A Michigan high school bowling coach fatally murdered one of his former bowlers, who had recently graduated, inside her home before turning the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide last week.
Former Bedford High School’s bowling club coach Ryne Leist fatally shot 17-year-old Gwendolyn Smith multiple times at her stepfather’s Bedford Township home on June 14, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Smith’s stepfather returned home at around 6 p.m. to discover the mortally wounded teen and her alleged killer, Sheriff Troy Goodnough said during a press conference Wednesday.
Bedford Public School Superintendent Carl Shultz mourned Smith as an “extraordinary young woman” as he shared the devastating news with the school district.
“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,” Shultz wrote in a Facebook post. “Gwen was an extraordinary young woman whose presence left an indelible mark on our school community.”
Smith’s stepparents paid tribute to the teen.
“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,” Smith’s stepmother, Heather Smith wrote.
Leist had gained entry into the home, but officials did not reveal if he had broken into the house or if he was let in.
“At this time, the point of entry and access remains under investigation,” Goodnough said
Smith’s death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office, and Leist died of suicide.
Goodnough didn’t specify the relationship between Smith and her former coach.
“Gwendolyn did not consider the relation between the two of them to be romantic,” Goodnough told reporters.
Leist worked alongside the public school’s bowling club, gaining the gig through the local bowling alley and was not an employee of the school district, officials said.
He had recently resigned from his position at the bowling alley.
Leist had passed the required background checks for youth coaches in Michigan, Shultz told WTOL.
The teen’s stepfather, Matthew Kennerson, had celebrated her high school graduation two weeks before her death with a heartwarming social media post.
“Really proud stepdad!” Kennerson captioned the post, alongside a photo of himself with Smith wearing her graduation cap and gown, holding her diploma.
“Love you forever… I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you…” he wrote two weeks later.
Shultz described Smith as a gifted student, a passionate artist and a standout athlete.
“Gwen will be remembered for her kindness, her bright spirit, and the joy she brought to those around her,” he said.
“This tragic and unnecessary loss cannot be explained. 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,” he added.
Shultz created a GoFundMe — which has generated over $18,000 — to benefit Smith’s mom.
“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,” Shultz told the outlet.
“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. And 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.”
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