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

[Valerie D.]

Detroit News WDIV's Reporter Karen Drew's Q and A with Chris Rozman:

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan State building safety barrier after drowning

MSU will place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

www.detroitnews.com

East Lansing – Michigan State University is set to place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile stretch of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

The university installed temporary fencing along a portion of the river where it runs through the East Lansing campus after the body of Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo was found in the river in January, nearly three months after he was last seen while visiting campus, the Lansing State Journal reported...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan State University building safety barrier after drowning

Michigan State University is set to place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile stretch of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

www.clickondetroit.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University is set to place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile stretch of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

The university installed temporary fencing along a portion of the river where it runs through the East Lansing campus after the body of Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo was found in the river in January, nearly three months after he was last seen while visiting campus, the Lansing State Journal reported.

Family and friends of Santo, who was from the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, started a petition calling for barriers, lighting and warning signs. The section where the new barrier is being built has steep banks down to the river...

 

[Valerie D.]

Michigan State building safety barrier after drowning

MSU will place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

www.detroitnews.com

East Lansing – Michigan State University is set to place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile stretch of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

The university installed temporary fencing along a portion of the river where it runs through the East Lansing campus after the body of Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo was found in the river in January, nearly three months after he was last seen while visiting campus, the Lansing State Journal reportft high, 1/2 mile long and has an estimated cost of nearly $650,000. So much for the so-called river view MSU campus is known for plus possible tuition will increase to pay for the fence.

 

[Valerie D.]

Michigan State building safety barrier after drowning

MSU will place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

www.detroitnews.com

East Lansing – Michigan State University is set to place a steel safety barrier along a half-mile stretch of the Red Cedar River after the drowning death of visiting 18-year-old student last fall.

The university installed temporary fencing along a portion of the river where it runs through the East Lansing campus after the body of Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo was found in the river in January, nearly three months after he was last seen while visiting campus, the Lansing State Journal reported...

4ft high steel barrier stretching 1/2 mile and costs 650k? So much for the river view MSU campus is known for. Maybe a tuition increase to pay for it too. This also makes me think they still don't know where he fell in since a 4 foot high, 1/2 mile steel barricade needs to be installed...or are they just trying to make students feel extra, extra safe?

 

[Seattle1]

4ft high steel barrier stretching 1/2 mile and costs 650k? So much for the river view MSU campus is known for. Maybe a tuition increase to pay for it too. This also makes me think they still don't know where he fell in since a 4 foot high, 1/2 mile steel barricade needs to be installed...or are they just trying to make students feel extra, extra safe? ^^bbm

The section where the new barrier is being built has steep banks down to the river. 2,200 ft of steep banks is hardly a view to miss compared to the safety of students and visitors. I'm sure a call to MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF) can satisfy OP's funding concerns -- didn't take much for the Trustees to raise funds for this project.

IPF communications and learning manager Fred Woodhams said the temporary fencing is 2,200 linear feet and located behind the Kellogg Center spanning to Beal Street and the intersection with West Circle Drive.

“We’re constantly evaluating improvements to campus to further safety and security of the community and guests,” Woodhams said. “We’ve been having conversations about the particular space near the Red Cedar river that was mentioned in that petition.”

The installation of the temporary fencing began Jan. 26 and was completed Feb. 7.

Woodhams said designs are in the works for a permanent fencing solution that take into account the aesthetic character of that stretch of the river. Permanent fencing is expected to be completed during the summer.

“The banks along that part of the river are steep and so we wanted to ensure the safety of all of the campus community and any visitors to campus,” Woodhams said.

Since it was posted last month, the petition has received over 20,580 signatures.

IPF installs temporary fencing along Red Cedar to increase safety measures - The State News

IPF communications and learning manager Fred Woodhams said the temporary fencing is 2,200 linear feet and located behind the Kellogg Center spanning to Beal Street and the intersection with West Circle Drive.

statenews.com

 

[Seattle1]

Permanent fencing along Red Cedar to be installed where Brendan Santo fell - The State News

“The safety of our campus community is and always will be the most important for our students, our community and those who visit campus,” Olsen said in a statement.

statenews.com

Beginning July 5, and lasting through late August, temporary fencing on the sidewalk and traffic lanes along the Red Cedar river near the Kellogg Center, Michigan Avenue and Beal Street entrances will be replaced with permanent fencing.

After the body of a missing Grand Valley State University student, Brendan Santo, was found on Jan. 21 in the Red Cedar River, a Change.org petition, titled "Make MSU's Red Cedar River Areas Safe," gained traction and garnered over 22,000 signatures.

 

[Valerie D.]

Permanent fencing along Red Cedar to be installed where Brendan Santo fell - The State News

“The safety of our campus community is and always will be the most important for our students, our community and those who visit campus,” Olsen said in a statement.

statenews.com

Beginning July 5, and lasting through late August, temporary fencing on the sidewalk and traffic lanes along the Red Cedar river near the Kellogg Center, Michigan Avenue and Beal Street entrances will be replaced with permanent fencing.

After the body of a missing Grand Valley State University student, Brendan Santo, was found on Jan. 21 in the Red Cedar River, a Change.org petition, titled "Make MSU's Red Cedar River Areas Safe," gained traction and garnered over 22,000 signatures.

There's already a lot of fence where there was sidewalk adjacent to the river except for around Brody. It's just as likely someone pushed him vs he fell in himself. There are no eyewitnesses or camera footage... supposedly.

 

[NeverPersonal]

I was a college student 1968-1972+.

SBM. As someone born in the 1990's, can I just say I am incredibly jealous you got to experience college at that time? I feel like it would've been a dream, a true dream. Really feel like I was born in the wrong time & place sometimes because I daydream about being in school or just living in general in the 60s. Please message me if you have stories from this time to tell about what life was like; I'd genuinely very much love to hear them.

 

[Seattle1]

Remembering this handsome young man 13 months after he was recovered from the RCR. Peace and comfort for his family and friends.

Police: Private investigator found Brendan Santo’s body on underwater camera, river search executed shortly after

Despite searching for nearly three months, authorities were not able to locate Santo until Friday.

www.wilx.com

 

[JurassicParker]

I'm sure the view isn't the top priority. I imagine the people that walk that area all the time will feel better about there being something put up to prevent a potential death.

 

[paulpurepoint]

Praying that Brendan will be found before the end of 2021.

 

[dotr]

Kayla Clarke,: September 8, 2024

Case closed, truth still missing: What happened to Brendan Santo?

Brendan Santo was missing for 84 days before his body was found in the Red Cedar River.

www.clickondetroit.com

''Brendan Santo, 18, was a Grand Valley State University freshman who was visiting friends in East Lansing the weekend of a University of Michigan vs. Michigan State University football game.

He was last seen on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, on campus, leaving Yakeley Hall and walking near Michigan Avenue and Beal Street shortly before midnight. Police believed that he intended to walk back to the Brody Neighborhood, which was less than a half mile west southwest of where he was. Santo did not make it to Brody.''


The body of missing teen Brendan Santo was recovered from the Red Cedar River on Jan. 21, 2022 about a mile and a half west of where he was last seen on Oct. 29, 2021. (WDIV)

''Karen Drew’s full coverage on this case includes interviews with a medical examiner and private investigator. The story begins airing at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, on Local 4 and Local 4+.''

 

[Seattle1]

There's already a lot of fence where there was sidewalk adjacent to the river except for around Brody. It's just as likely someone pushed him vs he fell in himself. There are no eyewitnesses or camera footage... supposedly.

7/5/22

In response to the disappearance and death, MSU installed temporary fencing in January along openings to the river at the Beal Street and West Circle Drive intersection, Olsen said. Other safety measures include promoting the Safe MSU App, improved campus lighting and the implementation of more than 300 security cameras across campus, he said.

Permanent fencing built at Michigan State University after Brendan Santo drowning

Brendan Santo, 18, drowned in the Red Cedar River in October 2021 and his body was recovered in January.

www.mlive.com

Students are oblivious as they walk by the temporary fence on Red Cedar road. The fence was put up as a result of the loss of Grand Valley student Brendan Santo. Shot on Feb 10, 2022 — Photo by Madison Norfleet | The State News

 

[Seattle1]

May 5, 2022
Big changes are coming to the campus of Michigan State University after a visiting college student was found dead in the Red Cedar River.

This was the News 4 report from 2 years ago -- it will be interesting to compare the new report on 9/9/24.

 

[Seattle1]

Extended cut: What really happened to Brendan Santo?​

Sep 9, 2024

Brendan Santo was visiting the Michigan State University campus for a football game when he vanished. He was missing for 84 days before his body was found in the Red Cedar River. His death was ruled an accidental drowning, but there are still many questions left unanswered.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

What we learned about Brendan Santo’s death after private investigator reveals new findings

New evidence has been revealed in the death of Brendan Santo, thanks to private investigator Ryan Robison, who has connections with the case.

www.clickondetroit.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. – New evidence has been revealed in the death of Brendan Santo, thanks to private investigator Ryan Robison, who has connections with the case.

Officials for the Michigan State University Police Department investigated the disappearance initially, and they determined Santo had drowned, but Robison never stopped investigating the disappearance...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The new pieces of evidence raising major questions about Brendan Santo’s death

New pieces of evidence linked to Brendan Santo’s death have been uncovered and raise major questions about what police concluded about the case.

www.clickondetroit.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. – New pieces of evidence linked to Brendan Santo’s death have been uncovered and raise major questions about what police concluded about the case...

Why are there new updates in this case?​

The person who found Santo’s body was private investigator Ryan Robison.

Robison took a personal interest in the case and spent five hours talking to Santo’s father.

Robison said he started to search for Santo on Jan. 6. After about two weeks, he noticed a spot in the river where several pumpkins had collected.

He took some underwater photos in that area and noticed Santo’s very distinct shoes.

The Michigan State University Police Department officially took on the investigation and determined that Santo had drowned. But Robison never stopped looking into the case.

He came to us to share these new findings, and he believes the case should be reopened...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Petition to reopen investigation into Brendan Santo’s death has over 5,000 signatures

A petition to reopen the investigation into Brendan Santo’s death has more than 5,000 signatures.

www.clickondetroit.com

 

[Audrina]

Above link ^^ quotes:

The autopsy for Santo lists his cause of death as a drowning, but Robison obtained documents that show there was no water in his lungs or stomach.

Oakland County’s chief medical examiner, Ljubisa J. Dragovic, said this case is a “jigsaw puzzle” and far from being solved.

Local 4 has learned that no X-ray was performed on Santo’s body. Dragovic said there should always be an X-ray before a drowning is ruled someone’s cause of death.

“Does that worry you?” Karen asked.

“It is a concern, obviously, and foul play cannot be safely excluded,” Dragovic said.

--

“There’s text messages saying his battery’s dying,” said digital forensic expert Scott Bailey. “At 12:09 was the last ping or the last connection to a tower.”

It’s hard to get much information from police reports because they’re heavily redacted for this drowning case.

But we learned something that has never been publicly shared, or even told to Santo’s parents.

Santo’s phone pinged again at 2:39 a.m. -- a full two and a half hours later.

“At 2:39 a.m., that phone is turned back on,” Bailey said.

“It just wouldn’t turn on itself?” Karen asked.

“It wouldn’t turn on itself,” Bailey said.

“So somebody had to press that,” Karen said.

“Had to press the button, and there’s enough power to start what’s called the iBoot process, to get that phone starting to boot up,” Bailey said.

Who turned on Santo’s phone? Could that mean he was still alive for two and a half unaccounted-for hours?