Lansing police chief warns there may be a serial killer in Michigan’s capital city

A series of deaths along a short stretch of a river trail in Michigan’s capital city may be the result of a serial killer, authorities said.

The five deaths span nearly a year, beginning last October, and all of them appear to involve victims who were homeless, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus told reporters last week.

“One question that we are being asked is ‘Do we have a serial killer in Lansing?’” Backus said. “What we need the public to know is that we are investigating all of these cases. They are all active investigations, and we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.”

Three of the deaths were determined to be homicides, Backus said. The manner of death for the remaining two is unclear. One was ruled undetermined, Backus said, and a finding has not yet been issued in the other death.

A suspect was arrested in connection with one of the homicides — the Aug. 20 stabbing of Daniel Lusk, 22, Backus said.

That suspect, Edward Smith, 24, has not been charged in any of the other deaths. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health