Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus informed reporters that there may be a serial killer responsible for five deaths along a 1.5-mile river trail in downtown Lansing over nearly a year, starting last October. Three of these cases have been confirmed as homicides, while the others remain undetermined due to lack of evidence and witnesses. The victims were all homeless men who suffered blunt force traumatic injuries, with one suspect arrested but not charged for any other deaths.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Lansing Police Department is investigating the possibility of a serial killer responsible for five recent deaths along the Lansing River Trail, affecting individuals experiencing homelessness. The incidents occurred over the past year and show similar patterns, including attacks happening in early morning hours. Police Chief Robert Backus stated during a briefing on October 2 that all cases are active investigations with no weapon identified yet. Four of the five cases involve blunt force trauma to the facial area. Identified victims range from ages 22 to 70 and include Gino Chouinard, Dennis Dunnebacke, Robert Smith, Daniel Lusk, and Louis Woodruff. A suspect was arrested for one homicide but not charged in other deaths. The investigation aims to determine if these cases are connected and whether a single perpetrator is responsible.
Written for “Michigan Serial Killer Investigation” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 67128 · logged 2026-10-09
A series of deaths along a short stretch of a river trail in Michigan’s capital city may be the result of a serial killer, authorities said.
uncertain
authorities → say → killer
The five deaths span nearly a year, beginning last October, and all of the fatalities appear to involve victims who were homeless, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus told reporters last week.
“One question that we are being asked is, ‘Do we have a serial killer in Lansing?’” Backus said.
asserted
Backus → span → Lansing
“What we need the public to know is that we are investigating all of these cases.
asserted
we → need → cases
They are all active investigations, and we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.
uncertain
these → look → idea
Three of the deaths were determined to be homicides, Backus said.
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Backus → determine → deaths
The manner of death for the remaining two is unclear.
uncertain
manner → remain → two
One was ruled undetermined, Backus said, and a finding has not yet been issued in the other death.
asserted
finding → rule → death
A suspect was arrested in connection with one of the homicides — the Aug. 20 stabbing of Daniel Lusk, 22, Backus said.
asserted
Backus → arrest → Lusk
But that suspect, Edward Smith, 24, has not been charged in any of the other deaths.
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suspect → charge → deaths
His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
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attorney → respond → comment
The other four deaths involve what Backus described as blunt force traumatic injuries to the face.
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Backus → involve → face
No weapon has been identified.
asserted
weapon → identify → ?
Those victims include Gino Chouinard, 54, who died on Oct. 14, 2025; Denis Dunnebacke, 70, who was found unresponsive on July 9 and died three days later; Robert Smith, 57, who was found unresponsive on July 13 and died four days later; and Louis Woodruff, 57, who was hospitalized on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 1.
asserted
who → include → Sept.
The men were found along a roughly 1.5-mile section of trail near downtown Lansing, according to locations provided by the Lansing Police Department.
uncertain
men → find → Department
“When I’m reporting these patterns to you, I wish I had more information to share,” Backus said.
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Backus → report → information
“I wish I could be more certain and concrete in what I say, but there are challenges in these cases.
uncertain
I → wish → cases
Among those challenges, Backus said, are the locations and times of the events that led to the deaths.
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that → say → deaths
There are no cameras or witnesses, he said, and the assaults are believed to have taken place in the early morning hours.
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assaults → be → hours
The police department set up camera trailers along the trail, he said, and night shift officers have been assigned to patrol the area.
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officers → set → area
Asked during a news conference if the department should have warned the public after the death of Dunnebacke in July — he was the second man to die — Backus said it wasn’t immediately clear that his injuries were the result of an assault.
asserted
injuries → ask → assault
Hospital staff initially believed his death could have been from a medical issue, Backus said, though it was investigated by the department’s major crimes investigators and treated as a “suspicious situation.”
uncertain
it → believe → situation
The manner of Dunnebacke’s death has not yet been determined, Backus said.
asserted
Backus → determine → death
The Aporia
