Brendan Santo (18) was visiting friends at Michigan State University (MSU) on Friday October 29. He was last seen leaving Yakeley Hall shortly before midnight on that day and his friends have said he may have been heading to the Brody neighborhood. This was around a half-mile from where he was last seen. .
It sounds like Brendan was on foot, as his car has been found parked in the area where he last left it.
On November 1, MSU police issued this statement:
East Lansing, Mich – MSU Police and Public Safety continues to search for missing Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo. Missing for over a week, Santo was last seen on Friday, October 29 just before midnight in the area of Yakeley Hall on the campus of Michigan State University.
The effort to find Santo has included searches by foot, drone, helicopter, and boat and has utilized canine units, divers, and civilian volunteers. The investigation has used advanced techniques to review cellular, smart phone, and GPS data. Investigators continue to review and follow-up on tips as they are received.
The department today is expanding its partnership – consisting of local, state, and federal agencies – to assist with the investigation moving forward.
“We have been collaborating with our local, state, and federal partners for several days, and this arrangement formalizes and expands our team while making additional expert resources and personnel available to assist us in bringing Brendan home,” said Inspector Chris Rozman, Public Information Officer with MSU Police and Public Safety. “We particularly appreciate the continued help and support offered by Grand Valley State University and Oakland County, who have been providing investigators with direct contact to those close with Brendan.”
The department’s expanded partnership includes the following partner agencies:
- East Lansing Police Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Grand Valley State University Police Department
- Ingham County Sheriff’s Office
- Michigan Department of Attorney General
- Michigan State Police
- Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
“Our genuine hope is that with these additional resources and collaboration we will ensure that all investigative avenues are being explored and the work that we have already done can be reviewed by other professional agencies for collective investigative practices,” Rozman added.
“We recognize that this has been a concerning time for members of our community and beyond and we appreciate the outpouring of support from each of you and your individual efforts to spread awareness about our ongoing efforts,” said Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Marlon Lynch. “We will continue our tireless search and investigation, and we will do everything we can to bring Brendan home.”
A large-scale search has been ongoing for Brendan. Michigan State Police and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office have been providing assistance with specialized units. The police and volunteer operation has included searches conducted on foot, by helicopter, by drone, and by boat.
The search has focused on the Red Cedar River, which flows through two miles of campus and is in close proximity to Brendan’s last known location, but police said they “continue to investigate other possibilities.”
Everyone who last had contact with Brendan has been interviewed. CCTV and other footage has been reviewed. Authorities are also reviewing cellular, smartphone and GPS data.
Police have not recovered Brendan’s phone, but it has shown no activity.
“We are confident that we have obtained the available information from his digital footprint,” police said.
Brendan’s family and friends have set up a Facebook page titled ‘ Bring Brendan Santo Home’.
On November 8, the FBI joined the search for Brendan.
“He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a black T-shirt, a black baseball hat and white Converse high-top shoes,” police said. Santo is described as 5-foot-10-inches, 160 pounds.
The Santo family is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with credible information that leads to finding Brendan. Tips can be shared with MSUPD at 844-99-MSUPD or Crime Stoppers at 517-483-STOP.
It doesn’t make sense. I do not think it’s an accident.