Karen Holt, a criminology professor at Michigan State University, is urging residents of Lansing, Michigan, to exercise caution and rationality as police investigate the possibility that five recent deaths are linked to a serial attacker. The Big Ten college town is on edge following the Lansing Police Department's announcement earlier this month that it is probing whether the deaths of five men along the Lansing River Trail are connected to a single individual. According to police, the victims were attacked over the past year, with one found stabbed to death under a bridge and the others suffering head injuries or possible blunt force trauma. All five victims were homeless, the police stated.
Holt told Fox News Digital that her primary concern is the vulnerability of the victims and the method of violence used. She noted that homicide offenders often target individuals they perceive as lacking credibility, which may lead perpetrators to believe that attacking homeless victims decreases the likelihood of being caught. Holt argued that a community where such attacks occur cannot reasonably be considered safe.
The investigation centers on Edward Joseph Smith, 23, who was arrested on September 3 in connection with the deadly stabbing of Daniel Lusk, 22. While Smith is linked to Lusk's murder, police have not accused him of any crime or wrongdoing regarding the four other deaths. Holt observed that Lusk's murder stands out from the other alleged killings because the victim was stabbed, whereas the other four suffered head injuries or blunt force trauma. Police have not announced a motive for Lusk's murder, and Holt expressed interest in learning more about the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.
Authorities have not yet confirmed an arrest for the possible serial killer responsible for all five deaths. As the investigation continues, Holt advised the public to remain vigilant. "Don't walk the trail would be my advice. Maybe walk a different trail," she said.