Photo via Fox News

Potential Michigan serial killer may have left behind valuable evidence, former FBI profiler says

Read the original at Fox News ↗
Cite

Bacall, M. (2026, October 11). Potential Michigan serial killer may have left behind valuable evidence, former FBI profiler says. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/media/potential-michigan-serial-killer-may-have-left-behind-valuable-evidence-former-fbi-profiler-says

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Fox News · collected 2026-10-11 · by Max Bacall

Quick Summary

A former FBI profiler, Mary Ellen O'Toole, suggests that evidence may be present at five outdoor crime scenes in Lansing where homeless individuals were found dead between October 2025 and September 2026. Authorities are investigating whether these deaths are connected, with one arrest made but no confirmed link to the other cases. O'Toole advises investigators to examine unsolved homicides both locally and in surrounding states to identify potential earlier crimes by a serial killer who might have been practicing his methods before becoming more proficient.
Written by AI on 2026-10-11, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

As of October 15, 2026, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus is investigating whether recent attacks along the Lansing River Trail indicate a serial killer targeting unhoused individuals. Over the past year, five homeless men were found dead on a one-mile stretch of the trail between midnight and 6 AM; four suffered severe head injuries, while one was stabbed to death. The police have arrested Edward Joseph Smith for the stabbing but he is not charged in the other deaths. Chief Backus confirmed that authorities are examining patterns and trends among these incidents but no definitive conclusions have been drawn yet. This situation has heightened concerns about safety and public notification policies within the city, especially given Lansing's growing homeless population. The city responded by increasing patrols and deploying mobile cameras along the trail to enhance security. Local residents and community groups are also conducting nighttime patrols in response to these fears.

Written for “Possible Serial Killer In Michigan” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Possible Serial Killer In Michigan
Crime & Law · 11 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 21% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Serial killer may be responsible for recent string of deaths in Michigan, police say Same event
The Independent
Hedges 8 of 32 claims Outlet record 59/100
Lansing police investigating possible serial killer after 5 deaths Same event
CBS News
Hedges 5 of 20 claims Outlet record 66/100
Lansing police chief warns there may be a serial killer in Michigan’s capital city Same event
NBC News
Hedges 6 of 22 claims Outlet record 60/100
Midwest police chief fears serial killer may be to blame after five bodies were found along river Same event
Daily Mail
Hedges 7 of 33 claims Outlet record 68/100
Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University Different event
New York Post
Hedges 1 of 24 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles discuss related events and similar concerns but refer to different sources and contexts (a former FBI profiler vs. a criminology professor at Michigan State University).”
Five bodies found along a 1.6km trail, triggering serial killer fears Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 3 of 58 claims Outlet record 61/100
Michigan police probe possible serial killer after 5 men suffer fatal injuries along popular trail Different event
Fox News
Hedges 5 of 22 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss the investigation of possible serial killings along the Lansing River Trail, Article A reports on the initial police announcement about the cases, while Article B covers a later analysis by a former FBI profiler commenting on potential evidence left at the crime scenes.”
Criminologist professor at Big Ten college offers warning to students as police probe possible serial killer Different event
Fox News
Hedges 2 of 25 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles mention different experts (former FBI profiler vs. criminology professor) commenting on a similar situation involving possible serial killings, but they are not describing the same specific incident or occurrence.”
5 people have been found dead near a river trail in Michigan, sparking serial killer fears Same event
The Independent
Hedges 5 of 43 claims Outlet record 59/100
Serial killer fears strike college town as school fortifies security amid popular river trail deaths Different event
Fox News
Hedges 3 of 22 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss potential serial killings near Michigan State University, they report on different aspects of the investigation with different dates.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
14
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
21%
3 of 14 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
69/100
Fox News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
11
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-11 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Fox News · 6154 article(s) · 11 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 11 correction(s)
2026-10-31
Convicted murderer got over 5-hour head start after prison escape before local police were notified: official
2026-10-27
Middle school teacher arrested in alleged prostitution scheme at casino hotel
2026-10-16
Kash Patel demands MS NOW apologize after network's false report claiming FBI director visited Russia
2026-10-14
MS NOW issues correction after reporting Kash Patel 'landed in Russia' while he was actually in Virginia
2026-10-08
ELI STEELE: France's schools are burning. White guilt is helping fan the flames
2026-10-08
Maryland man accused of girl's fatal shooting released from prison days before
2026-10-08
Former corrections officer accused of killing wife, forcing kids to help
2026-10-03
Tennessee's state corrections chief resigns following failed execution of Christa Pike
2026-09-30
Repeat offender with lengthy rap sheet accused of gunning down Kentucky trooper during traffic stop
2026-09-23
Missouri mom who put newborn in oven instead of crib learns fate as murder charge dropped
2026-08-04
Pennsylvania school bus aide accused of sexually assaulting special needs teen

Who wrote this

Max Bacall
13 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Detective Jose Mercedes said in an exclusive interview with Fox News that he couldn't unlock his phone as he tried to report his attackers' whereabouts.
2026-10-26 · assertive framing · NYPD detective stabbed 10 times in Bronx robbery recalls chasing attackers while bleeding out
🔮 Che opened the show by saying he felt so good that he might get emotional.
2026-10-24 · assertive framing · 'SNL' Weekend Update anchor calls Republicans slurs, mocks Charlie Kirk in stand-up special
🔮 Border czar Tom Homan said Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., could be denaturalized and deported if investigators find that she committed immigration fraud, repeating his assertion that no one is above the law after her home was raided and cellphone seized.
2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Homan says Ilhan Omar could be stripped of naturalization, deported if immigration fraud is proven
🔮 The SIF will also be led by FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Department of War Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael and OPM Director Scott Kupor, who will report to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Trump intel chief warns AI firms on hacks, says new department is the 'cop on the beat'
🔮 A former FBI profiler warns that a potential serial killer in Michigan may have left behind valuable forensic evidence at outdoor crime scenes as authorities investigate whether five deaths in Lansing are connected.
2026-10-11 · mixed framing · Potential Michigan serial killer may have left behind valuable evidence, former FBI profiler says
🔮 The rocker said he hoped the collaboration would send a message about maintaining friendships despite political disagreements, highlighting his nearly 40-year friendship with Eminem.
2026-10-11 · assertive framing · Kid Rock details unlikely Eminem collaboration on new Christian album
🔮 In New York City, Darializa Avila Chevalier, the 32-year-old community organizer backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, narrowly topped incumbent Democrat Adriano Espaillat, the 71-year-old Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair and the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. House.
2026-10-04 · assertive framing · Majority Leader Thune warns Chuck Schumer 'lives in fear' of socialists taking over Democratic Party
🔮 Matt Rife said Monday on "Fox & Friends" that social media has fundamentally changed how comedians break into the entertainment industry, explaining that posting viral crowd work clips on TikTok accomplished what years of chasing Hollywood's traditional stand-up pipeline could not.
2026-09-28 · assertive framing · Comedian Matt Rife says he ditched Hollywood's old playbook for success after hitting 'rock bottom'
🔮 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted Sunday that Iran will complete its remaining oil shipments to China within two weeks, leaving Tehran with "nothing left to trade for anything" as the Trump administration intensifies its economic pressure campaign against the regime.
2026-09-27 · assertive framing · Bessent says Iran will have 'nothing left to trade' within two weeks as oil lifeline dries up
🔮 Asked about concerns that AI could enable widespread government surveillance, Blanche said Americans' privacy must be protected while also arguing that AI-powered personalization can provide practical benefits for consumers.
2026-09-27 · assertive framing · AG Blanche rejects calls for new AI laws after rogue agents target US government websites
Also by Max Bacall
NYPD detective stabbed 10 times in Bronx robbery recalls chasing attackers while bleeding out
2026-10-26 · Fox News
'SNL' Weekend Update anchor calls Republicans slurs, mocks Charlie Kirk in stand-up special
2026-10-24 · Fox News
Homan says Ilhan Omar could be stripped of naturalization, deported if immigration fraud is proven
2026-10-18 · Fox News
Trump intel chief warns AI firms on hacks, says new department is the 'cop on the beat'
2026-10-18 · Fox News
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 13 articles by Max Bacall →

Topics

FBI Lansing Michigan Michigan State University

Subjects

Michigan GPE · 3× FBI ORG · 1× Lansing GPE · 1× Mary Ellen O'Toole PERSON · 1× Michigan State University ORG · 1× O'Toole PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Mary Ellen O'Toole told the "The Big Weekend Show" on Saturday that the killings posed risks for the offender because they occurred outdoors where the victims, all believed to have been homeless, were likely sleeping.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-11
🔮 A former FBI profiler warns that a potential serial killer in Michigan may have left behind valuable forensic evidence at outdoor crime scenes as authorities investigate whether five deaths in Lansing are connected.
2026-10-11 · Fox News
Potential Michigan serial killer may have left behind valuable evidence, former FBI profiler says · mixed framing

Claims (14 extracted, 3 hedged)

A former FBI profiler warns that a potential serial killer in Michigan may have left behind valuable forensic evidence at outdoor crime scenes as authorities investigate whether five deaths in Lansing are connected. uncertain
deaths → warn → Lansing
Mary Ellen O'Toole told the "The Big Weekend Show" on Saturday that the killings posed risks for the offender because they occurred outdoors where the victims, all believed to have been homeless, were likely sleeping. asserted
victims → tell → offender
"It's also very high risk for the offender because the offender comes in to an open area and kills these people — and these are probably not quick homicides — and then has to leave the area. asserted
these → come → area
" "And I can almost tell you for sure that this offender is not cleaning up his crime scenes," she added. asserted
she → tell → scenes
"So he's probably leaving behind some very valuable evidence for investigators to analyze." asserted
investigators → leave → evidence
The five victims were discovered near the Lansing River Trail near Michigan State University. asserted
victims → discover → University
The deaths occurred between October 2025 and September 2026. asserted
deaths → occur → October
Police arrested a suspect in connection with the stabbing death of one man, but have not linked him to the other deaths. asserted
Police → arrest → deaths
O'Toole said police have more work to do before determining whether the cases are related. asserted
cases → say → work
That includes examining unsolved homicides in the surrounding area and potentially other states for evidence of earlier crimes by the same offender. asserted
That → include → offender
"They'll look at other homicides both in Michigan and in the surrounding areas because we know from other cases serial killers can travel around, so they want to be able to understand the breadth and the extent of the damage that one person could do," she said. uncertain
she → look → that
"And in that effort, they'll be looking at what we call practice murders. asserted
we → look → what
These are the murders that a serial killer will engage in as they're becoming a lot better at their trade. asserted
they → engage → trade
And those practice murders could have occurred in Michigan or in another state," she added. uncertain
she → occur → state
💬Give feedback
🕘History 🎫Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 1 Nov 2026