A small Michigan town is reeling after a tragedy. Authorities say Ryne Leist, a 33-year-old volunteer bowling coach, shot and killed 17-year-old Gwen Smith on June 14, 2025, before turning the gun on himself inside the girl’s home in Bedford Township. The murder-suicide has since unleashed a storm of disturbing revelations about Leist’s past, and questions about how someone with such a troubling history ended up in close contact with minors. Shocking allegations from the past The deaths of Gwendolyn Smith, 17, and Ryne Leist, 33, have one Bedford parent saying the school district’s handling of club sports needs to be reevaluated. https://t.co/uKJvBGX93e— WTOL 11 (@WTOL11Toledo) June 20, 2025 In the wake of the murder-suicide, several former acquaintances of Leist have come forward with deeply troubling stories. One of the most chilling accounts comes from Kara Thornton, who says she met Leist when she was just 15 and he was 20. Speaking to the New York Post, Thornton recalled how Leist had her name tattooed on his arm, although she says they never dated and she had no romantic interest in him. She said he would meet her and other underage girls at parks, give them alcohol, and drive them out to isolated locations. Thornton characterized him as someone who routinely pursued much younger girls and described his behavior at the time as predatory. She added that he tried to present himself as a photographer in an apparent effort to take explicit photos of women. Reflecting on everything that has come out since the murder, she admitted, “It’s hard looking back and realizing how f—d it all was. Haven’t thought about him in years.” Her claims have added a disturbing layer to the investigation and forced many in the Bedford community to question whether earlier warnings were missed or ignored. Some locals have described Leist as a quiet loner, someone who seemed to slip through the cracks. Smith and Leist email evidence JUST IN: 17-year-old was k*lled at home by her former high school coach in a m*rder-suicide, police sayGwendolyn Smith, 17, a Bedford High School graduate, was sh*t multiple times by 38-year-old Ryne LeistLeist was a former volunteer bowling coach at the schoolThe sh**ting… pic.twitter.com/ESr83pjXPc— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) June 21, 2025 Multiple reports state that emails between Leist and Smith were discovered after the murder-suicide, which suggested that Smith and Leist were acquainted, but she did not consider their relationship romantic. Details of the emails have not been reported, but many speculate they might indicate a motive, or that Leist was grooming, harassing, or abusing Smith before he took her life and killed himself. Referring to that speculation, Smith’s father said online, “I’ve seen enough of the emails he sent my daughter before he killed her to know it’s not speculation. He deserves to rot in a special hell.” What investigators have revealed Authorities say that although Leist passed the background checks necessary to volunteer, he was never employed by Bedford Public Schools and had no formal role in the district. Investigators are still trying to determine how Leist gained access to the house and are analyzing the emails he sent in the days leading up to the murder. The Bedford community is devastated. Smith was widely loved, and her loss has been felt far beyond the bowling team. For school officials and parents, this tragedy is also a wake-up call about the importance of vetting adult volunteers and staying vigilant even when people appear trustworthy on the surface. While the investigation continues, residents are demanding answers—and accountability. The pain of Gwen Smith’s death has been deepened by the unsettling picture now emerging of the man who took her life. Her family hopes that in seeking justice and answers, no other child falls victim to someone like Leist. Remembering Gwen Smith had only recently graduated from Bedford High School, where she was celebrated as both an exceptional student and a talented athlete. Superintendent Carl Shultz described her as a “kind, passionate artist in our music programs and a standout athlete on our bowling team.” Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief across the community, with a GoFundMe campaign for her family raising thousands in just days. In the midst of the heartbreak, Gwen is being remembered as a bright and kind-hearted young woman who touched many lives. The growing support for her family—financial and emotional—shows just how much she meant to those around her. Her death may have left a scar on Bedford Township, but her memory continues to inspire love, compassion, and a renewed demand for vigilance.