

Story Highlights

Lansing police are investigating links among five deaths along the River Trail.
All five were unhoused White men found over about eleven months, often injured overnight.
Three cases are homicides; two remain unresolved by medical examiners or detectives.
A Michigan State professor urged people to avoid the trail as a safety step.

Police Examine Possible Links Among Five River Trail Deaths

Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said detectives are testing whether five deaths along the River Trail are connected. He said all five remain open cases and that investigators are weighing the possibility of a related series. The reported timeline spans about eleven months. The victims were found on or near the trail, which runs through Michigan’s capital. Police emphasized the inquiry is active and that they will release confirmed findings when ready.

Backus also confirmed that three of the five deaths are classified as homicides. Two cases remain unresolved or await final medical-examiner results, so investigators have not said that all five share the same cause or manner of death. Officials are reviewing case files for patterns, including timing, location, and type of injury. That approach is standard when several deaths occur in a small area over a short period.

Shared Victim and Location Patterns Focus the Inquiry

Reports based on police statements said all five people were unhoused White men between ages 22 and 70. Police believe injuries happened late at night or early in the morning. The bodies were found along the Lansing River Trail or nearby. Those overlaps in victim profile, place, and time help police test for a single offender. They can also reflect shared exposure to risk in the same area, which is why detectives are careful before drawing final links.

One case involved a known arrest, which could point to more than one offender in the cluster. Police arrested Edward Joseph Smith, 23, in the fatal stabbing of Daniel Lusk, 22, under the East Michigan Avenue bridge. Authorities have not said that Smith is tied to the other deaths. That detail matters because a confirmed unrelated arrest can weaken a single-attacker theory and push investigators to weigh separate motives or disputes.

Public Warnings, City Reassurance, and Safety Steps

Karen Holt, an associate professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, advised people to avoid the trail for now. She said caution is wise while police investigate the cluster: “Don’t walk the trail would be my advice. Maybe walk a different trail”. Her warning aims at practical safety. It does not claim inside access to case files. The city has not announced broad closures but has urged residents to stay alert and travel with others at night.

"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

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Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said the general public has not been targeted, noting that the victims were men sleeping along the trail overnight. That message aims to calm fear, even as police continue to work the cases. For people who use the River Trail, common-sense steps still help: go in groups, stick to lit areas, and report anything suspicious. For advocates for the unhoused, the pattern highlights the danger of sleeping outdoors without lighting or shelter.

Why the “Serial Killer” Label Requires Proof

Investigators must show that at least two unlawful killings were done by the same person in separate events to meet the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) definition of serial murder. Geography, timing, and victim type can suggest a link, but they are not proof by themselves. That is why police are reviewing forensic evidence, medical findings, and any digital or witness leads before making a firm call. For now, they are testing a real possibility while keeping options open.