Thursday, March 28, 2024

Timeline of the search for Brendan Santo

January 25, 2022
After almost three months of searching, on Jan. 21, 2022, police have found a body in the Red Cedar River that they believe to be Brendan Santo. The body has yet to be formally identified.
After almost three months of searching, on Jan. 21, 2022, police have found a body in the Red Cedar River that they believe to be Brendan Santo. The body has yet to be formally identified. —
Photo by Sheldon Krause | The State News

Oct. 29, 2021

Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo is last seen by friends shortly before midnight, leaving Yakeley Hall in MSU’s North neighborhood, traveling across campus to the Brody neighborhood.

Nov. 1, 2021

MSU PD and Ingham County Sheriff's Office announces it will be conducting searches for Santo by foot, with K9 teams helicopter, drone and boat.

Nov. 5, 2021

The family of Brendan Santo announces they will be organizing a voluntary search party for Santo on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. The search party focused primarily on campus, trails and other wooded areas in East Lansing.

Nov. 6, 2021

MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. announced in an email that 300 new security cameras will be installed throughout campus in the following weeks. This announcement came after it was found that the camera at the entrance of Yakeley Hall was not operational on Oct. 29, when Santo went missing.

Nov. 12, 2021

The reward for information to find Santo is raised from $5,000 to $11,000. Over the course of the investigation, the total will rise to over $30,000.

Dec. 9, 2021

The Oakland County Sheriff's Department continues the search by boat in the Red Cedar River to the west of the library.

Jan. 13

The search for Santo expands into the neighborhoods just outside campus. Prior to this, the search occurred before Harrison Road and farther west.

Jan. 18

A dinner and silent auction is announced for Feb. 26 to raise awareness for Santo.

Jan. 21

MSUPD finds a body in the Red Cedar River at 12:30 p.m., approximately 1.5 miles downriver from where Santo was last seen. The body has yet to be properly identified, but it is believed to be Santo's. MSUPD later confirmed private investigator Ryan Robison was the one to notify police he had found the body.

Jan. 22

MSUPD Inspector Chris Rozman confirms that the medical examiner identified the body found in the river as Santo's. MSUPD believes there was no foul play in the death, nor did Santo intend to harm himself.

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