Is There a Serial Killer in Michigan? Five Lansing River Trail Deaths Raise Disturbing Questions

A Disturbing Mystery in Michigan

Five men. One river trail. A series of suspicious deaths spanning nearly a year.

In Lansing, Michigan, investigators are examining whether five deaths along the Lansing River Trail could be connected. The similarities have raised a frightening question: Could someone be deliberately targeting vulnerable men?

Authorities have not confirmed the existence of a serial killer. Nevertheless, the circumstances deserve serious attention.

The Lansing River Trail

The Lansing River Trail is a popular recreational pathway winding through Michigan's capital.

During the day, residents use the trail for walking, cycling, and enjoying the outdoors. But sections of the trail also provide places where people experiencing homelessness seek shelter.

Between October 2025 and August 2026, five men were discovered dead or seriously injured in areas associated with the trail. All five subsequently died.

The First Victim: Gino Chouinard

On October 14, 2025, 54 year old Gino Chouinard was discovered with significant injuries near East Oakland Avenue.

He died on October 27.

Despite the severity of his injuries, the medical examiner could not conclusively determine his cause of death.

His case would later become part of a much larger investigation.

Denis Dunnebacke: Another Troubling Death

On July 9, 2026, police discovered 70 year old Denis Dunnebacke unresponsive beneath the Kalamazoo Street Bridge.

He had apparent facial injuries and was transported to a hospital, where he died on July 16.

On October 14, authorities announced that the medical examiner had classified his cause of dfeath as indeterminate.

Investigators continue treating his death as suspicious.

Robert Williams Smith: A Confirmed Homicide

Just four days after Dunnebacke was discovered, another man was found critically injured.

Robert William Smith, 57, was discovered on July 13 with severe head injuries near Easto Oakland Avenue.

He died on July 17.

His death was subsequently ruled a homicide.

Investigators noticed similarities between his injuries and those reported in other cases.

Daniel Lusk: A Different Method of Killing

On August 20, 2026, 22 year old Daniel Lusk was discovered stabbed to death beneath the Michigan Avenue Bridge.

Unlike the other cases, investigators identified a suspect.

Edward joseph Smith was charged with open murder in connection with Lusk's death.

However, authorities have not established that Smith was involved in the other deaths, and the charge against him is not a conviction.

Lusk's death also differs from the others because he suffered stab wounds rather than the apparent blunt-force injuries identified in the other incidents.

Louis Woodruff: The Fifth Death

On August 30, 2026, 57 year old Louis Woodruff was found beneath a bridge near East Cesar Chavez Avenue.

He died September 1.

Authorities classified his death as a homicide.

With five deaths now under examination, public concern intensified.

The Patterns Investigators Cannot ignore

During an October 2 news conference, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus acknowledged similarities among the incidents.

All five men were believed to be experiencing homelessness.

Four were found with injuries involving their heads or faces.

Investigators suspect the injuries occurred overnight or during the early morning hours. They also believe some victims may have been lying down, potentially sleeping, when they were injured.

These similarities warrant investigation, but they do not establish that one individual committed the crimes.

Why Investigators have Not Confirmed a Serial Killer

The term serial killer carries enormous weight.

To establish a serial murder pattern, investigators would need evidence that multiple killings were committed by the same offender or offenders during separate events.

In Lansing, two deaths have inconclusive medical findings, and one confirmed homicide involved a different apparent method of attack.

Investigators must examine forensic evidence, timelines, possible witnesses, and connections between victimes before drawing conclusions.

At present, the possibility of a serial killer remains a theory under investigation.

The Vulnerability of People Experiencing homelessness

Perhaps the most heartbreaking element of this case is the vulnerability of the men involved.

People experiencing homelessness often lack secure places to sleep. They may also have limited access to transportation, emergency services, and other forms of protection.

Someone sleeping outdoors may be especially vulnerable to an attack.

And that raises a deeply uncomfortable question.

Would these deaths have received more immediate public attention if the victims had been sleeping inside homes rather than beneath bridges?

Being unhoused does not make someone's life less valuable. Every one of these men deserves a thorough investigation and public recognition of his humanity.

The Police Response and Public Concern

Lansing police have increased patrols along the River Trail and deployed additional surveillance equipment.

Investigators have also established a dedicated telephone line for information about the deaths.

Community advocates have raised concerns about the safety of people living outdoors and the availability of shelter.

The investigation is complicated by limited surveillance footage, few overnight witnesses, and uncertainty surrounding medical findings.

As of this article's publication, authorities have not publicly cionfirmed that all five deaths are connected.

Five Men Who Deserve Answers

The possibility of a serial killer is frightening. But the uncertainty surrounding these deaths should never overshadow the individuals invovled.

Gino Chouinard. Denis Dunnebacke. Robert William Smith. Daniel Lusk. Louis Woodruff.

Five men with lives, histories, and people who knew them.

Whatever investigators ultimately discover, these deaths demand answers.

if someone is deliberately targeting vulnerable individuals, that person must be identified and held accountable. If the cases are unrelated, each still deserves a complete and careful investigation.

The central question is not simply whether Lansing has a serial killer.

It is whether every victim will receive the attention, dignity, and justice he deserves.

Anyone with information about the Lansing River Trail cases can contact the Lansing Police Department's dedicated tip line at (517)-483-6023.

This article reflects publicly reported information available as of October 25, 2026. The investigations remain active, and allegations against charged individuals have not been proven in court.

Rest in peace to the Deceased.

-Morticia