Posted on 03/15/2022 1:42:52 PM PDT by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
EAST LANSING, MI - Brendan Santo died of accidental drowning, according to a toxicology report released Monday.
The 18-year-old from Rochester Hills went missing Oct. 29, 2021 on the Michigan State University campus. His body was found in the Red Cedar River shortly after midnight on Jan. 21.
The Ingham County Medical Examiner’s Office report, released on March 14, also indicated a high alcohol content in Santo’s blood and urine.
Santo, a Grand Valley State University freshman, had a 0.22% “blood ethanol concentration” and a 0.301% “urine ethanol concentration,” the toxicology report shows. Ethanol is commonly found in alcohol beverages and is commonly associated with intoxication.
Acute ethanol intoxication was listed as a contributory factor to Santo’s death, the report shows.
Santo was last seen leaving Yakeley Hall on the MSU campus shortly before midnight Friday, Oct. 29, according to MSU police. He was on his way to meet friends when he went missing, according to a petition organized by Santo’s family.
Investigators do not suspect foul play nor self-harm as reasons for Santo’s disappearance, MSU police said. The medical examiner indicated in the report that the cause and manner of Santo’s death was consistent with the circumstances of him leaving a social function while intoxicated.
There was no evidence of other injuries, the report shows.
The search for Santo garnered significant media attention. The reward for information to help locate him was once $30,000, a petition to aid search efforts surpassed 20,000 signatures and Facebook pages dedicated to the search saw tens of thousands of followers.
After Santo’s death, MSU installed temporary fencing around the Red Cedar River to prevent future accidents. MSU spokesman Dan Olsen added that the school is working on more permanent solutions to enhance safety on campus.
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