Lansing Police Investigate Five River Trail Deaths

Lansing police are investigating five deaths of men found along a roughly one-mile stretch of the Lansing River Trail, but have not determined whether the cases are connected. A 23-year-old man has been charged with open murder in one death, and police have not linked him to the other four. The deaths occurred between October 2025 and August 2026, according to police. The men were between 22 and 70 years old and were believed to be unhoused. All five investigations remain active, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said. Backus said investigators are examining whether the cases may be related, describing a possible pattern rather than confirming that a serial killer is responsible. Police suspect the injuries may have been inflicted overnight, and believe some victims may have been lying down or sleeping, but have not established those circumstances. Four men had apparent blunt-force injuries to the face, police said, and investigators have not identified a weapon in those cases. The fifth, Daniel Lusk, 22, was found stabbed beneath the Michigan Avenue Bridge on August 20. Edward Smith was charged with open murder in Lusk’s death.