Investigating student safety at MSU
Questions still remain after the heartbreaking loss and shocking discovery of Brendan Santoโs body in the Red Cedar River in East Lansing. Local 4 Investigator Karen Drew has uncovered new details in the case, and traveled to Michigan Stateโs campus to get answers.
Ice fisherman drowns in Lake Michigan in Upper Peninsula
GARDEN, Mich. โ A 64-year-old man drowned in a Lake Michigan bay when his off-road vehicle hit open water, authorities said. Edward Lester of Garden was at Big Bay De Noc, off Delta County, for ice fishing Thursday. Ice in the area was 4 to 5 inches thick but "recent high winds caused the crack to open,โ said Lt. Eugene โSkipโ Hagy of the Department of Natural Resources. Pressure cracks are very hazardous and can occur very fast, particularly on large bodies of water,โ Hagy said. Authorities were contacted when Lesterโs wife said he had not returned from a routine fishing trip.
Family still seeking justice as 2012 murder of Eastern Michigan University student remains unsolved
YPSILANTI, Mich. โ The family of an Eastern Michigan University (EMU) student who was found murdered in her apartment in 2012 are still looking for justice. The family recently want the Ypsilanti Police Department to hand the case over to Michigan State Police. The Niswender family said Christmas is a particularly difficult time for them. โI still feel anger that itโs been eight years and we were told this as a solvable case,โ Turnquist said. โWhy has it been eight years?โJulia was 23-years-old when the Eastern Michigan University student was found dead in her Ypsilanti apartment on Dec. 11, 2012.
Mom gets 6 months in jail; son drowned in Lake Michigan
HOLLAND, Mich. โ A woman has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for neglecting to keep an eye on her son who drowned in Lake Michigan. Miranda Rowe, 33, of Spring Lake Township appeared in court Monday. Her 6-year-old, Iain, drowned at Holland State Park on June 6, a day of high waves and warnings. Investigators said her son was unattended for at least 15 minutes while she was in a bathroom. More than 50 people this year have drowned in Lake Michigan in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.
Lake Michigan drownings surge to new high in 2020
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. โ Drownings in Lake Michigan have reached record levels with at least 53 people dead so far this year, according to a water safety advocacy group. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit that tracks Great Lakes drownings, said that compares with 48 drownings in 2019 and 42 in 2018. Since 2010, there has been a total of 434 drownings in Lake Michigan, according to the project. Benjamin said the group collects information about fatal incidents from news articles, social media reports, and tips from family members and witnesses. He added that social media has helped the tracker to be more accurate.
Michigan man sentenced in drowning death of toddler
MIDLAND, Mich. A 24-year-old Michigan man has been sentenced between 25 and 50 years in prison for the drowning death of a toddler. He appeared in court Friday to be sentenced on a second-degree murder charge for the death of 1-year-old Skylar N. Pappel. The child died in September last year when Garrett was giving the girl a bath at her mothers apartment in Midland. The child fell and hit her head on the faucet and fell face-first into the water. Im not perfect -- please believe me when I tell you that Im remorseful.Before the plea agreement, he faced charges of felony-murder and first degree child abuse.
Macomb County deputies rescue suspect from drowning after chase
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. A man was saved from drowning by deputies after fleeing from them in Macomb County. Macomb County Sheriff, Anthony Wickersham, says it all started during an undercover drug operation. Our sheriffs enforcement team was looking at a house that was selling narcotics in the city. The suspect realized he could not swim and nearly drowned. The 60-year-old suspect who already had a warrant was arrested after being pulled from the water and taken to the hospital.
Priest, another man presumed dead in Detroit River
GROSSE ILE, Mich. Authorities searched for a priest and another man who were presumed dead after a boat capsized in the Detroit River, police said Monday. The incident occurred Sunday near Grosse Ile, a suburban island between Michigan and Ontario, Canada. It's very unusual for a 39-foot boat to capsize, Grosse Ile police Lt. Kenneth Pelland said. Rooney, 66, a native of Ireland, was pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Trenton, his latest assignment during more than 30 years as a priest. Horrible for the community, Pelland said.
Swimming advisories extended for parts of Lake Michigan
The National Weather Service has extended swimming advisories for parts of Lake Michigan as forecasters predict high waves and strong currents over the next two days. Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in Indiana are under advisories. A 16-year-old boy went missing Sunday after he was pulled under the water in Portage, Indiana. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project on Sunday reported Lake Michigan had seen 32 drownings, and one of unknown condition, since Jan. 1, according to the newspaper. Read more: Swimmers caught in Lake Michigan rip current rescued
30-year-old father drowns in Belleville pond after being encouraged to take bet
BELLEVILLE, Mich. โ A 30-year-old father died trying to swim across a pond late Thursday night after being encouraged to take a bet. Police arrived just after 9 p.m., when 30-year-old Cedric Collins of Ypsilanti slipped under the water and didnโt come back up. Cedric Collins (WDIV)Witnesses said there was a $1,000 bet involved. Collins didnโt want to take the bet, but was goaded into it by the 15 or so people there. Collins jumped into the pond and didnโt make it halfway across before going under.
Family member saves 5-year-old boy from drowning at Pontiac hotel
PONTIAC, Mich. A family member helped save a young boy from drowning while at a hotel in Pontiac on Friday night. Police say the 5-year-old boy from Detroit was playing with other children at a Marriott Hotel when a family member noticed he had gone under water. The child was submerged in about four feet of water, officials said. A family member pulled the boy from the water and administered CPR right away, police said. The boy was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition.
Inkster teen drowns at Milan Beach in Monroe County, police report
MILAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. A 17-year-old boy accidentally drowned at Milan Beach on Saturday afternoon, police said. At around 5:48 p.m. the Monroe County Sheriffs Office responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a boy was missing and had presumably drowned, officials said. Upon arrival the family of the teen, identified as Jorge Delgadillo-Flores of Inkster, told police that he had been struggling to swim before he went under water and they hadnt seen him since. The sheriffs dive team located the boy about 30 feet off shore near where he was last seen, officials said. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call 734-243-7070.
27-year-old dies while ice fishing in Harrison Township
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ A 27-year-old man died ice fishing Sunday near San Juan Street and North River Road, officials say. The victim and another man were ice fishing when the victim lost his cell phone in the water and went in to find it. He did not resurface and that is when emergency services responded. The victimโs body was found several hours later, according to police. The Macomb County Sheriffโs Office is still investigating the incident.