logo
Bowling coach sent disturbing texts to teen before shooting her and himself dead

Bowling coach sent disturbing texts to teen before shooting her and himself dead

Metro4 days ago
A 33-year-old bowling coach sent disturbing text messages to a teenage girl he groomed before shooting her dead and turning the gun on himself.
Ryne Leist had been sending inappropriate texts to Gwendolyn Smith, 17, before killing her in her stepfather's home in a small Michigan town, claimed her father, Levi Smith.
'I've seen enough of the emails he sent my daughter before he killed her to know it's not speculation,' Levi wrote in a Facebook discussion group for Bedford Township.
'He deserves to rot in a special hell.'
The grieving dad did not elaborate on the texts.
Leist, who was a volunteer coach for the Bedford High School bowling club that Gwendolyn was a member of, is believed to have shot her several times.
Gwendolyn's stepdad got home around 6pm on June 14 to find her and Leist wounded and dead.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office found that Gwendolyn died by and that Leist died by suicide.
Beside the Leist's cryptic texts that Levi mentioned on Facebook, others have come forward with stories of alleged red flags they saw from him.
Kara Thornton, who said she knew Leist when he was 20 years old and she was 15, said they never dated because she didn't want to, but that he still got her name tattooed on his arm. She claimed that he tried to sleep with her and her friends and would take them to remote places and bring alcohol.
'A few years back he was trying to be a 'photographer' to take nudes of women,' said Thornton.
'It's hard looking back and realizing how f***ed it all was; haven't thought about him in years.'
Meanwhile, tributes have poured out for Gwendolyn.
A GoFundMe page to remember Gwendolyn and support her family stated that she was a 'standout athlete' on the bowling team, a 'gifted student' academically and a passionate artist studying music.
'Gwen was an extraordinary young woman whose presence left an indelible mark on our school community,' states the fundraiser.
'Most of all, Gwen will be remembered for her kindness, her bright spirit, and the joy she brought to those around her.'
The GoFundMe page had raised more than $21,000 as of Monday. More Trending
'This tragic and unnecessary loss cannot be explained,' the page states.
'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.'
Bedford Township is about 55 miles southwest of Detroit.
The murder-suicide happened more than four years after 2012 Olympics team USA coach John Geddert fatally shot himself in Lansing, Michigan, after being charged with child sex assault and human trafficking
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Gang lures celebrity barber to London with honey trap to steal £500,000 in crypto
MORE: Man guilty of murdering couple before dumping remains near Clifton Suspension Bridge
MORE: Passenger plane forced to swerve in mid-air to avoid crashing into B-52 bomber
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Woman ‘raped' in busy town centre as cops release CCTV in hunt for man
Woman ‘raped' in busy town centre as cops release CCTV in hunt for man

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Woman ‘raped' in busy town centre as cops release CCTV in hunt for man

The attack was reported shortly after 1am on Thursday RAPE PROBE Woman 'raped' in busy town centre as cops release CCTV in hunt for man POLICE are urgently hunting a man after a woman was raped in a town centre late at night. Officers say the attack took place at around 1am yesterday in the heart of Bolton, Greater Manchester. Advertisement 2 Police wish to speak to this man as part of their investigation into the rape Now, cops have released two images of a man they wish to speak to as part of their investigation. A spokesman for GMP Bolton said: "We're working to identify this man after the rape of a woman was reported in town at 1am on Thursday. "We're working to provide the victim with all the support possible and we'd encourage anyone with information to call 0161 856 5757 quoting 176 of 24/07." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Advertisement is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

Mum whose baby boy was thrown from car window after she drank rosé on beach & didn't strap him in properly avoids jail
Mum whose baby boy was thrown from car window after she drank rosé on beach & didn't strap him in properly avoids jail

Scottish Sun

time3 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Mum whose baby boy was thrown from car window after she drank rosé on beach & didn't strap him in properly avoids jail

The female driver of the car previously admitted causing death by careless driving while over the drink drive limit TOT TRAGEDY Mum whose baby boy was thrown from car window after she drank rosé on beach & didn't strap him in properly avoids jail Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM has avoided jail after her baby boy was thrown from a car window and killed as he had not been properly strapped into his seat. Morgan Kiely, then 19, had been drinking rosé wine with her friend Stevie Steel at Clacton Beach when she got into her pal's Ford Focus with her six-month-old son Harry on July 13, 2022. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Six-month-old Harry died after being thrown through a car window after the vehicle he was travelling in rolled over Credit: Facebook 3 Morgan Kiely, 22, received a two-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence Credit: Facebook 3 Harry suffered a devastating skull fracture in the crash and died later the same evening Credit: SWNS However, as they drove away, the car rolled over and ended up on its roof. In the process of flipping, Harry was thrown from his seat, leaving the vehicle through an open window. He later died that night from "unsurvivable" injuries, including a skull fracture. Today, Kiely - now aged 22 - was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. Steel also previously admitted causing death by careless driving while over the drink drive limit. While Kiely chose not to give evidence at her trial, a key witness said it was "highly likely" that the straps of Harry's seat had not been secured. The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard how the mum had been a passenger in the front seat of Steel's motor, with Harry in the rear seat directly behind. The pair of adults had met up at about 3pm and bought three bottles of rosé wine on their way to the beach. While on the beach for several hours, they were briefly joined by Mitchell Basssett, Steel's former partner. He offered them a lift from the beach after hearing their plans to continue drinking that evening. However, they refused. Judge Robert Jay said: "Alarm bells should have been ringing in your head at that point. "You knew how much Stevie had drunk. You could and should have taken up Mitchell's offer. "A mother should not agree to travel with a drunk driver." The court heard that a distracted Steel hit a parked car while driving on Cherry Tree Avenue in the coastal town. Steel's Ford Focus had been travelling within the 30mph speed limit but rolled after hitting the static motor, eventually ending up on its roof. Both women were left hanging upside down by their seatbelts while Harry was thrown from the vehicle through an open window. Judge Jay said: "This was not an accident that was likely to happen. "Maybe 99 times out of 100 the car would not have rolled over at this sort of speed and Harry would have survived." Harry suffered a devastating skull fracture and was treated at the scene for more than an hour before he was rushed to hospital. Members of the public had come to assist at the scene, including a paediatric nurse. Despite the best efforts of medical crew to save his life at the hospital, he tragically died at about 9pm that evening. 'THIS WAS A SINGLETON FAILURE' In the trial, the jury reviewed a 999 call from the scene, an officer's bodycam footage, an expert witness who explained how the child car seat worked, and evidence from Mr Bassett. Judge Jay told Kiely: "Harry's safety was your responsibility. It should have been your primary concern that day." He said her negligent conduct that day was a lapse in her otherwise good care of Harry. "I think that it is obvious to everyone in this courtroom that you were a very good mother to Harry in all respects, and that this was a singleton failure," the judge said. The court heard Kiely had given up her job as a carer and now has a four-month-old baby. Benjamin Summers, defending, had read out statements to the court describing Kiely as a "devoted and loving mother" to Harry, and who was "deeply caring". The court heard she had taken Harry on trips to Liverpool and Scotland in his short life to visit relatives, and had recently returned to work as a carer. The jury heard from an expert witness earlier in the trial about the child car seat and how it is designed to work. The witness said it was highly unlikely but not impossible the straps of the seat had been secured in the car. Mr Summers said: "Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful error, it was, but, we say, not making her grossly negligent at the time. "We say it is not as simple as saying the failure to secure a child in a car seat, full stop, is enough."

Male train staff member ‘sexually assaulted' by woman as he walked along carriage – as cops release CCTV
Male train staff member ‘sexually assaulted' by woman as he walked along carriage – as cops release CCTV

Scottish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Male train staff member ‘sexually assaulted' by woman as he walked along carriage – as cops release CCTV

If you recognise the woman, contact police immediately ATTACK PROBE Male train staff member 'sexually assaulted' by woman as he walked along carriage – as cops release CCTV Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) POLICE are searching for a woman after a man was sexually assaulted on a train late at night. The member of staff had been walking down a carriage of the train as it travelled through northern Nottinghamshire at around 9pm on May 31 when he was sexually assaulted by a woman. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The train was between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook at the time of the assault, British Transport Police said. Now, cops wish to speak with the woman pictured as they believe she may have information that could assist the investigation. If you recognise her, contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 682 of 31 May. You can also report information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store