Police and family members are still searching for leads in the beating-related death of Brandon D'Annunzio, which took place three years ago outside an East Lansing bar.
D'Annunzio was assaulted on Oct. 1, 2000, outside BW-3's former location, 220 M.A.C. Ave., following a football game vs. Northwestern. He died 10 days later of massive head injuries.
D'Annunizio, a Livonia resident, was 24 years old at the time and was not an MSU student. He had been visiting with friends in the downtown area for a bachelor party.
"What I'm trying to do is get the word out of what can happen when people drink," D'Annunzio's mother, Shawn D'Annunzio, said. "People can get drunk and think they're having a good time but then go do something like what happened to my son. Students need to realize that accidents can happen, and when you drink, you don't always make the right decisions."
East Lansing police continue to look for the people involved in D'Annunzio's assault.
"We've worked every tip that we've received, none have gone unanswered," said East Lansing police Lt. Kim Johnson.
"Over the course of three years, we've had close to 60 tips, most in the first year, of course, but there has been no solid evidence for us to pursue a suspect. We've looked at a lot of different angles but haven't been able to generate who he had a fight with."
But Shawn D'Annunzio said it doesn't seem police are doing enough.
"My son's case keeps getting shifted to different detectives," she said. "It's like he's just a name in a big book now. It's hard not to wonder what they're doing.
"People still come up to me and say they cannot believe that the police have not found these people. It hurts my family even more because we feel like they're not doing anything. It's almost like we have no faith in the police anymore."
Other groups have taken extra steps to try to encourage responsible drinking.
Joe Goodsir, co-director of the Responsible Hospitality Council, said the council has run several ads in The State News reminding students to celebrate responsibly.
"Our main message is that one friend could've made a difference. People need to stick together, don't leave your friends by themselves. If he had not been alone, it may not have happened."
The search was extended beyond East Lansing, but a substantial break has yet to surface.
Police looked for leads in Big Rapids, home to Ferris State University, because a man wanted for questioning was said to have been wearing an FSU T-shirt.
The search also was extended to Evanston, Ill., home to Northwestern University. The assault happened the weekend of the MSU vs. Northwestern game, and police said the assailant could have been in town for the game.
Although the Northwestern game last year was used as a channel to pass out flyers and composite sketches, MSU will not play Northwestern this year.
"I just want to get the word out," Shawn D'Annunzio said. "Even if one student is helped by this, then at least I'll feel like I've accomplished something. I can't believe the person who has done this can actually live with themselves.
"It's baffling to me, his friends, everyone that knew Brandon. There's no closure for my family. We live with this every day not knowing anything."
