Michigan high school coach kills student inside her home before turning gun on himself
Bedford High School graduate Gwendolyn Smith, 17, was allegedly shot multiple times by Ryne Leist, 38, a former volunteer coach with the school's bowling club.
The horror unfolded inside her stepfather's home in Bedford Township on June 14, Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.
Smith's stepfather Matthew Kennerson discovered the unimaginable scene after he returned home around 6 p.m.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough confirmed Leist died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Smith's death was ruled a homicide.
Authorities have not said how married father-of-one Leist entered the home, nor have they detailed any possible motive.
'At this time, the point of entry and access remains under investigation,' Goodnough said during a press conference.
The sheriff also declined to elaborate on the nature of the relationship between the teen and her former coach but emphasized, 'Gwendolyn did not consider the relation between the two of them to be romantic'.
Leist, who had recently resigned from his job at a local bowling alley, had previously worked with the school's bowling club, but was not an official employee of Bedford Public Schools.
He had passed all required background checks to volunteer with youth sports in Michigan, Superintendent Carl Shultz told WTOL.
In a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook, Shultz remembered Smith as, 'an extraordinary young woman whose presence left an indelible mark on our school community.'
'It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic and heartbreaking news of the loss of one of our own - Gwendolyn Smith, a 2025 graduate of Bedford School,' he wrote.
'Gwen will be remembered for her kindness, her bright spirit, and the joy she brought to those around her.'
The slain teen's stepmother, Heather Smith, expressed the family's devastation in an emotional Facebook post.
'We aren't supposed to outlive our children. Everyone loved Gwen. She was kind, talented and the best kid an evil stepmother could ask for. My middle daughter, my baby, was murdered,' she said.
Kennerson had proudly celebrated his stepdaughter's graduation just two weeks earlier, sharing a smiling photo of her in cap and gown.
'Really proud stepdad!' he wrote at the time. Two weeks later, he added a heartbreaking update: 'Love you forever… I'm so sorry I couldn't save you…'
Shultz has since launched a GoFundMe to help the family, which has raised over $18,000.
'I was compelled to really help them out and make sure they had the resources necessary to be able to take care of what they needed to due to this horrible tragedy,' he told reporters.
'I'm always a parent first, I'm an educator second. But as a parent, I don't know how you get up the next day,' Shultz added.
'They're extremely strong and they're doing everything they can to hold everything together, but I was just trying to help out as much as I could.'
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Bedford community, with many struggling to comprehend how such a horrific act could have happened to such a promising and beloved young woman.
'This tragic and unnecessary loss cannot be explained,' Shultz said. 'It has shaken our entire Bedford community, and our hearts and prayers go out to Gwen's family and the many friends whose lives she touched so deeply.'
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