Temperance, Michigan – A tragic incident over the weekend left a community in mourning after a suspected murder-suicide involving a high school bowling coach and a recent graduate from Bedford High School. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Wednesday that Ryne Jacob Leist, 33, took the life of 17-year-old Gwendolyn Fay Smith before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities report that Leist shot Smith multiple times on June 14 inside her home. She was discovered by her stepfather. Following an investigation, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled Smith’s death a homicide and Leist’s a suicide. Sheriff Troy Goodnough revealed that preliminary details about the relationship between the two indicate it may not have been romantic, though further insights remain unclear.
Goodnough also clarified that despite rumors, Leist was not employed directly by the Bedford school district. Instead, he was affiliated with Forest Few Lanes, the bowling alley from which he was reportedly paid. The sheriff indicated that Leist had resigned from his position prior to the shooting.
As the investigation continues, Goodnough emphasized the ongoing efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Meanwhile, he confirmed that this incident is unrelated to another shooting that occurred on Tuesday in Raisinville Township, where two 16-year-old boys were found dead outside a vehicle. The cause of death in that case is pending further coroner examination.
Community members are now reflecting on both incidents, mourning the loss of young lives cut tragically short. The Bedford school community, in particular, is grappling with the impact of this devastating event as they seek to support one another through this trying time.
Local authorities encourage anyone with information related to the incidents to come forward as they work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the events that have shaken these communities. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on understanding the factors that led to such tragic outcomes in hopes of preventing future occurrences.