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

[Rtael]

I didn't know that. Thanks.

On re-reading my post I think that came off as a little rude, my apologies if so!

 

[kathryann]

I hope this is ok to post. Update from Brendan's family on Facebook.

1-7-22 Update
BBH Warriors here is an update on the river and a few other pieces of information. Please understand with this being an active investigation we don’t know all the details and some details can’t be shared at this time.
River Update:
The river has been searched from the Beal Street bridge west all the way to Clippert. Plans are in progress to bring out additional Police resources to continue the search further west – hopefully next week.
Volunteers have done a tremendous job searching almost daily using kayaks, canoes and searching the riverbanks by foot. To date nothing of Brendan’s has been found.
Last known location:
We believe Brendan made it further down Michigan Avenue. He crossed Michigan Ave and crossed back further down from Beal Street (towards Brody). We continue to encourage everyone to look at their phones for pictures that Brendan may be in and share if you find them. The authorities continue to review his digital footprint and are using all resources available to do that.
Foul Play:
The police state there is no evidence of foul play, there is also no evidence suggesting there wasn’t foul play, so it can not be ruled out. At this point no one knows because we have not received a tip to date that someone has seen him after he left Yakeley Hall that has been verified. We are asking everyone to please continue to spread the word on Brendan's story, someone had to have seen him or something, we know many people were out at that time walking in that area. IF YOU SAW SOMETHING SPEAK UP!!
River Focus:
The focus on the river comes down to two things he was near the river so the police should look at it. Multiple cadaver dogs have reacted in a certain area of the river, but it is important to understand cadaver dogs are not scent specific to a person. The area of concern was searched multiple times thoroughly using talented divers from numerous departments/agencies along with various forms of sophisticated technology and nothing was found. We also have not located ANY of Brendan’s clothing or items he was carrying.
The police have come under scrutiny for focusing on the river and we are supportive of them using resources to rule it out and find Brendan if he is in there. In fact we are asking them to use/request more available resources from the taskforce to do this. We continue to have HOPE and pray he will be found and return home safely and want ALL avenues explored both in & outside the river. We truly appreciate the efforts of ALL the men & women of law enforcement helping to find our son especially in this time when being in law enforcement is difficult. If you see someone in law enforcement, be respectful, say thank you, buy them lunch or a coffee they have extremely difficult jobs. When you see the tears and pain in their eyes & voice you know they are invested heavily and many have children of their own.
We are asking for more focus outside the river and are working on that with MSU PD & the taskforce.
Some quick thanks/shout outs…(not a full list if we missed you it’s not intentional)
• Aunt Dawn & her family +friends & our entire family - what you have done is nothing short of amazing. We love all of you for the support you have given us. You lifted us up on days we couldn't do it ourselves.
• To all the close families, you know who you are – you have helped us so much we can’t express how grateful we are for your support/guidance & unconditional love!
• Limor Sklyar – your Map challenge & positivity and tenacity is amazing.
• Heather Baecker Simon & Roza Lita thank you for working so hard to keep Brendan’s name out in the digital world and your support of our family we are so grateful.
• Top Board Contributors – Samantha Foran, Amy Watts Perkins, Lane Jeans, Trena Horn & Amy Baecker North - thanks so much for having high engagement on the site and keeping the faith.
• Lansing Oar & Paddle Club – you guys are amazing thank you for your continued efforts we truly appreciate your efforts & be safe!
• BBH Followers & All volunteers searching – too many to mention, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! It’s so nice to see in these tough times.
• Our attorney & retired law enforcement professionals & others who wish to remain anonymous helping guide us, we can never repay you for the support given, but know we LOVE YOU for it and are beyond grateful.
• Thanks for the outstanding support of W.W. Grainger & Oakland University who have been outstanding employers!! Special thanks to all of my Grainger team members, co-workers sending their love & support and Brett Ruhl (best boss ever) and Karin Hindmarsh (Superwoman you amaze me every day!).
• Grand Valley (GVSU) - President Mantella & Dean Aaron Haight the support, generosity, respect & love you showed us we will never forgot.
With love & our sincere thanks - The Santo Famly
Keep the faith!!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Brendan Santo update: Search for student last seen at MSU enters week 11 (lansingstatejournal.com)

EAST LANSING — Ten weeks after Brendan Santo was last seen at Michigan State University, authorities and volunteers continue searching for the missing 18-year-old.

Santo, a Grand Valley State University student from Rochester Hills, was visiting friends in East Lansing for the Michigan-Michigan State football game when he was last seen leaving Yakeley Hall on foot before midnight Oct. 29. MSU police suspect he may have been going to the Brody Neighborhood.

Santo’s last known location was Beal Street near Michigan Avenue, not far from the Red Cedar River, according to phone and GPS data reviewed by investigators. Police dogs had picked up several indications in that area by the river, MSU police inspector Chris Rozman said Thursday.

The part of the Red Cedar that runs through MSU’s campus continues to be the focus of search efforts. Among those searching for Santo are MSU, Grand Valley, East Lansing and Michigan State police, the Ingham and Oakland County sheriff’s offices and the FBI...

 

[Vail]

i wonder if there is a drainage pipe that empties into the river upstream of where dogs are alerting?

 

[MontereyMama]

I hope this is ok to post. Update from Brendan's family on Facebook.

1-7-22 Update
BBH Warriors here is an update on the river and a few other pieces of information. Please understand with this being an active investigation we don’t know all the details and some details can’t be shared at this time.
River Update:
The river has been searched from the Beal Street bridge west all the way to Clippert. Plans are in progress to bring out additional Police resources to continue the search further west – hopefully next week.
Volunteers have done a tremendous job searching almost daily using kayaks, canoes and searching the riverbanks by foot. To date nothing of Brendan’s has been found.
Last known location:
We believe Brendan made it further down Michigan Avenue. He crossed Michigan Ave and crossed back further down from Beal Street (towards Brody). We continue to encourage everyone to look at their phones for pictures that Brendan may be in and share if you find them. The authorities continue to review his digital footprint and are using all resources available to do that.
Foul Play:
The police state there is no evidence of foul play, there is also no evidence suggesting there wasn’t foul play, so it can not be ruled out. At this point no one knows because we have not received a tip to date that someone has seen him after he left Yakeley Hall that has been verified. We are asking everyone to please continue to spread the word on Brendan's story, someone had to have seen him or something, we know many people were out at that time walking in that area. IF YOU SAW SOMETHING SPEAK UP!!
River Focus:
The focus on the river comes down to two things he was near the river so the police should look at it. Multiple cadaver dogs have reacted in a certain area of the river, but it is important to understand cadaver dogs are not scent specific to a person. The area of concern was searched multiple times thoroughly using talented divers from numerous departments/agencies along with various forms of sophisticated technology and nothing was found. We also have not located ANY of Brendan’s clothing or items he was carrying.
The police have come under scrutiny for focusing on the river and we are supportive of them using resources to rule it out and find Brendan if he is in there. In fact we are asking them to use/request more available resources from the taskforce to do this. We continue to have HOPE and pray he will be found and return home safely and want ALL avenues explored both in & outside the river. We truly appreciate the efforts of ALL the men & women of law enforcement helping to find our son especially in this time when being in law enforcement is difficult. If you see someone in law enforcement, be respectful, say thank you, buy them lunch or a coffee they have extremely difficult jobs. When you see the tears and pain in their eyes & voice you know they are invested heavily and many have children of their own.
We are asking for more focus outside the river and are working on that with MSU PD & the taskforce.
Some quick thanks/shout outs…(not a full list if we missed you it’s not intentional)
• Aunt Dawn & her family +friends & our entire family - what you have done is nothing short of amazing. We love all of you for the support you have given us. You lifted us up on days we couldn't do it ourselves.
• To all the close families, you know who you are – you have helped us so much we can’t express how grateful we are for your support/guidance & unconditional love!
• Limor Sklyar – your Map challenge & positivity and tenacity is amazing.
• Heather Baecker Simon & Roza Lita thank you for working so hard to keep Brendan’s name out in the digital world and your support of our family we are so grateful.
• Top Board Contributors – Samantha Foran, Amy Watts Perkins, Lane Jeans, Trena Horn & Amy Baecker North - thanks so much for having high engagement on the site and keeping the faith.
• Lansing Oar & Paddle Club – you guys are amazing thank you for your continued efforts we truly appreciate your efforts & be safe!
• BBH Followers & All volunteers searching – too many to mention, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! It’s so nice to see in these tough times.
• Our attorney & retired law enforcement professionals & others who wish to remain anonymous helping guide us, we can never repay you for the support given, but know we LOVE YOU for it and are beyond grateful.
• Thanks for the outstanding support of W.W. Grainger & Oakland University who have been outstanding employers!! Special thanks to all of my Grainger team members, co-workers sending their love & support and Brett Ruhl (best boss ever) and Karin Hindmarsh (Superwoman you amaze me every day!).
• Grand Valley (GVSU) - President Mantella & Dean Aaron Haight the support, generosity, respect & love you showed us we will never forgot.
With love & our sincere thanks - The Santo Famly
Keep the faith!!

So much humility and dignity in this post. I can only hope I'd react similarly, given these unthinkable circumstances.

 

[I wonder]

For multiple cadaver dogs to react to a specific section of the river, something must either be there, or was there. They’re supposed to be around 95% effective, but it is the fact that more than one dog is interested in this area that makes this seem so significant. It sounds as though it’s been checked thoroughly, but I don’t know whether anyone is saying with certainty that the search has 100% ruled out anything being there.

The dogs apparently can smell a body 24-72 hours after death. I’m aware that it was initially very flooded and more difficult to search. Could Brendan have been caught there for a while, before being washed down the river? Would the scent still be enough for cadaver dogs to find, even if his body washed away several weeks ago?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

So much humility and dignity in this post. I can only hope I'd react similarly, given these unthinkable circumstances.

I don't know Brendan or anyone in his family, but this young man is from Rochester Hills, MI where I've lived for nearly 29 years. I can't begin to imagine the emptiness and sadness that this local family is experiencing as they await information on Brendan's whereabouts. The holidays must have been almost unbearable, and it saddens me to think of Brendan's family having to retrieve belongings from his dorm room. The 2021 high school graduate was likely excited about going away to college and barely got a taste of university life before he went missing. I pray daily that Brendan will soon be located and that his family will get answers to the many questions they must have regarding his disappearance.

 

[Valerie D.]

I think about the family and how frustrating and devastating this must be. It's great to hear that there is an update but it still isn't very much of an update. The reason they keep the focus on the river is completely baffling to me at this point. There are numerous buildings on campus with no mention if they've been searched. A phone ping at Michigan and Beal just when a phone battery drains to zero means nothing IMO. No battery means a phone can no longer be tracked for it's location and someone can travel thousands of miles holding a phone with a dead battery. There is also a small chance someone else could have his phone (refer to the endlessly debated Kremers/Froon phone data). We are told that no camera or human caught sight of him after "leaving Yakeley". This makes me think that he never got very far from Yakeley or is still in Yakeley.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I doubt this is related to Brendan's case: Michigan State University student found dead on campus (detroitnews.com)

MSU student found dead at Shaw Hall | WLNS 6 News

 

[Valerie D.]

I doubt this is related to Brendan's case: Michigan State University student found dead on campus (detroitnews.com)

MSU student found dead at Shaw Hall | WLNS 6 News

What the heck is going on at these schools? Someone posted something on the Bring Brendan Home FB page about four of Brendan's classmates at GVSU dying in the past year. Brendan is still missing and now this MSU student died. This is extremely sad and tragic.

 

[annpats]

Someone wrote on the Bring Brendan Home FB page about four of Brendan's classmates at GVSU dying in the past year.

Oh my word!

Is that just a terrible coincidence, or is something going on?

 

[Valerie D.]

(Apologies if this story was already posted)

From the Spartan Newsroom which is run by MSU School of Journalism:
EAST LANSING – Michigan State University has seen a rough two weeks, with several disturbing events happening in rapid succession after the football game against Michigan on Oct. 30.

The events included a riot in which two cars were flipped and several couch burnings; two shootings (one of which in downtown East Lansing) and an armed man near campus. To top it off, Brandon Santo, a Grand Valley State student who was visiting MSU, went missing on Oct. 29.

George McLaughlin, a junior, was near the post-game disturbances.

“Lately it’s been weird,” McLaughlin said. “When Brandon went missing last week, my friend said one of his buddies had a van pull up to him and ask him to get in the car, and he said no. It was pretty sketchy.”

The search for Santo has been highly visible, with flyers printed both on and off-campus. Michigan State’s administration has started issuing official updates, despite Santo not being a local student. This level of exposure has students thinking about how best to safely go about their days.

Amanda Makemson said she is pleased that the search is being given proper weight and communication by the university, but is still extra careful.

“Last year I felt super unsafe,” Makemson said. “But even with everyone back, it still does feel unsafe at times. I wouldn’t go walking around campus super late. I always try to look out for myself.”

Students felt more direct pressure Monday night, when the MSU Police sent out their first widespread alert since September. A man had carried a firearm into the Admiral gas station near Bogue Street. Shortly after, a gunshot was heard nearby.

The campus shut down for 30 minutes and, despite the scare, student Marcus Tsukahara said the quick alert and response may have bolstered confidence in campus safety.

“Overall, I feel like it’s a good warning call for any students who were not particularly conscious about their safety,” Tsukahara said. “I still feel safe around campus overall – I’m not too concerned.”

With the sun setting earlier, Tsukahara felt keeping an eye out is more important than ever, for the safety of both himself and others.

“Definitely go with a buddy system, I think even with guys,” Tsukahara said. “You don’t really know what goes on around campus these days. Share your location with at least one other person.”

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Report on WDIV at 5:00PM (Eastern) today (Friday).

Sandra Ali Local 4 is at WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit.
18 hrs · Detroit, MI ·
A local college student disappears on campus after leaving a dorm where he was visiting friends What happened that weekend that makes this case even more mysterious? Join us tomorrow at 5 #local #localnews #brendansanto #bringbrendanhome

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3128109717418033

 

[Valerie D.]

Search for Brendan Santo nears 3 months after disappearance on Michigan State campus

This just came out.

“Those are things that are part of the investigation that we’re aware of that we are just not necessarily discussing publicly at this time,” Rozman said. “With any criminal investigation, we have to be careful of the information that we have. If there is information that we have that we believe the public should be aware of, that would help the investigation in some way, then we will release that
information.”

Later on in the interview...

So, is this a criminal investigation?

“That’s a difficult question,” Rozman said. “I mean, at this point, this is not a criminal investigation. Our investigative work has been reviewed by other local, state and federal agencies, and our law enforcement partners, and we still have no reason to believe that foul play is involved, at this point.”

Not sure what to make of what he's saying here.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

^ For nearly three months the public has been led to believe that there was no foul play suspected in Brendan's disappearance. I was not expecting the bombshell in that interview about a possible "criminal investigation". Did Rozman misspeak and then have to walk back his earlier statement when Sandra Ali questioned him about whether or not this was a "criminal investigation"? Puzzling, to be sure.

I'm still uncomfortable with all the secrecy surrounding the release of information in this case. JMO

 

[Allabouttrial]

Click on Detroit talks to investigators.

Search for Brendan Santo nears 3 months after disappearance on Michigan State campus

 

[EGirl]

I keep checking, hoping he’s found.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I meant to share this several days ago. One day last week, DH saw one of the Bring Brendan Santo Home flyers at the entrance to Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in Troy. He was also in the store the following day, and the flyer was gone. In the 20+ years that we've shopped at Nino's, we have never seen any type of flyers or posters in the store. Whoever hung the flyer probably didn't get permission from the store manager, so the flyer was removed. Some businesses simply don't allow people to put up posters or other types of advertising without permission. Brendan's family members who run the Facebook page should probably suggest that people ask permission before hanging flyers. JMO

 

[Valerie D.]

Body found in burning car in Detroit may be linked to missing Rochester Hills man

A strange story which is probably unrelated but authorities are (once again) not releasing the basic who/what/when/where/why so it leaves a lot of room for speculation.

First off, this news story reports that this happened "Wednesday" but doesn't include a date. "The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said a woman told deputies early Wednesday that her 30-year-old live-in boyfriend had been missing for 24 hours, which was out of character" and... "Detectives learned Detroit police were holding the car in a homicide investigation". Did Oakland Co. police respond to the missing person call and learn the car was part of a homicide investigation in Detroit on the Wed, October 29th or did they connect the dots on Wednesday, November 3rd?

I couldn't find any updates clarifying if the person found in the trunk was the 30 year old missing man from Rochester Hills or someone else. No names for the two persons of interest either.

 

[Razz]

Body found in burning car in Detroit may be linked to missing Rochester Hills man

A strange story which is probably unrelated but authorities are (once again) not releasing the basic who/what/when/where/why so it leaves a lot of room for speculation.

First off, this news story reports that this happened "Wednesday" but doesn't include a date. "The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said a woman told deputies early Wednesday that her 30-year-old live-in boyfriend had been missing for 24 hours, which was out of character" and... "Detectives learned Detroit police were holding the car in a homicide investigation". Did Oakland Co. police respond to the missing person call and learn the car was part of a homicide investigation in Detroit on the Wed, October 29th or did they connect the dots on Wednesday, November 3rd?

I couldn't find any updates clarifying if the person found in the trunk was the 30 year old missing man from Rochester Hills or someone else. No names for the two persons of interest either.

The date the article was published was Nov. 3, 2021.