Five Homeless Men Found Dead on Michigan Trail, Serial Killer Fear Rises

2 min read

Authorities in Lansing, Michigan, are investigating whether a serial killer is responsible for the deaths of five homeless men found dead or fatally injured along the Lansing River Trail. The victims, all homeless white men, were discovered along a roughly one-mile stretch of the trail, raising concerns about a potential pattern of violence.

Investigation into Possible Links

Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus stated, “What we need the public to know is we are investigating all of these cases. We are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.” The victims were found with severe facial injuries, and police suspect the injuries were inflicted overnight or in the early morning, possibly while the men were sleeping along the trail.

Four of the five men were found with severe head trauma, and all of the victims appear to be homeless white men. The first victim, Gino Chouinard, 54, was found unconscious with head trauma on October 14, 2025, and died on October 27. Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was found with severe head trauma on July 9, 2026, and died from his injuries on July 16. Robert Smith, 57, was found with severe head trauma on July 13 and died on July 17.

Arrest in Connection to One Death

Daniel Lusk, 22, was found with a fatal stab wound along the trail on August 20. Police arrested Edward Joseph Smith, 23, in connection with Lusk’s death. He has not been accused of involvement in the other four deaths. Louis Woodruff, 57, was found with facial trauma on August 30 and died on September 1.

Public Safety Measures and Concerns

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor reassured the public, stating, “The Lansing River Trail and our downtown remain safe for residents and visitors. LPD has significantly increased their presence downtown and on the river trail at all hours of the day and night.” The deaths have also sparked concern at nearby Michigan State University, where Lusk’s stabbing occurred less than a mile from campus.

Broader Trends in Serial Killings

Research has documented a broader decline in the number of known active serial killers in the United States. A 2023 Northeastern University article reported nearly 300 known active serial killers in the 1970s and more than 250 in the 1980s, when they accounted for between 120 and 180 deaths annually. By the 2010s, the number of known active serial killers had fallen below 50.

Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox attributed the decline to advances in forensic technology, higher incarceration rates, and changes in public behavior, including the decline of hitchhiking, which once gave killers opportunities to target strangers.

Source: Daily Wire