The Aporia · Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University

Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University

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Fox News. (2026, October 14). Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/14/us-news/criminologist-professor-at-big-ten-college-offers-warning-to-students-as-police-probe-possible-serial-killer/

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Quick Summary

Karen Holt, a criminology professor at Michigan State University, warns students about potential dangers near campus trails where five men have been attacked over the past year, including one who was fatally stabbed. The attacks occurred between October 2025 and August 2026, with the latest victim being Daniel Lusk, whose murder remains under investigation without a confirmed motive or arrest of a suspect linked to all incidents. Holt advises caution, especially for vulnerable individuals, suggesting they avoid walking on these trails due to safety concerns.

Written by AI on 2026-10-14, 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 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 4% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Criminologist professor at Big Ten college offers warning to students as police probe possible serial killer Same event

Fox News

Hedges 2 of 25 claims Outlet record 69/100

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

Fox News

Hedges 3 of 14 claims Outlet record 69/100

“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).”

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

“Article A reports on security concerns and difficulties in investigating potential serial killings near Michigan State University, while Article B focuses on a criminology professor's perspective on the incidents after more information has emerged, including specifics about five victims attacked over a year.”

Midwest police chief fears serial killer may be to blame after five bodies were found along river Different event

Daily Mail

Hedges 7 of 33 claims Outlet record 68/100

“While both articles discuss the possibility of a serial killer near Lansing River Trail based on similar findings, Article A is from October 9th and focuses on the police chief's statement, while Article B is from October 14th and highlights a criminology professor’s warning to students.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

1 of 24 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Crime & Law

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-10-14 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

New York Post · 15592 article(s) · 35 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 35 correction(s)

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Topics

Fox News Digital Lansing Michigan State University

Subjects

Holt GPE · 4× Daniel Lusk PERSON · 2× Edward Joseph Smith PERSON · 2× Lusk PERSON · 2× Denis Dunnebacke PERSON · 1× Fox News Digital ORG · 1× Gino Chouinard PERSON · 1× Karen Holt PERSON · 1× Michigan State University ORG · 1× Robert Smith PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Holt says Lusk’s murder “stands out” in comparison to the other alleged killings in that the victim was stabbed – whereas the other four victims suffered some sort of head injury or possible blunt force trauma.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-14

🔮 She says homicide offenders often see these victims as individuals “who lack credibility” and may assume that going after homeless victims “decreases the likelihood that they’re going to be caught.”

2026-10-14 · New York Post

Criminology professor shares warning to students amid possible serial killer near Michigan State University · assertive framing

Claims (24 extracted, 1 hedged)

“I definitely think we need to be cautious, but we also need to be rational,” Karen Holt, a criminology professor at Michigan State University, told Fox News Digital. asserted

Holt → think → Digital

Police said over the last year five men were attacked along the popular trail; one of the victims was found stabbed to death under a bridge. asserted

one → say → bridge

“As someone who studies violence, the first thing that came to mind was the victims and the vulnerability of these victims and the method of the violence,” Holt said. asserted

Holt → study → violence

“If we have a community where people can be attacked in this way, then I don’t necessarily know that we can call it a safe community,” Holt said. asserted

Holt → have → it

She continued, saying, “One of the patterns with either single or serial homicide offenders or just violent offenders is that they tend to go after individuals who are particularly vulnerable.” asserted

who → continue → individuals

She says homicide offenders often see these victims as individuals “who lack credibility” and may assume that going after homeless victims “decreases the likelihood that they’re going to be caught.” uncertain

they → say → likelihood

Timeline of killings Oct. 14, 2025 – Gino Chouinard, 54, was found unconscious along the trail. asserted

Chouinard → find → trail

He died Oct. 27, 2025 and police said his cause of death remains undetermined. asserted

cause → die → death

July 9, 2026 – Denis Dunnebacke, 70, was found unresponsive under the Kalamazoo Street bridge. asserted

Dunnebacke → find → bridge

He died July 16, 2026, with his cause of death undetermined. asserted

cause → die → death

July 13, 2026 – Robert Smith, 57, was found suffering from severe head trauma. asserted

Smith → find → trauma

He died July 17, 2026, and the medical examiner ruled it a blunt force homicide. asserted

it → die → ?

Aug. 20, 2026 – Daniel Lusk, 22, was found fatally stabbed under the East Michigan Avenue bridge. asserted

Lusk → find → bridge

Police said they arrested suspect Edward Joseph Smith, 23, on Sept. 3, in connection to the stabbing. asserted

they → say → stabbing

Aug. 30, 2026 – Louis Woodruff, 57, was found under the East Cesar Chavez Avenue bridge with severe facial trauma. asserted

Woodruff → find → trauma

He died Sept. 1, 2026, with police saying his death was ruled a blunt force homicide. asserted

death → die → ?

On September 3, Edward Joseph Smith, 23, was arrested in connection to the deadly stabbing of Daniel Lusk, 22. asserted

Smith → arrest → Lusk

“I would love to learn more about the relationship between that victim and perpetrator,” she said. asserted

she → love → victim

Police have not announced any motive in Lusk’s murder. asserted

Police → announce → murder

Smith has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing in the four other deaths. asserted

Smith → accuse → deaths

victims → say → injury

Police have yet to confirm any arrest of this possible serial killer. asserted

Police → have → killer

Holt maintains Lansing needs to remain vigilant. asserted

Lansing → maintain → ?

“Don’t walk the trail would be my advice. asserted

walk → walk → trail