Police in Michigan’s capital are probing five deaths along Lansing’s River Trail to see if one attacker is responsible, and three are confirmed homicides.
Story Snapshot
- Lansing police are examining whether five River Trail deaths are connected.
- All five victims were unhoused White men found with severe injuries near the trail.
- Three cases are homicides; two remain undetermined or under review.
- A Michigan State professor urged people to avoid the trail for now.
Police Confirm Active Probe Into Linked Cases
Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said detectives are investigating five deaths to determine whether the cases are related. He said all five remain active and that the department is looking at the possibility of a link among them. The deaths occurred along or near the city’s River Trail over roughly eleven months. Police have not named a single suspect tied to all cases. Investigators have classified three of the deaths as homicides.
Backus described the effort to identify common factors, including time, place, and method. Police believe the injuries happened overnight or in the early morning. Officials have not released detailed forensic findings across all cases. Two deaths remain undetermined or are still under medical-examiner review. The city has increased patrols along the trail area while the work continues. Authorities asked residents to report tips and avoid isolated areas during late hours.
Shared Victim Profile and Location Raise Alarm
Reports state all five victims were unhoused White men, ages 22 to 70, found with serious injuries along or near the River Trail. The similar victim profile and recurring location prompted the review for potential links. The pattern does not by itself prove a single offender. However, it supports a closer look at timing, injuries, and any shared evidence. Police and medical teams are still assessing the two unresolved cases to determine cause and manner of death.
A Michigan State University criminology professor, Karen Holt, urged people to stay off the River Trail as a precaution. She advised students and residents to choose different routes until investigators sort out the facts. Her advice aims to reduce risk while police gather evidence. City leaders have tried to balance caution and calm. The mayor has emphasized that the general public has not been targeted, citing attacks focused on men sleeping outdoors overnight.
One Arrest Highlights Complexity of Single-Offender Theory
One death involved a known arrest, which complicates the idea of one attacker. Police arrested a suspect in the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk, who was found under the East Michigan Avenue bridge. Officials have not linked that suspect to the other deaths. A single arrest in one case can point to separate offenders across the cluster. That is why detectives compare cases for shared forensic signs before they draw firm conclusions.
Under current definitions, serial murder requires unlawful killings of at least two victims by the same offender in separate events, according to summaries of Federal Bureau of Investigation guidance. Investigators must find evidence that ties the same person to multiple crimes. Geography, timing, and victim similarities alone are not enough. That standard explains the careful language from police. They are testing a real possibility without claiming proof at this stage.
Public Safety Guidance While Evidence Is Reviewed
Officials urged people who use the River Trail to travel with others, avoid late-night hours, and stay in well-lit areas. People who sleep outdoors face the highest risk in this set of cases, based on how and when injuries likely occurred. Community groups are coordinating outreach to unhoused residents to share safety information. Police asked anyone with camera footage or tips from the trail area to come forward to help narrow timelines and identify suspects.
"If we have a community where people can be attacked in this way, then I don't necessarily know that we can call it a safe community."
That's a Michigan State University criminology professor reacting to the possibility that a serial killer is targeting homeless men along the… pic.twitter.com/DuzyHDUEG7
— Fox True Crime (@FoxTrueCrime) October 14, 2026
Residents want straightforward answers, not spin. Many feel leaders often talk past hard problems like public safety and homelessness. This case touches both. The city must protect people where they live and sleep, including those with no shelter. Clear updates, faster evidence work, and visible patrols can help restore trust. The focus now is simple: find the facts, protect the vulnerable, and hold any attacker to account based on proof, not headlines.
Sources:
foxnews.com, nbcnews.com, clickondetroit.com, cnn.com, abcnews4.com, synapse.koreamed.org
