Santo’s autopsy report lists his cause of death as an accidental drowning, with acute ethanol intoxication listed as a contributory condition to his death. 

No antemortem injuries were identified. However, the autopsy revealed advanced decomposition changes, which Dragovic said could have covered up any injuries Santos may have suffered the night of his disappearance. 

The advanced decomposition could have also covered up further evidence of water present in Santo’s body that could imply drowning. 

Because of this, Dragovic said that the autopsy cannot fully determine the cause of Santo’s death and safely exclude foul play.

MSU spokesperson Emily Gerkin Guerrant said in a statement answering to the report that the results of the investigation were submitted to the Ingham County prosecutor in June 2022, who determined that there was no criminal activity involved in the event. 

"What happened to Brendan Santo is deeply tragic and our thoughts remain with the Santo family," Guerrant said in an emailed statement. "The investigation into Brendan’s death was thorough, comprehensive and involved a task force of multiple agencies including MSU Department of Police and Public Safety, the FBI and the Michigan State Police."

There has been no new evidence presented to indicate the possibility of any criminal activity since, according to the statement.  

Santo was first reported missing on Oct. 29, 2021. His body was found in the Red Cedar River after an 84-day search that included various searches of the river using boats, advanced sonar technology and a dive team.

Santo was found by private investigator Ryan Robison, who after looking into areas of the river, decided that the portion of the river near Clippert Street was of concern. Upon taking photos of the area and inspecting them, Robison found what appeared to be Santo and alerted 911 centers. Santo’s body would later be identified through dental records.