Gwendolyn Fay Smith, Ryne Jacob Leist Obituary, Death – Four individuals have died in two separate, tragic incidents being investigated as possible murder-suicides in Monroe County, Michigan. Though unrelated, both cases have shocked the community and raised concerns over youth safety and mental health.
The first incident occurred on Saturday, June 14, in Bedford Township, where 33-year-old Ryne Jacob Leist and 17-year-old Gwendolyn Fay Smith were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a home on West Sterns Road. Authorities believe Leist, a former bowling coach, shot Gwendolyn multiple times before turning the gun on himself. The teen’s stepfather discovered the bodies upon returning home.
Leist had recently resigned from his position at Forest View Lanes, where he coached the high school’s bowling team. Although early police reports mistakenly said he wasn’t a coach, officials later clarified he had worked in that role but was not directly employed by the school district.
The nature of Leist’s relationship with Gwendolyn remains unclear. Investigators stated that Gwendolyn likely did not view the relationship as romantic. Authorities are reviewing prior communications between the two, including one exchange that occurred five days before the shooting. As of now, no prior complaints have been made against Leist involving any other students.
In the second case, just days later, deputies responded to another call in Raisinville Township on Tuesday, June 17. Around 10 a.m., officers arrived on Heiss Road, where two 16-year-olds, Faith Renee Hamilton and Landon Bryan Lafond, were found shot to death outside a vehicle on the roadway.
According to Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough, Faith’s uncle had tracked her location using a phone app and found the scene before contacting authorities. While the case is not officially classified as a murder-suicide yet, investigators believe Faith was the victim and Landon the suspected shooter. Writings discovered inside the vehicle suggest Landon had planned to kill both himself and Faith.
The two teens were reportedly dating, and authorities are still working to determine how they arrived at the location. It is not yet confirmed whether Landon drove Faith there or if she came by another means. The official cause and manner of death are pending the coroner’s report.
The tragic losses have left the community devastated. Crisis response teams from Bedford Township Schools and Airport Community Schools have been activated to offer counseling and support. Airport Community Schools Superintendent Ryan Duvall issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of two students and urged the community to come together in this time of grief.
Counseling services have been made available to students, staff, and families to help them cope. Duvall emphasized compassion, support, and respect for the grieving families as key priorities.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate both incidents and will release further updates as more information becomes available. The two tragedies, while separate, highlight ongoing concerns around teen relationships, mental health, and access to firearms.