Bowling coach messaged girl before murder-suicide, dad says
Share this @internewscast.com

A Michigan bowling coach, who tragically shot a 17-year-old girl in her home, had been sending her inappropriate messages, according to the girl’s father. This revelation has added to the shock in the small community.

In Bedford Township, Michigan, a community about an hour from Detroit, residents have been grappling with the heartbreaking news that Ryne Leist killed 17-year-old Gwendolyn Smith, whom he coached, before reportedly taking his own life.

As community members discussed the events of June 14 on Facebook, allegations about Leist’s unsettling behavior surfaced, although one local urged caution against making hasty judgments.

That’s when Smith’s father Levi jumped in.

“I’ve seen enough of the emails he sent my daughter before he killed her to know it’s not speculation,” Levi Smith cryptically posted in a Facebook discussion group for Bedford Township.

“He deserves to rot in a special hell,” Smith said of Leist, 33.

Leist volunteered as the coach of the bowling club at Bedford High School, where Gwendolyn Smith was on the team. He is believed to have shot the girl multiple times in her stepfather’s home, authorities said.

Smith’s stepfather returned home at around 6 p.m. to discover the mortally wounded teen and her alleged killer.

Gwendolyn Smith, described as a “kind,” “talented” and “extraordinary young woman,” had just graduated high school two weeks before.

Former friends and classmates of the Leist meanwhile, told a different tale about the coach.

“I do remember him being a loner,” said Monica Mckenzie. “Somehow he slipped through the cracks.”

Kara Thornton said she knew Leist when she was 15 and he was 20.

“He got my name tattooed on his arm. We never dated, I never wanted to,” said Thornton, who now lives in Hawaii.

“He would try sleeping with me and my friends, he’d meet us at parks and then drive us to the middle of nowhere, giving us alcohol…he was always so gross, always trying to date underage girls,” she claimed.

“A few years back he was trying to be a ‘photographer’ to take nudes of women,” she added.

“It’s hard looking back and realizing how f—d it all was, haven’t thought about him in years.”

It’s unclear if Leist broke into the victim’s stepfather’s home or was let in, said authorities, who didn’t specify the nature of the relationship between the two.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office did clarify that “Gwendolyn did not consider the relation between the two of them to be romantic.”

Smith’s death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office, and Leist died of suicide.

Leist volunteered as a coach with the school’s bowling club, a gig he’d obtained through his employment at the local bowling alley.

He had recently resigned from that position.

Levi Smith could not be reached for comment.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
FBI: Suspect at large after 'acid attack' in Savannah's Forsyth Park area

FBI Seeks Suspect Following Acid Attack Incident in Savannah’s Forsyth Park Area

In the wake of a disturbing incident in Savannah, Mayor Van Johnson…
US Coast Guard pursues third 'dark fleet' oil tanker as Trump targets Venezuelan sanctions evasion network

US Coast Guard Chases Another Hidden Oil Tanker Amid Trump’s Crackdown on Venezuelan Sanctions Evasion

The U.S. Coast Guard is actively chasing a sanctioned oil tanker near…
Betty Reid Soskin, the nation's oldest park ranger, dies at 104

Betty Reid Soskin, America’s Oldest Park Ranger, Passes Away at 104

Betty Reid Soskin, a trailblazer and a remarkable woman who became the…
FTA calls for more aggressive CTA safety plan or risk losing funding as Chicago police begin added patrols

Breaking: Jesus Martinez Arrested for Allegedly Sparking CTA Blue Line Blaze at Wicker Park Station

A man is facing charges after allegedly starting a fire on a…
NYPD cop loses month pay for kneeling on back of Manhattan suspect who yelled ‘I can’t breathe’

NYPD Officer Penalized for Excessive Force: Loses Month’s Pay After ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Incident in Manhattan

An NYPD officer has been docked 30 days’ pay after being found…
Why falling asleep on the couch could be ruining your holiday sleep

Discover How Napping on the Couch Might Be Disrupting Your Holiday Rest

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — As the holiday season ramps up, many find…
Members of international organized residential burglary ring arrested after posing as Amazon drivers, Irvine, CA break-in | Video

Shocking Incident: ICE Agent Opens Fire on Cuban Man Following SUV Collision in St. Paul

In a dramatic encounter in St. Paul, Minnesota, an Immigration and Customs…
Fisherman survives near-fatal shark attack with own lifesaving care, instincts that kept him alive

Heroic Fisherman Defies Odds: Survives Near-Fatal Shark Attack Using Remarkable Self-Rescue Techniques

A fisherman from Hawaii is recounting his harrowing ordeal after a life-threatening…
Jacksonville domestic violence incidents highlight uptick often seen during holiday season

Holiday Surge: Unveiling the Alarming Rise in Jacksonville Domestic Violence Cases

This week in Jacksonville, Florida, the community was rocked by two separate…
Former classmate says suspect in Brown, MIT killings was ‘socially awkward’ and ‘angry’ during college years

Ex-Classmate Reveals College Years of MIT and Brown Murder Suspect: ‘Socially Awkward and Angry

Reflecting on the tragic events at Brown University and MIT, a former…
Joan and Chock talk 'Golden' engagement hitting 1-year, plus their thoughts on Taylor Frankie Paul as 'The Bachelorette'

Joan and Chock Celebrate 1-Year ‘Golden’ Engagement and Weigh In on Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘Bachelorette’ Prospect

NEW YORK — This week’s episode of “Playing the Field” offers viewers…
WATCH: Steelers’ DK Metcalf Punches Lions Fan During Wild Altercation

WATCH: Steelers’ DK Metcalf Engages in Heated Exchange with Lions Fan

In a surprising turn of events, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf…