River Trail Serial Killer Spooks Lansing

Crime scene tape near blood on pavement — Photo: Nic Neufeld / Shutterstock

Police in Michigan’s capital are probing five deaths along one trail and weighing whether a single killer is targeting unhoused men.

Story Snapshot

Lansing police are investigating five deaths along the River Trail for possible links.
All five victims were unhoused White men found with severe injuries, often overnight.
Three cases are homicides; two remain unresolved by the medical examiner.
A Michigan State professor urged people to avoid the trail as a safety step.

Police Confirm Active Probe Into Possible Related Cases

Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said investigators are examining whether five deaths along the Lansing River Trail are connected. He stated all five cases are active and that detectives are exploring the possibility of related attacks. Police described a shared pattern across the cases. The victims were unhoused, White men who suffered serious injuries. Several were likely attacked overnight or early morning when few witnesses were around. Police have not announced suspect links across all cases.

Officials identified three of the five deaths as homicides. Two other cases remain open pending medical-examiner conclusions or further evidence. That mix of confirmed killings and unresolved cases is why police say they are testing for connections rather than declaring one suspect. Detectives are comparing locations, timelines, and methods used. They are also reviewing trail conditions, nearby cameras, and any digital or physical evidence that could point to a common source.

Victim Pattern Raises Fears, But Risk May Be Targeted

Reporting based on police statements said the five victims were unhoused men, ages 22 to 70, found along the River Trail across about eleven months. That pattern has added urgency for outreach teams who serve people sleeping outdoors. The time-of-day detail matters, too. Police believe the injuries occurred overnight or early morning, when public traffic is low and lighting can be limited. These facts focus safety concerns on people who sleep outside near the trail.

Lansing’s mayor said there is no sign the general public using the trail during the day is being targeted. He stated the attacks involved unhoused men sleeping along the path and sought to reassure residents that the city remains safe for routine use. That message aims to calm fear while police keep working. It also signals how risk may differ between daily trail users and people who bed down in dark, isolated spots after hours.

Expert Urges Caution While Police Work The Cases

Karen Holt, an associate professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, publicly urged people to avoid the River Trail for now. She said residents should be cautious and choose a different route until more is known. Her guidance lines up with basic crime-prevention steps when attacks remain unsolved. The advice is precautionary. She did not present a separate forensic analysis or inside case data to support a single-offender theory beyond what has been reported.

One case includes an arrest that could complicate a single-suspect view. Police arrested a man in the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Daniel Lusk under the East Michigan Avenue bridge. Officials have not shown that this suspect is tied to the other deaths. That fact leaves open more than one explanation. It could be one offender in some cases, different offenders in others, or no linkage at all. Police say they will let evidence decide.

How To Read “Serial Killer” Headlines Responsibly

The words “serial killer” carry a heavy punch, but they have a specific meaning. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) definition describes the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender in separate events. In Lansing, three cases are homicides, two are unresolved, and no common suspect has been named. That is enough to test for links, but it does not confirm a serial murderer. Labels should follow clear offender ties, not just similar victims or places.

"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

The stakes are high for people on both sides of the political aisle who feel the system misses basic duties like public safety. Residents want clear facts, steady policing, and transparent updates. Here, that means faster autopsy results, sharper trail lighting, more patrols, and regular briefings. It also means targeted help for unhoused people sleeping in risky areas. These basic steps, done well, can cut fear, protect the vulnerable, and show government can still handle the hard jobs.