Search for Brendan Santo continues

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Brendan Santo missing poster pictured near a parking garage.

Santo's missing posters can be seen on MSU'S campus.

On Friday, Oct. 29, Brendan Santo, a first-year student at Grand Valley State University, went missing on Michigan State University’s campus.

Santo was last seen around midnight near Yakeley Hall wearing gray sweatpants, a black T-shirt, Detroit Red Wings hat, and high-top Converse shoes. In an email, MSU’s Vice President and Chief of Police Marlon Lynch, wrote  that the investigation has used advanced techniques to review cellular, smartphone, and GPS data.

“To date, our efforts to find Brendan have included searches by foot, drone, helicopter, and boat, and we have utilized canine units, divers, and civilian volunteers.”

Saturday, Nov. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 14, Santo’s family organized a search effort at the MSU Union to look all over campus and assist law enforcement search efforts. Santo’s family and friends provided civilians with a map and told people who came to look for his iPhone, necklace, or hat. A picture of Santo’s missing person’s flyer was also provided.

“We’ve been asking people to check their Ring cameras,” said Dawn Brewer, Santo’s aunt. “Any surveillance. Businesses, if you go through your surveillance and you see somebody who looks like him, even if it’s not him, that is still something we can mark off our list.”

The civilian searches were filled with people from several communities and Michigan State students who had never met Santo but felt compelled to search for him.

“It’s making us all sick and scared. We’re all thinking about his family and how tough this is for everyone here. Me and my friends are searching the South neighborhood for Brendan,” said sophomore Carly Krupp.

Since the search, the MSU Police Department released a statement saying it has  expanded the partnership with local, state and federal partners to help with the investigation, and bring Santo  home. 

“It’s really nice to see the outpouring of support from everybody in the community. Even just around here, where a lot of people might not know him, and he did not go here, but people are still out looking,” said junior Cameron Limke, Santo’s neighbor.

The Santo family is offering an $11,000 reward for information that leads to finding Santo. Tips can be shared with MSUPD at 844-99-MSUPD or Crime Stoppers at 517-483-STOP.

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