Five deaths along a walking trail in Michigan have raised a disturbing question: Could a serial killer be responsible? Police in Lansing -- Michigan’s capital, about a two-hour drive from Windsor across the U.S. border -- are investigating whether the deaths along the city’s River Trail over the past year could be connected. “One question that we are being asked is, do we have a serial killer in Lansing?” Police Chief Robert Backus said during a recent news conference. “And we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.” The victims, ranging in age from 22 to 70, were all men believed to be experiencing homelessness. Four suffered apparent blunt-force injuries to their faces or heads. The fifth was stabbed. Investigators believe the attacks occurred overnight, potentially while the victims were asleep. “We believe that our victims in this case were lying down, potentially even sleeping,” Backus said. “We don’t know that. But based on how we found our victims and their surroundings, it would lead us to believe that this could be a pattern.” Few clues, growing concerns Police have identified a suspect in just one case. Edward Smith, 23, is charged with murder in the stabbing death of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk in August. Two other deaths have been ruled homicides, while medical findings remain incomplete or undetermined in the remaining cases. Backus acknowledged investigators face significant challenges, including a lack of overnight witnesses and surveillance footage. “I wish I could be more certain and concrete in what I say, but there are challenges in these cases.” Police have increased patrols, deployed temporary surveillance cameras and stepped up outreach to people sleeping along the trail. According to Detroit’s WDIV, Kelsea Hector, executive director of the outreach organization Punks with Lunch, says the uncertainty has left the unhoused community on edge. “We just have a lot of anxiety around, could one of our people be next?” Hector told WDIV.
