Big Ten criminologist warns students of trail danger as Lansing probes five deaths

Clear Facts

• Lansing police are investigating five deaths along the Lansing River Trail, with all victims identified as homeless men.
• Criminology professor Karen Holt at Michigan State University advises students to avoid the trail and stay cautious.
• One suspect, Edward Joseph Smith, has been arrested for the stabbing of Daniel Lusk, though authorities have not linked him to the other deaths.

College students in Lansing, Michigan are receiving direct warnings about safety along the popular Lansing River Trail.

A criminology professor at Michigan State University is urging caution after police announced they are investigating whether five recent deaths may be connected.

Karen Holt says the pattern of vulnerable victims and the nature of the attacks point to serious concerns for the community.

“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.

All five victims were homeless men attacked along the trail over the past year.

One man was found stabbed under a bridge, while the other four suffered head injuries or possible blunt force trauma.

“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.

Holt noted that violent offenders often target individuals who lack credibility and may be less likely to prompt aggressive investigations.

“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.”

She added that attackers may believe targeting the homeless “decreases the likelihood that they’re going to be caught.”

“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.

Edward Joseph Smith, 23, was arrested in September in connection with the stabbing death of Daniel Lusk, 22.

Police have not announced any motive in that case, and Smith has not been charged in the other four deaths.

Holt said the Lusk stabbing stands out from the other incidents, which involved head injuries or blunt force trauma.

“Don’t walk the trail would be my advice. Maybe walk a different trail.”

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