A Michigan highschool bowling coach fatally murdered considered one of his former bowlers, who had just lately graduated, inside her residence earlier than turning the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide final week.
Former Bedford Excessive College’s bowling membership coach Ryne Leist fatally shot 17-year-old Gwendolyn Smith a number of instances at her stepfather’s Bedford Township residence on June 14, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace introduced.
Smith’s stepfather returned residence at round 6 p.m. to find the mortally wounded teen and her alleged killer, Sheriff Troy Goodnough mentioned throughout a press convention Wednesday.
Bedford Public College Superintendent Carl Shultz mourned Smith as an “extraordinary younger girl” as he shared the devastating information with the varsity district.
“It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I share the tragic and heartbreaking information of the lack of considered one of our personal—Gwendolyn Smith, a 2025 graduate of Bedford College,” Shultz wrote in a Fb publish. “Gwen was a rare younger girl whose presence left an indelible mark on our college neighborhood.”
Smith’s stepparents paid tribute to the teenager.
“We aren’t presupposed to outlive our kids. Everybody liked Gwen. She was variety, proficient and one of the best child an evil stepmother may ask for. My center daughter my child was murdered,” Smith’s stepmother, Heather Smith wrote.
Leist had gained entry into the house, however officers didn’t reveal if he had damaged into the home or if he was let in.
“Presently, the purpose of entry and entry stays beneath investigation,” Goodnough mentioned
Smith’s loss of life was dominated a murder by the health worker’s workplace, and Leist died of suicide.
Goodnough didn’t specify the connection between Smith and her former coach.
“Gwendolyn didn’t take into account the relation between the 2 of them to be romantic,” Goodnough informed reporters.
Leist labored alongside the general public college’s bowling membership, gaining the gig by way of the native bowling alley and was not an worker of the varsity district, officers mentioned.
He had just lately resigned from his place on the bowling alley.
Leist had handed the required background checks for youth coaches in Michigan, Shultz informed WTOL.
The teenager’s stepfather, Matthew Kennerson, had celebrated her highschool commencement two weeks earlier than her loss of life with a heartwarming social media publish.
“Actually proud stepdad!” Kennerson captioned the publish, alongside a photograph of himself with Smith sporting her commencement cap and robe, holding her diploma.
“Love you perpetually… I’m so sorry I couldn’t prevent…” he wrote two weeks later.
Shultz described Smith as a gifted pupil, a passionate artist and a standout athlete.
“Gwen shall be remembered for her kindness, her vibrant spirit, and the enjoyment she delivered to these round her,” he mentioned.
“This tragic and pointless loss can’t be defined. It has shaken our complete Bedford neighborhood, and our hearts and prayers exit to Gwen’s household and the various associates whose lives she touched so deeply,” he added.
Shultz created a GoFundMe — which has generated over $18,000 — to learn Smith’s mother.
“I used to be compelled to actually assist them out and ensure they’d the assets essential to have the ability to deal with what they wanted to because of this horrible tragedy,” Shultz informed the outlet.
“I’m all the time a mother or father first, I’m an educator second, however as a mother or father, I don’t know the way you stand up the subsequent day. And so they’re extraordinarily sturdy they usually’re doing the whole lot they will to carry the whole lot collectively, however I used to be simply making an attempt to assist out as a lot as I may.”
