Staff Reports
A grim cloud has settled over Lansing. Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus says investigators are treating five violent deaths of unhoused men along a short stretch of the Lansing River Trail as active and possibly connected. That blunt admission — “we could not rule out” a serial killer — deserves attention, not spin. The victims deserve answers. The city deserves better planning and protection for its most vulnerable citizens.
What investigators say — and who the victims are
Police have publicly identified the five victims: Gino Chouinard (54), Denis/Dennis Dunnebacke (70), Robert William Smith (57), Louis Woodruff (57), and Daniel Lusk (22). The deaths happened along roughly a one‑mile stretch of the River Trail over about an 11‑month span. Four victims suffered severe head or facial trauma; one, Daniel Lusk, was stabbed. In Lusk’s case, Edward Joseph Smith, 23, was arrested and arraigned on an open murder charge. Prosecutors and police stress that Smith’s charge is limited to that stabbing and has not been tied to the other deaths. The Ingham County Medical Examiner has ruled at least one of the cases a homicide, while other findings are still pending.
What police are doing — and what they are missing
Lansing Police have increased patrols, set up camera trailers, and opened a dedicated tip line while urging anonymous Crime Stoppers tips. Those steps matter. But they also reveal basic blind spots: the trail’s overnight hours, limited fixed surveillance, and the small social footprints of unhoused people have made these scenes easy hunting grounds if a predator is involved. Chief Robert Backus is right to be cautious and public about possibilities, but caution shouldn’t become an excuse for slow action. Forensics, ME reports, and any connecting DNA or ballistic evidence are the keys. Until those facts come out, speculation fills the vacuum.
City leaders, outreach failures, and tone-deaf messaging
Mayor Andy Schor says downtown and the River Trail “remain safe” and that the city has increased presence. Fine — words are cheap when people are dying. Advocates and some council members say the city should have done more outreach to people sleeping on the trail and should have alerted the public sooner. That’s not partisan nitpicking; it’s a basic duty of government to protect life and to warn residents when patterns of violence appear. If you tell visitors to enjoy downtown while leaving vulnerable people exposed at night, you deserve pushback. Surveillance and outreach are not choices between safety and freedom — they are common-sense public safety tools.
Media chatter, public fear, and where to focus
National attention and social‑media hysteria are predictable. And yes, rumors can help investigators if they produce credible tips. But more useful than hot takes is sober pressure on authorities to publish medical‑examiner findings, release timelines, and explain whether patterns are forensic or circumstantial. The victims here were people who deserved protection and dignity. The conversation should center on evidence, not headlines. That means fixing cameras where they are missing, coordinating outreach to unhoused residents, and making clear what investigators have and what they don’t.
What must happen next — and how citizens can help
Demand transparency. Ask city hall and Lansing Police for the ME reports, release of any surveillance footage that won’t compromise the case, and regular public updates. Support practical steps: permanent cameras on the River Trail, focused nighttime patrols, funded outreach teams, and better shelter options so people aren’t forced to sleep where predators could find them. If you have information, call the River Trail tip line or Crime Stoppers. Don’t let fear turn into rumor. But don’t let complacency turn into another avoidable tragedy, either. Lansing needs answers and action — not another press release and a polite shrug.
