Five unhoused men have died following separate incidents along Lansing's River Trail over the past year, and investigators are examining whether the deaths could be connected to a serial killer.

The Lansing Police Department has not confirmed a serial killer, but Police Chief Rob Backus laid out a timeline of five deaths at a Friday news conference. Investigators have identified several similarities between the cases.

 One question that we are being asked is do we have a serial killer in Lansing?  Backus said.

The timeline begins in October 2025, when 54-year-old Gino Chouinard was found injured near the 300 block of East Oakland Avenue and later died. Then, 268 days later, in July, 70-year-old Denis Dunnebacke was found unresponsive beneath the Kalamazoo Street Bridge.

Four days later, 57-year-old Robert Smith was found bleeding from the head near East Oakland Avenue and later died. Smith's death was ultimately ruled a homicide.

In August, 22-year-old Daniel Lusk was found stabbed to death beneath the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Ten days later, 57-year-old Louis Woodruff was found critically injured beneath a bridge near East Cesar Chavez Avenue and later died.

Police say all 5 victims were white unhoused men. Investigators also believe the incidents happened overnight, and that some of the victims may have been sleeping.

 And we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.  Backus said.

 Based on how we found our victims and their surroundings, it would lead us to believe that this could be a pattern.  Backus said.

A 23-year-old man has been charged in Lusk's death.

 One of these incidents is different than the others. Our charged case involves a victim who's been stabbed. Our other four incidents involve what appear to be blunt force trauma, traumatic injuries to the facial area.  Backus said.

A lack of witnesses and surveillance footage has complicated the investigation.

 I'll tell you the difference between the solved case is camera surveillance. And it's lacking in the other cases.  Backus said.

Backus said he hopes more cameras can be added a

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