Found Deceased MI - Brendan Santo 18, visitor, Michigan State University campus, East Lansing, 29 Oct 2021

[Kittybunny]

I still think he’s in the river. Presumably the areas of ‘particular interest’ include the places Brendan may have fallen in. Would they be speaking to specialists who would know where bodies are likely to have been carried along the river? Or because they mention debris in the river, do they think his body would be caught in something?

Good question. I am from Pittsburgh, where we have three rivers where people frequently self harm or fall into, usually it takes several weeks for them to be found from near the downtown area where they were last seen to near the dams where the rivers converge and become the Ohio. It's anywhere from 5-10 miles. They usually are found because these are fairly well populated areas with lots of barge traffic. I'm not sure about whether they are only looking near where he went missing, or if they are looking down stream, and how far, or if those areas are populated enough that if he was in the river somebody would spot him.

It's so sad to talk about this this way, I can't imagine how his family feels.

 

[Richard]

The Red Cedar River, which runs through the MSU campus is only about waist deep at most times and places, and it is not a fast moving river.

 

[I wonder]

Has anything been stated regarding what he was doing at that particular dorm? Was he there to see a friend but couldn’t get in? A party?
What had he been doing previously to going there? Was he in a good mood? Tired?
Had he been drinking?
Having a good time but suddenly decided to leave?

None of the detail regarding his actions and movements in a recreational sense are on MSN.

 

[Mom24]

Good question. I am from Pittsburgh, where we have three rivers where people frequently self harm or fall into, usually it takes several weeks for them to be found from near the downtown area where they were last seen to near the dams where the rivers converge and become the Ohio. It's anywhere from 5-10 miles. They usually are found because these are fairly well populated areas with lots of barge traffic. I'm not sure about whether they are only looking near where he went missing, or if they are looking down stream, and how far, or if those areas are populated enough that if he was in the river somebody would spot him.

It's so sad to talk about this this way, I can't imagine how his family feels.

There was one case where it was months later before they found the body, and someone had seen the person fall in. There's a lot of debris and trees where someone can become snagged. The issue here is, there's no clear indication where he went after he started out on Beal St. toward Mich Ave. I'm assuming since the cameras were down they have that area due to an eye witness sighting. But he could have gotten lost or decided to go somewhere other than the Brody complex.
They say his phone power went down to zero, and wasn't shut off. I wonder if a phone is submerged in water if it goes down to zero or it immediately shuts down.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Yes! And always males. Do they all go there to relieve themselves and fall in? Ive never understood how so many are found in bodies of water.

The water thing is mystifying.
If you fell forward, you’d be right at the edge where it’s not deep? You wouldn’t be knee deep in the water trying to relieve yourself?
Stand far enough away to not get your shoes wet?

 

[hey-Debbie]

So do we know exactly where he was headed back to. Was he going back to his friend's dorm to go to sleep or was he going else where. So we know his battery died on his phone and that he was lost. He's smart enough to ask people around him for directions back to the dorm of that's where he was headed. That would make the most sense. Especially since it was so busy that weekend. Did he had a key to get into the dorm or place he was staying with, with his friends. We know he had his friends car keys so I'd imagine the dorm room key was on it. It could also be the case that maybe the person he was staying with didn't lock the room. We also know lots of cameras were not working that night. I am hoping that people are keeping an open mind to everything.

 

[I wonder]

I remember reading something once that suggested the reason men keep falling into rivers, ponds etc is that they are trying to urinate into the water and when their bladder is empty it causes them to relax and that often can lead them to unbalance and fall in.

What I don’t understand (I’m female) is why in the middle of the night, when it’s dark, men would think it necessary to walk to the water’s edge and then pee in the water? There’s no-one around. Why not pee in a bush, or against a wall or in the middle of a field?

I’ve never seen any CCTV of men falling into rivers etc in the middle of the night, so I don’t understand why they are too worried to just pee somewhere discreet and away from the water.

I think it’s much more likely that most of these men fall into water as it was dark, they’re usually intoxicated, they frequently have got very lost and they didn’t realise the water was there. Obviously we only here about the ones who have tragically died, but surely some men do manage to climb out? The distance from the bank to the water will affect their ability to climb out and they are clothed, but usually not with big coats and jumpers on. Debris in the water could be an issue too and obviously it will depend on how intoxicated they are.

What I do find odd in many cases, including the recent sad death of Garrett Walker, is that some people seem to be very far from their actual route home, though as I mentioned before they have clearly got lost, often in an unfamiliar area.

Questions remain after Alabama student Garrett Walker found dead

 

[HelpingHeart]

I remember reading something once that suggested the reason men keep falling into rivers, ponds etc is that they are trying to urinate into the water and when their bladder is empty it causes them to relax and that often can lead them to unbalance and fall in.

What I don’t understand (I’m female) is why in the middle of the night, when it’s dark, men would think it necessary to walk to the water’s edge and then pee in the water? There’s no-one around. Why not pee in a bush, or against a wall or in the middle of a field?

I’ve never seen any CCTV of men falling into rivers etc in the middle of the night, so I don’t understand why they are too worried to just pee somewhere discreet and away from the water.

I think it’s much more likely that most of these men fall into water as it was dark, they’re usually intoxicated, they frequently have got very lost and they didn’t realise the water was there. Obviously we only here about the ones who have tragically died, but surely some men do manage to climb out? The distance from the bank to the water will affect their ability to climb out and they are clothed, but usually not with big coats and jumpers on. Debris in the water could be an issue too and obviously it will depend on how intoxicated they are.

What I do find odd in many cases, including the recent sad death of Garrett Walker, is that some people seem to be very far from their actual route home, though as I mentioned before they have clearly got lost, often in an unfamiliar area.

Questions remain after Alabama student Garrett Walker found dead

This is the weirdest part! Many times they’re far from where their route would’ve been. And like you mentioned, why not just pee anywhere?!

 

[hey-Debbie]

I remember reading something once that suggested the reason men keep falling into rivers, ponds etc is that they are trying to urinate into the water and when their bladder is empty it causes them to relax and that often can lead them to unbalance and fall in.

What I don’t understand (I’m female) is why in the middle of the night, when it’s dark, men would think it necessary to walk to the water’s edge and then pee in the water? There’s no-one around. Why not pee in a bush, or against a wall or in the middle of a field?

I’ve never seen any CCTV of men falling into rivers etc in the middle of the night, so I don’t understand why they are too worried to just pee somewhere discreet and away from the water.

I think it’s much more likely that most of these men fall into water as it was dark, they’re usually intoxicated, they frequently have got very lost and they didn’t realise the water was there. Obviously we only here about the ones who have tragically died, but surely some men do manage to climb out? The distance from the bank to the water will affect their ability to climb out and they are clothed, but usually not with big coats and jumpers on. Debris in the water could be an issue too and obviously it will depend on how intoxicated they are.

What I do find odd in many cases, including the recent sad death of Garrett Walker, is that some people seem to be very far from their actual route home, though as I mentioned before they have clearly got lost, often in an unfamiliar area.

Questions remain after Alabama student Garrett Walker found dead

Good point. I have 4 men in my immediate family (49, 26, 24, and 22) and I could pretty much guarantee they are not walking any further than they have to find a place to pee when outside. It's behind a car, a tree, or a building. I could pretty much bet my life they would not walk down to that river to urinate.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

This is the weirdest part! Many times they’re far from where their route would’ve been. And like you mentioned, why not just pee anywhere?!

Especially when it's raining

 

[borndem]

The water thing is mystifying.
If you fell forward, you’d be right at the edge where it’s not deep? You wouldn’t be knee deep in the water trying to relieve yourself?
Stand far enough away to not get your shoes wet?

Could be, Mimosa, could be. He got up, it was muddy, and he stumbled, perhaps, and it happened so fast.
In the dark, in a never-been-to this-spot-before situation, he may not have been able to see the river's edge, and took one or two more steps and slid into the river -- cold water shock, clothes weighing him down, panic. Dunno.
Hoping we will know something soon.
Positive thoughts for LE, the searchers, and his absolutely torn-to-shreds family.

 

[kathryann]

Praying for Brendan and his family.

 

[Rust Cohle]

The Red Cedar River, which runs through the MSU campus is only about waist deep at most times and places, and it is not a fast moving river.

The mouth of the Red Cedar is the Grand River, which is much larger, deeper and faster. It's only a mile or so down the Red Cedar.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 16, 2021
Michigan State University Police release photos of items Brendan Santo may have had with him (wilx.com)
Crews continued to search for 18-year-old Brendan Santo.

The search expanded Monday to west of Kalamazoo Street in the Red Cedar River.

[...]

Michigan State University Police and Public Safety released photos Tuesday of Santo and personal items he may have had on him at the time of his disappearance.

The photos include a necklace Santo was wearing, keys similar to what he would be carrying, an iPhone case he recently purchased and the specific Converse shoes he was wearing at the time.

These items have not been recovered.

[...]

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 16, 2021
MSU Police release new photos of missing student, reward increased to $20K | WLNS 6 News

The reward for Brendan Santo, a Grand Valley State University student who was last seen on Michigan State’s campus, has been increased to $20K.

[...]

 

[borndem]

The mouth of the Red Cedar is the Grand River, which is much larger, deeper and faster. It's only a mile or so down the Red Cedar.

Just looked at it on good ol' Google Maps -- it's not that far from Red Cedar, and it is indeed bigger/broader. Does the Red Cedar flow towards the Grand? It looks like it eventually does...Oh, my.
If he drifted down the Grand, who knows where he/his body is now? Have the searchers been searching the Grand? SMH.

 

[HelpingHeart]

I was reading a post from someone who just searched for Brendan and he was saying that he thinks he stopped to pee in the woods and possibly slipped down the hill into the river. He said that area is covered in leaves and easy to slip down. He said that’s the only plausible thing that he thinks could’ve happened. So sad for the family. Hopefully they find him soon.

 

[swedeheart]

Gray did a segment on Brendan last night. He shows 3 likely areas he could be, if he is indeed in the water.

At about 1:16:00.

 

[I wonder]

Gray did a segment on Brendan last night. He shows 3 likely areas he could be, if he is indeed in the water.

At about 1:16:00.

The link doesn’t work for me as I apparently have to be a member.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Just looked at it on good ol' Google Maps -- it's not that far from Red Cedar, and it is indeed bigger/broader. Does the Red Cedar flow towards the Grand? It looks like it eventually does...Oh, my.
If he drifted down the Grand, who knows where he/his body is now? Have the searchers been searching the Grand? SMH.

Eventually, in Michigan, many waterways will develop a layer of ice depending on depth and currents. We're probably several weeks away from major freezing, but it's something that will come into play as the search for Brendan continues. If he is in the water, I hope and pray that he is found before winter really sets in here in Michigan.