Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus said at a briefing last week that the deaths occurred between October 2025 and August 2026 along a roughly one-mile section of the city's River Trail. All five victims were white men believed to be homeless, ranging in age from 22 to 70.
"One question that we are being asked is, 'Do we have a serial killer in Lansing?'" Backus said. "We are investigating all of these cases, and we are looking at the possibility that these may be related cases."
Four of the deaths involved apparent blunt-force injuries to the face, with no known weapon identified. The fifth was a stabbing, and a suspect has been charged in that case. Investigators suspect the injuries occurred overnight, particularly in the early morning hours, and believe the men may have been lying down or sleeping when they were injured.
The first victim, 54-year-old Gino Chouinard, was found with facial injuries on October 14, 2025, and died 13 days later. The medical examiner ruled his cause of death as undetermined. On July 9, 2026, 70-year-old Denis Dunnebacke was found unresponsive beneath the Kalamazoo Street Bridge with facial injuries and covered in vomit; he died on July 16. Hospital staff initially considered a medical cause, but police investigated it as a suspected serious assault. The third victim, 57-year-old Robert Smith, was found bleeding from the head on July 13 and died four days later. His death was classified as a homicide on September 17.
On August 20, 22-year-old Daniel Lusk was found stabbed to death beneath the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Edward Smith, 23, has been charged with open murder in that case. Backus declined to say whether Smith is linked to the other deaths. Following the arrest, a fifth victim, 57-year-old Louis Woodruff, was found with facial injuries beneath a bridge on August 30 and died on September 1. His death was also ruled a homicide.
Backus noted that the investigations have been complicated by limited surveillance footage and a lack of witnesses during the hours when the injuries are believed to have occurred. Police have placed camera trailers along the trail, assigned social workers to contact homeless people in the area, and increased patrols by bicycle, golf cart, and on foot.
Anyone with information can call the dedicated tip line at 517-483-6023.