Midwest police chief fears serial killer may be to blame after five bodies were found along river

A Midwest police chief has revealed a serial killer may be on the loose in his city after five bodies were all found near a river. uncertain

The five deaths along the Lansing River Trail in Michigan's capital city feature similar characteristics, Police Chief Robert Backus said at a press conference last Friday. asserted

Lansing police believe the victims were homeless and lying down, potentially sleeping, when they were 'injured' during early morning hours, according to Backus. uncertain

Backus acknowledged that the cases were causing police to receive questions over a 'serial killer' in Lansing. asserted

'They are all active investigations and we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases,' Backus said. uncertain

'We look for information, we look for trends, we look for patterns and we have developed some,' he continued. asserted

The police chief said all the victims were white men whose ages ranged from 22 to 70. asserted

However, he acknowledged that law enforcement was lacking surveillance footage and that 'more cameras would help us in this scenario. asserted

Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus acknowledged that there were questions being asked about a local serial killer after five bodies were founding alongside the city's river trail Gino Chouinard, 54, was the first victim discovered by Lansing police on October 14, 2025, around 7.35am Police said the five victims found alongside the trail (pictured) were white men whose ages ranged from 22 to 70 Backus explained that his comments were based on how the victims were found, as well as their surroundings. asserted

Still, he acknowledged that police were still facing 'challenges' in determining where and when the 'crimes' were happening on the river trail. asserted

The first victim discovered by police on October 14, 2025, was Gino Chouinard, 54. asserted

Lansing police received a call for an injured subject around 7.35am and found Chouinard with injuries to his face in the 300 block of East Oakland Avenue, according to Backus. uncertain

Chouinard was taken to a local hospital that same day but pronounced dead on October 27. asserted

The medical examiner's office found an undetermined cause of death at the time. asserted

However, Backus said new information could lead to 'appropriate changes if necessary.' Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was discovered with 'apparent facial injuries' by police this July 9. uncertain

He died a week later Daniel Lusk, 22, was found stabbed to death under a trail bridge on August 20 Edward Smith, 23, was arrested and charged with open murder in connection to Lusk's death Police said the next case came on July 9 of this year, 268 days after Chouinard was found. Lansing police officers found Denis Dunnebacke, 70, under the Kalamazoo Street Bridge around 1.30pm. Dunnebacke was unresponsive but breathing, though he was also covered in vomit and sported 'apparent facial injuries.' Backus said conversations with medical staff at a local hospital provided 'some conflicting information.' That was because the staff noted that Dunnebacke's injuries could be of a medical nature, rather than criminal. uncertain

Police had investigated what happened to him as a serious assault. asserted

Dunnebacke was eventually pronounced dead on July 16. asserted

The medical examiner's office has not issued a finding in his case while they conduct their own investigation, police said. asserted

A family member said that he suffered severe brain injuries and spinal fractures, the Lansing State Journal reported. asserted

Robert Smith, 57, was found unresponsive and bleeding from the head on July 13, again in the 300 block of East Oakland. asserted

'We recognized immediately from the location and some of the common factors that this was very similar to Mr. Chouinard's death,' Backus said. asserted

Smith was declared dead at a local hospital on July 17. asserted

The medical examiner's office determined his death to be a homicide on September 17, Backus said. asserted

Robert Smith, 57 was found unresponsive and bleeding on July 13 around the same location as Chouinard, police said Louis Woodruff, 57, also had injuries to his face when police found him on August 30. asserted

He died two days later On August 20, police found Daniel Lusk, 22, stabbed to death under the Michigan Avenue bridge on the trail around 3.54am. asserted

Edward Smith, 23, has been arrested and charged with open murder in relation to Lusk's death. asserted

Backus acknowledged the arrest during his press conference saying that police had been asked, ‘Is this a suspect for all the incidents?’ asserted

He said that was a 'very challenging question to answer' and that he had to be 'very cautious.' However, Backus insisted that police could not 'move forward in an investigation' thinking that all the suspects were the 'same.' The discoveries continued on August 30 when Louis Woodruff, 57, was found with 'apparent facial injuries' around 3.24am in the 200 block of East César Chavez Avenue under the bridge. uncertain

Woodruff was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and died two days later. asserted

The incident is being investigated as a homicide, as police continue looking into the deaths. asserted

Lansing police have set up a tip line specifically for River Trail assaults and more officers have been placed in the area. asserted

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lansing police for further comment. asserted