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

[ms.esquire]

It seems like the family is desperate for tips and information but, from what I can find, they have hardly released any details or information for anyone to go off of. I think it would be helpful if the public had a bit more information. Or perhaps there are things about the case they are choosing not to disclose. Either way, I hope this is resolved soon.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I think the whole smiley face theory is ridiculous and distracts from actually helping people.

Helping people in what way?

(I don't think there is a problem with someone luring intoxicated males toward water or pushing them in and then leaving graffiti. That sounds like urban legend. But after reading another thread here about the topic, I think there are potential things happening in some cases when men leave bars - not a part of this case, though.)

 

[JurassicParker]

Today is the day we find Brendan. Please, universe...make it happen.

 

[Steve McQueen]

Two links and a bump

Group asking anyone on MSU’s campus the night of disappearance for help finding Brendan Santo

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[Razz]

Here is a link from Google Earth that shows the opening in the fence between Yackley Hall and the River. Hard to tell (and I hope someone who knows this area will weigh in ) but it appears a descent into the river, the woods, whatever, comes up quick and is steep. Add on rain and slippery leaves, it's easy to understand why they think he's in the river. Imo

Google Earth

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Praying that Brendan is located soon and that his family has closure. It must be beyond excruciating to have a missing family member with no idea of his whereabouts, if or when he'll ever be in their lives again. Dear Lord, please bring Brendan home to his family.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

@Razz Is there any way you could download the image and then upload it as a file here, and include the link?
The link you posted brought me to Google Earth but no image. TIA.

 

[Razz]

@Razz Is there any way you could download the image and then upload it as a file here, and include the link?
The link you posted brought me to Google Earth but no image. TIA.

Technically I am challenged and I do everything on my phone but let me give it a try.

 

[Razz]

Does this do it? Nope

 

[Colorado303]

Does this do it? Nope

Try taking a screen shot and saving it as a picture, then uploading that. It’s one of my favorite tech-challemged go arounds. Right up there with rebooting whenever something goes wrong.

ETA if you aren’t sure how to get a screen shot from your PC or i-phone PM me and I can step you through it. (though if you’re using a MAC or Android phone I will be absolutely no help).

 

[Allabouttrial]

@Razz Is there any way you could download the image and then upload it as a file here, and include the link?
The link you posted brought me to Google Earth but no image. TIA.

This is the same spot on Google maps. Does that work for you?

Google Maps

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

This is the same spot on Google maps. Does that work for you?

Google Maps

Awesome photo!

Any news about continuing searches? Winter is settling in across Michigan, and rivers, lakes, etc. will soon start to freeze. This would likely make water searches nearly impossible for a few months, at least. If Brendan is in the Red Cedar river, he might not be recovered until next spring.

 

[Vail]

This is the same spot on Google maps. Does that work for you?

Google Maps

Wow, they have a crosswalk with no light right there and then this gap between the fence and the railing that might look to someone like stairs or a path that continues right on and you'd fall before you knew it was a mistake in the dark. I truly hope that is not what happened. Regardless, they should light that crosswalk or put a chain across that gap.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Bumping for Brendan who has been missing for more than two months.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

It seems like the family is desperate for tips and information but, from what I can find, they have hardly released any details or information for anyone to go off of. I think it would be helpful if the public had a bit more information. Or perhaps there are things about the case they are choosing not to disclose. Either way, I hope this is resolved soon.

I agree that there has been very little information released to the public. I completely understand the need to protect the integrity of the case, but I think it would be helpful to have a press conference to let the public know what, if any, progress has been made in the investigation. The family has recruited volunteer searchers and raised money to fund their cause, but they haven't told the public much of anything. I find myself wondering what is really going on and why everything is so hushed. JMO

 

[Valerie D.]

I agree that there has been very little information released to the public. I completely understand the need to protect the integrity of the case, but I think it would be helpful to have a press conference to let the public know what, if any, progress has been made in the investigation. The family has recruited volunteer searchers and raised money to fund their cause, but they haven't told the public much of anything. I find myself wondering what is really going on and why everything is so hushed. JMO

 

[Valerie D.]

I saw a recent interview of a campus police official saying that there is a lot going on "behind the scene" and he cannot comment further. I agree that there is little more to go on other than Santo's physical description and his last known whereabouts and that might have an impact on the quality of tips they receive. Regarding his phone- the last confirmed location of his phone was Beal Street. At that point his battery drained to 0%. The family FB page states this is "confirmed by authorities". So...a phone with a dead battery can't respond to GPS triangulation (or however LE came to know this location). This means the last ping on Beal "near the river" doesn't mean "near/in the river" necessarily is his last location. A person can keep moving while holding a phone with a dead battery. Where he was "last seen" did not have security cameras in operation that night. Not sure what to make of all of this.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I saw a recent interview of a campus police official saying that there is a lot going on "behind the scene" and he cannot comment further. I agree that there is little more to go on other than Santo's physical description and his last known whereabouts and that might have an impact on the quality of tips they receive. Regarding his phone- the last confirmed location of his phone was Beal Street. At that point his battery drained to 0%. The family FB page states this is "confirmed by authorities". So...a phone with a dead battery can't respond to GPS triangulation (or however LE came to know this location). This means the last ping on Beal "near the river" doesn't mean "near/in the river" necessarily is his last location. A person can keep moving while holding a phone with a dead battery. Where he was "last seen" did not have security cameras in operation that night. Not sure what to make of all of this.

Valerie D., welcome to Websleuths!

There is always "a lot going on behind the scenes" in most missing persons cases, but the public generally has a lot more information about the missing person than is known about Brendan Santo. I find myself questioning the veil of secrecy surrounding Brendan's whereabouts that night, who he was with, and why his friends weren't with him when he supposedly left Yakely Hall. Why was he walking alone in the dark on a cold and rainy night, and where was he going? I'm sure his friends were interviewed and have likely provided these details to LE, but this information hasn't been released to the public. I find the lack of information very peculiar. JMO

 

[borndem]

@Razz Is there any way you could download the image and then upload it as a file here, and include the link?
The link you posted brought me to Google Earth but no image. TIA.

Butting in here -- I had to wait several seconds for the actual image to "arrive."
The pic was clear and I'm thinking anyone who was there, even in the dark, would see that "entrance," and possibly Brendan may have, and thought it would be a shortcut to where he wanted to go.
Just my thoughts... I would have probably at least explored it to see -- and if it is steep, that could have been his undoing -- but I am totally unfamiliar with what is on the other side of that "entrance" -- several steps or 3--5 yards, or what before it steepens.

 

[borndem]

A bit belated, but

Welcome to Websleuths,
Valerie D. !!​