College Student Disappears from Field While Talking to Father on Phone | Brandon Swanson Analysis

This video answers the question: Can I analyze case of Brandon Swanson?
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[@dicedrice7216]

Being legally blind in one eye would make his depth-perception not so good. Combined with being even a little bit tipsy would make it very difficult for him to drive properly. Hence the DUI and getting his car stuck in a ditch. Rest in peace Brandon.

[@Jason21012]

Dude was blind in one eye and was still allowed to drive? Wtf

[@lisabradford8180]

I'm surprised he had a driver's license at all and was able to drive 🤔

[@Blissfulnessence]

@@Jason21012 i know a lot of people who drive with no vision in one eye. It isn't difficult.

[@michaelperez9966]

@@Blissfulnessence You lose a lot of your peripheral vision having only one eye. It’s very dangerous to do, and people blind in one eye shouldn’t be allowed to drive.

[@llYossarian]

"Legal blindness" is only 20/200 _(it goes to 20/1000 before you're "functionally" blind)_ and that's what the acuity is _before_ you put on correction so his glasses would have given him near 20/20 vision... It doesn't mean _literal_ "blindness".

[@jenhodges92]

The fact that his body was never found is unlikely. But, if there were farmers that refused to let their land be searched, there will always be the question that his body might be in areas not searched. Why would people refuse a search to give parents closure? Horrible.

[@jhoughjr1]

Why would people waste their time so some strangers who enabled bad behavior can get closure on the special angel getting drunk and falling off the face of the earth? When can I come search your property for him?

[@thewhitematstudio]

@@jhoughjr1do you really think they actually pondered your bad take?

[@mjones4458]

​@jhoughjr1 What a heartless and disturbing comment. Some of us actually care about our family members, and would want to know what happened . Then there's you 🥴

[@momof1576]

@@jhoughjr1that’s an awful thing to say. Shame on you.

[@TheRunAndGun10]

As awful as it may sound, some people that disappear are ass holes that few people have sympathy for. Farmers and land owners often have intimate knowledge of their land and calculate the odds of the searchers don’t outweigh the damage to fences, crops, other property that will likely occur from the search. I say this as a current NASAR certified SAR team member.

[@rightpa]

My goal in life is to never be featured in a Dr. Grande video.

[@alejandromolinac]

I know! He’d be brutal!

[@fpt3000]

Agreed

[@robinmaynard1640]

Good goal!!

[@Stargazergirl104]

Right!!

[@sharky7769]

LMAO 😂😂😂😂

[@moomyung9231]

To the argument: his friends said he wasn't intoxicated - my bf is somehow able to seem much more sober while he's out, then the moment he comes home he completely loses all ability to function. So just because it doesn't seem like someone is drunk doesn't mean they aren't.

[@lizzi7128]

It can hit them later on, yup

[@miriamllamas224]

"He wasn't drunk" said the 2 drunk friends.

[@TheCanalZone]

Peak intoxication occurs 45 minutes after the alcohol was consumed. People think they can hold their liquor really well after drinking 3 or 4 shots and then suddenly they become blitzed. They said he took a shot of whiskey at the second party. It probably didn't hit him until he was on the road.

[@PresidentOfBepis]

For some people wondering about the farmers, quite a few other KZbinrs that have covered this subject have noted that there were quite a few cattle ranchers in the area, and the searchers wanted to use dogs for searching, so the cattle farmers were not too keen about having strange dogs around their cows. Probably not a great excuse, but all it takes it a few cows to get spooked and then all hell breaks loose with them. The timing of the disappearance was also after planting season but before harvest season, so there was pretty much no chance of him passing out in a field and being ran over by farming equipment without what would have been an easily noticeable path of destruction through any growing crops.

[@isabellind1292]

Thank you!

[@flingonber]

They also might have had something to hide that had absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance, like a marijuana crop or even a meth lab somewhere out on their land; just because they refused a search without a warrant doesn't mean they were involved in his disappearance.

[@thestrangechannelofjeff7426]

Yah man and cattle ranchers constantly patrol their land . A few times a day at least . So I'd take a ranchers word if he told me he found nothing

[@sanderdeboer6034]

Similar story as Nicola Bulley, who fell into a river during a dog walk while being in a work conference call. Initially they could not find anything, until 23 days later her body was found under bushes in the river.

[@CR-ru1kw]

💔😞💔

[@trentbrownstone1481]

Lol what a way to go

[@Robin-xt7yo]

I love Dr. Grande's common sense and analysis of cases. And how Dr. G delivers in a calm, easy to digest manner so I can listen late at night before bedtime lol.

[@pinrod1]

I like how he doesn't diagnose anyone in these videos, he just speculates on what may be happening in these situations. 😂

[@theraptorsnest5891]

Robin, I don't think there are some of his videos that I would want to be listening to before bedtime. You must be a no nonsense, tough, girl. Here's to you!

[@Robin-xt7yo]

@theraptorsnest5891 Haha thank you.. True crime junkie here. Dr. G's calm and quiet demeanor with no scary music and no theatrics makes listening very palatable. 😁

[@juliewirch2992]

I figured that your comment was a diplomatic way of avoiding saying that you fall asleep listening to his videos like I often do. Lol.

[@juliewirch2992]

I figured that your comment was a diplomatic way of avoiding saying that you fall asleep listening to his videos like I often do. Lol. He does have a very calming voice.

[@ryanfreeborn4252]

As someone who grew up in an area like that, I can admit to doing the exact thing Brandon did to avoid the main drag.

[@sarahvansant1224]

Yeah, I live in area like that as well. Kids driving home from parties on the gravel to avoid the highway(and hopefully cops) is very common behavior.

[@kenwillis8487]

I gotta fess up as well lol. I often took the roads less traveled to avoid getting pulled over. I look back now and realize I did some stupid stuff when I was a teenager! Even walked across farm fields in the dark cause I ran out of gas and we didn’t have cell phones. I always thought I was ok to drive, didn’t drink that much or stopped drinking an hour or two b4 I drove. The next morning I would have Little flash backs of the drive home and it would scare me straight for a couple weekends! That’s why I eventually quit drinking all together, I didn’t want to take someone’s life or my own in a drunk driving incident. I knew that I had awful judgement when I drank and always thought I drove better! Miracle I’m alive today!

[@mountainmermaid8]

100%, a total farm kid thing to do.

[@melinda3413]

Same! It’s so unfortunate how it turned out for him!! I wish he would have stayed where the car was, and tried to get some sleep til morning, when he could see much better. 😢

[@melinda3413]

@traybernyou swerve when you’re impaired, hence the ending up in the ditch thing. 😂

[@TheDealMaster]

I feel he was more drunk than many realized. I also feel like he may have drowned. Thank you very much, Dr. Grande! Always a pleasure to hear a new story with your analysis!

[@SirenaSpades]

You have a lot of feelings.

[@TeaCup1940]

I also think he was drunk and that is why he didn't know where he was exactly. He underestimated his capacities, like all drunks do, specially if they are young. It could be very possible that he drowned. It is such a sad case, specially for the parents. A young life wasted seemingly just due to alcohol and partying.

[@jhoughjr1]

They also seem to have a head on their shoulders. OH SHIT was either him falling in the water or getting hit by a car. Happens all the time on rural roads.@@SirenaSpades

[@jhoughjr1]

blood for the blood god, skulls for the skull throne.@@TeaCup1940

[@marthahanley6650]

@@jhoughjr1 I'm getting a real "Children of the Corn" vibe with this case. It's sad if he fell into a well because Lassie saved Timmy from a well every week! ;P

[@cherylhaskell9830]

I remember this horrifying incident: I think Brandon, for whatever reason, rather than waiting for his father, walked across a farmer's field and fell into a well. Note: While working in an accessor's office in a rural community, I became aware of missing dogs found in overgrown open wells. Whatever, Brandon should have stayed in his car.

[@PenelopePitstop888]

good theory 👌

[@ZASurvivor]

Actually that's what happened. And whichever farmer owned the land the well was located didn't want this information known and covered it up for unknown reasons.

[@bubbabroad9051]

that was my first thought - his reaction and then gone

[@vicvega3614]

​@@ZASurvivorSome say he fell and was knocked out by hitting his head then in the morning a combine harvester chopped him up and blew his smoothie remains out the back of the machine, and thats why the farmers wouldn't allow their lands to be searched, this has happened many times including kids who have been killed, the farmers cant see a person laying down and it explains why his body was never found. Insaw another channel do a search of the area and found a hill he couldve fell down and hit his head. If he went into the river he wouldve eventually been found, so this theory means his skeleton is still in the well my theory means his body was instantly gone which makes more sense, dudes body was never found, that makes no sense

[@albertafarmer8638]

Yes, sadly there are quite a few old uncovered wells and sewers around. Some farmer might have covered his well afterwards... or someone shot the trespasser and threw him into a hole. Poor boy - this case isn't over yet!

[@susanohnhaus611]

Always trust the dogs. Brandon was tracked from the opposite side of the river, along the bank, to a gravel road and continued north. At some point this trail ended. Either he got in a car, or walked off the road to die of hypothermia since he was wet. He may have felt warm and drowsy, something that happens in this condition, and left the road to curl up and sleep. His phone went silent after he dropped it in the river. His remains cannot be far from where the trail ended.

[@BrittMFH]

Right. And some farmers did not allow their land to be searched.

[@jimgutt749]

@@BrittMFH But do they not use them? This happened in '08 -- said farmer hasn't used the field in 15 years? Or didn't notice human remains when going to use it again? Strange...

[@vicvega3614]

​@@jimgutt749Some say he fell and was knocked out by hitting his head then in the morning a combine harvester chopped him up and blew his smoothie remains out the back of the machine, and thats why the farmers wouldn't allow their lands to be searched, this has happened many times including kids who have been killed, the farmers cant see a person laying down and it explains why his body was never found. I saw another channel do a search of the area and found a hill he couldve fell down and hit his head. If he went into the river he wouldve eventually been found. When he was on the phone he fell and was knocked out, he says "oh shit" in the call, 1 of those farmers know what happened

[@trentbrownstone1481]

One time, I threw drugs out of the window as I was pulled over. The cop stepped on the drugs as he got out, walked back, got his dog, dog walked right over the drugs, "alerted" on my car, no drugs were found, dog walks BACK over the drugs and into the car, cop does the same, cop leaves, I pick up drugs. The dogs are sometimes just doing what they think their handler wants.

[@silvertbird1]

One video stated the gravel roads in the area were coincidentally re-graded the very morning of the disappearance which is what confounded the dogs. It's similar to RMS Titanic - a seemingly unconnected chain of events "conspired" to sink that ship, almost as if it was meant to happen; sadly, the same seems true for this young man.

[@Anonymous-fh5sg]

This is one case that I still think about often. I wish for his parents sake that he would be found and they could have some sort of closure.

[@purpleslurple5149]

I'm amazed his parents waited over 3 hours to contact police, especially since his phone had cut off with an exclamation. Maybe it wouldn't have changed the outcome, anyway. How awfully sad.

[@cindymichel4870]

I would think the well or cistern would be the most likely. I'm not familiar with Minnesota but I know in a lot of rural areas there are old wells around that can be really deep and sometimes get uncovered or the cover rots away. The river would be a very close second but it seems like his body would have been hung up on something eventually, even if it was several miles downstream. Fascinating story in any case. Thanks, Dr. Grande!

[@KristiWilson]

I lived most of my life about 45 minutes north of the area where he disappeared. Yes, open wells and cisterns could be an option. The towns are very small without much to do so he may have been very experienced with alcohol. There are also many small slews - he may have stumbled into one. I know of several people who drowned while duck hunting in slews that were less than 6 feet deep. You get stuck in the mud in one of them and it can be almost like quicksand.

[@susiethomas6909]

The fact that some farmers refused to let their land be searched is infuriating and very suspicious. When a life is on the line, it should not be legal to refuse a search.

[@user-lh7mt7zo7l]

It's because people don't trust feds.

[@hattyburrow716]

In the UK you can’t refuse, it gets searched.

[@reannfrantz9102]

Yeah, I do not get it. Rural ppl can be very oddly private though.

[@jhoughjr1]

When a life is on the line, drive around bar hopping at 2 am cuz "WHEEEEEEEW COLLEGE BOI!" Maybe little alcoholic would be alive had he better role models.

[@Thelikebutton123]

They growing da weed.🤣

[@voidw4lker]

When you're drunk, especially when you're young and not yet used to alcohol, you can do the stupidest and craziest things and really bad accidents can happen (of course also when you're older...). I also think the river will have played a role. There are cases, although they may be rare, in which a body that has been washed away cannot be found.

[@ljb8157]

Not to mention his depth percrption with him having only 1 eye

[@stephenbarone4053]

@traybern VERY used to!! Big assumption, dork. He may have started drinking at 17 but was only 18, or 19 when he disappeared. That's not the sort of experience the first comment is suggesting. NEVER stopped! As if he drank every day...

[@PenelopePitstop888]

The misadventures of youth. I'm just perplexed that he would cross a 10-15 ft deep river/creek in the dark. And that something would have been found, e.g. his keys, phone, etc. And to say "oh sh*t!" ; could he have stumbled upon some kind of clandestine drug operation...or perhaps, he was abducted by aliens.

[@amandanegrete1306]

Thank you for sharing Brandon Swanson’s disappearance Dr Grande. I simply can’t imagine never knowing what became of a loved one. Jason Landry Susanne Streeter Stacy McCall Sherrill Levitt Teekah Lewis Asha Degree Dulce María Alavez Andrew Gosden Amy Billig Precious Hope (little St Louis Jane Doe) Classic Pettus Cincere Pettus Shane Walker Christopher Dansby Jaliek Rainwalker Reed Taylor Jeppson Relisha Rudd The above are a few missing people I think of regularly. I sincerely pray for every missing person and their loved ones.

[@DottieMinerva]

Want to add my friend Sean Marrero of Rochester, NY to this list.

[@lisasim]

Classic and Cincere Pettus

[@amandanegrete1306]

@@lisasim I didn’t know their real last name, TY.

[@amandanegrete1306]

@@DottieMinerva I am very sorry your friend Sean is missing. I’ll search his name online, is there anything on social media we can share? Posters, Facebook pages/groups etc.

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

I had no idea you could even get a driver’s license if you are legally blind in one eye.

[@Alden_Indoway]

You can be totally blind in one eye so long as the other eye has at least 20/40 vision either with or without glasses.

[@Maui_Gyrl_]

It's ppl with no arms who drive with their feet & they have licenses...a special license. Brandon was only blind in one eye so I think he had a special Driver license.

[@drake7036]

I was legally blind in both eyes and just had LASIK fix it. No problem with a license, even when I had glasses/ contacts. Just had to wear them to drive.

[@TheGoffFiles]

My brother was born w only one eye. He has a regular license in NZ. Ppl w one eye learn to compensate by turning their heads more.

[@rsrt6910]

Having driven many time in the Los Angeles basin area it wouldn't surprise me if the California DMV issues drivers licences to people who are TOTALLY blind in BOTH eyes.

[@Nan-59]

How very sad for this young man’s parents.😢

[@JocieFire]

My thoughts exactly. Heartbreaking to be trying to help him and find him.

[@birdlover7776]

Yes

[@megalopolis2015]

Brandon seemed to have a bright future, if he didn't have to face a dim-witted teen phase, as so many of us do. It's so tragic that he took so many risks with little idea of the potential consequences.

[@mikeso2084]

This is the first time I've heard he was blind in one eye. I've watched so many videos on his disappearance and none mention that!

[@stt5v2002]

I would love to hear about a case where someone really did disappear for the purpose of starting a new life. People seem obsessed with this idea, but I can’t think of a single case where someone successfully did this for more than a few years. I’m sure there are such cases, but they must be very rare in the modern age.

[@magdam8290]

Any men that murdered his family and disappeared. There were a couple of such case, the french one, the List family, one guy who is still on fbi wanted list Robert Fischer etc

[@Mona_S]

There's this documentary series about cold cases that get resolved called Gone and there's an episode about Michele Whitaker who went missing and was found alive and well but it was just for 6 years I think.

[@scarletamazon3455]

Look up "the serpent", Charles Sobhraj. That case was in the seventies onward, so it was easier for him to hide and change his identity than it would be nowadays. Modern tech and stricter travelling restrictions and IDs make it harder for people to "vanish" and begin a new life. Completely immoral killer and criminal, a horrifying but interesting case.

[@rolandm9750]

@@magdam8290 Yeah good ol' Johnny List and Robert Fisher were the first that came to mind too. There have been others though, including people that did not commit any crimes before disappearing. People that committed serious crimes have the obvious reason to disappear though, Brandon here not so much. Also as mentioned "disappearing" in the modern age is extremely difficult to do over an extended period, unless perhaps you have a lot of money and get away to a far off country...

[@SweetSassyBull]

Refusing to let anyone search your land when a person has gone missing should be a crime in itself. Shame on those people.

[@jhoughjr1]

Not knowing the constitution should be grounds for immediate deportation.

[@catsandstuff29]

I was thinking the same thing. Surely it should be illegal in exceptional circumstances. Who knows what lays in farmers fields.

[@flailsafe5094]

I hope you don't live in the US, because if you do, you have gravely misunderstood one of the most important things about being an American.

[@Biskawow]

Being a dick?

[@poling1990]

@@catsandstuff29 If they had probable cause they would have gotten a warrant.

[@Pailers]

I cant help but think about the fact that if this happened a year or two later, he almost certainly would've had a smartphone and been able to see exactly where he was. He was so far off of where he told his parents he was!

[@Rose-yu9ll]

that’s what i said! so crazy that something like this happening doesn’t even seem possible anymore

[@aweoak7763]

Street names are on physical signs on every street -@ least every x-stretch; usually @ every intersection. If you do not have smartphone you can walk to that sign to read it "up close" -just to double check you are where you think you are. But his reasoning was impaired by alcohol.

[@nikfilms1]

Poor parents. My heart breaks for them

[@Jared_Wignall]

This is a case that is very puzzling. A number of things could have happened and yet, we don’t have definitive proof to really determine if any of the theories are correct. It’s very unfortunate that he’s not been found all these years later, alive or dead. Thank you for talking about this Dr. Grande, keep up the great work and have a good night. Take care!

[@Maui_Gyrl_]

Maybe they could seek a psychic like the ones who helped police solve cases. Maybe they could provide info to the family. But I think he stumbled onto someone's property & when he said "oh shyt" that's when the person took him out permanently. I think they thought Brandon was a robber or bad person & on instinct out of fear sh*t him. Why else would those farmers not allow police to search their properties??🤔 They know more! It was evidence on their land for sure & they got rid of his body.

[@marthahanley6650]

I'm getting a real "Children of the Corn" vibe with this one. But, then again, Lassie wasn't around to save Timmy from the well. Again! ;P

[@ryanpearson9596]

Why are so many missing person cases best explained by a theory where someone has an unfortunate encounter with a body of water? Everytime, in my mind I hear someone shout: "Who did this!?" then someone says: "the water did it!!!" Water is seriously the most elusive serial killer ever to walk to earth.

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Check out David Pauliides’ theory on water…The Missing 411 is a good book. 😊

[@marielleo4715]

He was by Aliens abducted! This is an option too!

[@smellyreshala5378]

@@Laura-tp8wzDavid purposely misrepresents and leaves out information on real peoples death he’s a grifter

[@Laura-tp8wz]

@@smellyreshala5378 I appreciate your opinion without being nasty. I have followed Dave for years and do my own research to verify as much as possible. Do you have a favourite channel or source you watch? I always like to get other’s perspectives. Be blessed. 😊

[@mrsr003]

So heartbreaking for him and his family! The dangers people put themselves in drinking, partying, going out to the bar, etc. So sad and not worth risking your life over!!!

[@isabellind1292]

@@Aqua-Fyre I'll always remember Prosecuting Attorney John Meador's closing rebuttal statements in the Alex Murdaugh trial (speaking in general terms). Don't be cocky. Be humble. Make good choices.

[@roxannespahr2804]

This is a tragic case. Alcohol, in my opinion, impairs people quicker and with more intensity than even some hard drugs. My little brother died at 26 yrs old in Diamond Lake in 2011, due to alcohol. I cannot even stand the smell of alcohol on someone's breath. Thank you for another great analysis. I watch a lot of true crime and you come up with some interesting cases I've never heard of. 😀❤️

[@PenelopePitstop888]

Sorry for your loss.🥺 My Dad lost to alcohol at 49.

[@roxannespahr2804]

@@PenelopePitstop888 Thank you.❤️ Sorry you lost your dad so young. Alcohol definitely takes alot of lives and causes a lot of addictions.

[@PenelopePitstop888]

@@roxannespahr2804 I'm same way, smell & taste of alcohol repels me. It's a very mysterious case here, another poster posits the 'fell into an abandoned water well hole". This theory would explain a lot.

[@markmike7933]

then you know tragically little about hard drugs

[@jhoughjr1]

That's my experience too. Alcohol is probably the worst drug overall. I caught on real quick to its reality distortion powers. Why I prefer cannabbis. Never done anything dumb from cannabis and always have a clear assessment of my abilities. Alcohol though definitely affects decision. making in an unalterable way.

[@occhamite]

I think there is one possibility that fits a little better than #1, the "river" idea: You mentioned that several farmers in the area refused to allow their land to be searched. It is easy to imagine a farmer is such a remote location, and in the wee hours to boot, being awakened by the sound of an "intruder," possibly crashing through nearby brush, or even knocking on the door. The farmer then takes possibly rash self-defense measures, the boy ends up dead. ( It is claimed that guns in homes more often end up shooting innocents than intruders). This could even explain the last words of Brandon: maybe he suddenly found himself looking down the barrel of Billyfred's shotgun. The farmer, realizing his mistake, panics, buries the body somewhere on his property, and later refuses permission for a police search of his land.

[@katrinashostakovich3607]

That's what I thought too

[@poling1990]

Dogs would have tracked it and the farmer very likely could have pleaded self defense. This seems unlikely as any shot would have possibly been caught on the phone as well.

[@occhamite]

​@@poling1990 Dogs DID track the guy, and lost the scent. The guy has to be SOMEWHERE, and it could just as easily be "underground" as anywhere else. The fact that no trace was ever found increases the likelihood that the body was buried. Yes, the farmer could "very likely have pleaded self-defense", but not necessarily. people do bungle self-defense situations all the time and end up in trouble, and in any case, people do not always act rationally or sensibly, particularly in extremely stressful situations like homicides. Finally, what makes you think the phone had to be on when the hypothetical shot was fired? It's easy enough to imagine the guy hearing someone or something approaching, and turning his phone off in order to listen or to wait in silence until he figured out what was going on.

[@hhp2932]

How suspecious that some farmers wouldn't allow their properties searched.

[@murielleg3948]

Thank you for covering this case. I'd heard about it but didn't really understand what happened. I still don't know what happened, but I understand the events that lead to the disappearance a lot more.

[@heatherroberson1648]

Yes thank you for discussing how alcohol makes people make life threatening mistakes and so much more detriment. Not sure why it is legal and promoted so much. Love your cacti ❤

[@cherylhaskell9830]

Theory #2 makes sense. Initial report stated father could hear rushing water when Brandon seemed to fall and swore.

[@joeblough261]

Wasn't drowning in the river theory #1?

[@benjaminperez1149]

My son is also blind and going deaf. He is also developmentally disabled. I don’t let him go anywhere by himself.

[@janmartin1408]

This story is so tragic! I feel for the parents! We have no control of our grown kids, and pray every day that they make the right decisions. I pray for peace for the parents.

[@CR-ru1kw]

I’m with one of Dr. Grande’s theory. He’s intoxicated, trying to avoid law enforcement, it’s dark, half blind, tired, confused etc. How unfortunate for that young man 💔😞💔. Great analysis 🧐.

[@cathyosullivan718]

I’ve heard stories about men who drowned after drinking. One fell in water while urinating. Sad story.

[@sondragramse1770]

There are ALOT of those stories . College kids drinking ending up in the river. Too many ... IMO

[@cathycollins9011]

No one should drink and drive.

[@dissidentfairy4264]

The fact that he said "Oh sh*t" tells me that he encountered something not someone that made him say that. I don't see him saying that over seeing another person whether he was alarmed by them or not. It sounds more like something he would say if he fell into water. If he fell into a well I doubt he would have had time to react. He was caught by surprise by something. So I feel your theory is most logical Dr. Grande. My condolences to his family.

[@Maui_Gyrl_]

I think he was walking on someone's land bc he was drunk he didn't know. And maybe the farmer seen him lurking and thought he was a bad person or robber and on instinct, he sh*t him. That's why he said, "oh shyt"..bc he probably seen the farmer w the g*n. Why else would those farmers not allow police to search their properties if they didn't have something to hide? Just my thought

[@MattCarvin]

⁠@@Maui_Gyrl_that’s what I think too. I can hear the exact way I’d say “oh sh*t” out loud if I looked up and a farmer was pointing a gun at me

[@dissidentfairy4264]

I agree. That thought occurred to me too but his father would have heard the gunshot I would think. It was dark so he no doubt wouldn't have seen it coming. I feel his father would have heard the shot first before he said what he did. Which makes me feel that whatever happened to him happened in silence. Falling into the water makes more sense, but you would think his body would have surfaced after all these years. I also agree that the farmers should have been forced to allow their properties to be searched. What gives them immunity? @@Maui_Gyrl_

[@vikramgupta2326]

It's ridiculous when searchers or police confidently say they would've found a person had they gone into a river. This kid must really have been inebriated if he was so far off from his believed location.

[@yoni-in-BHAM]

I've seen a documentary about a guy who finds missing people in waterways. Most of them were in vehicles though. These unfortunate people have been missing for years and found not too far from their homes. These waterways were dismissed by law enforcement because they were seen as not possible, or too shallow, with the old "we've looked, if anyone was down there, we would've found them!" 😳

[@JE4-1]

I have vision loss in one eye. I've tripped over so many things because of this (and have fallen down a hill…). I can see him tripping over something because of the lack of spatial awareness more than I can see it being a depth perception thing. Modern well casings for residential use are generally 4-6” in diameter. Small enough for a puppy to fall into, but not a human. Municipal and commercial casing are often in the range of 16-20” in diameter, which is large enough to fall into. However, there are none in the area that aren’t enclosed in buildings. The only well that is large enough for an adult male to fall into that would have been accessible to Brandon is a hand-dug brick or timber lined well. Any in the area would be over 100 years old and most likely be collapsed. An intact pioneer well is an exceptionally rare thing in this area (if they are in the area at all). The likelihood that he found the one intact pioneer well in the entire region is extremely low . IMO - Brandon drowned in one of the many waterways in the area. Possible waterways include: The Yellow Medicine River to the south and west. The Mud Creek to the north. , or any of the many drainage ditches in the area. It was dark and he was walking across a field without knowing the land or area, his drinking impaired his thinking. it's possible that he slipped and fell into either the River or Creek if so his body may be pinned under by debris or stuck in a crevice.

[@raquellofstedt9713]

I would agree, butwe have some here in Sweden that are over two hundred years old that are stone lined that have NOT collapsed. Those on our land we have either back filled ourselves or have to contineully check the covers to make sure they still hold. Minnesota has a lot of Swedes who emigrated to the US at about the time these were dug.

[@JE4-1]

@@raquellofstedt9713 Interesting.

[@judyt.3228]

Sense of entitlement????? No, he was just a kid that made poor choices!!!!

[@davidowen9671]

A kid? What an 8 year old? And here I was thinking he was an adult, responsible for his own decisions, whether he understood this or not Some years back I heard an English mom commenting on the death of her motorcycle-joyriding son, killed at 100 mph between the opposing traffic lanes of a two lane road. She still found a way of slipping in some comment about the shared responsibility of the other drivers, not looking out enough for such things!

[@captainamerica6525]

Ive heard of this incident some time ago but never in depth as you have explained it. My thinking is that he fell into a cistern, old well, something like that. For the call to end so abruptly would lead me to believe that. I do find it suspicious that there were farmers that would not allow their land to be searched.

[@lynnzena4508]

Nice!! Sunday night treat!! Always love your take on these cases! The subject matter is sad in most of the cases but you deliver your analyses in a respectful manner. ❤

[@ericdelay5269]

I just saw a very similar case where the young man fell in an abandoned well that’s opening was covered by plants. The area had been searched extensively but hikers found it later.

[@mikegardens]

It wouldn't be the first time someone crossed a farm field and fell into a cistern, well or disused septic tank and disappeared. It's frustrating that some of the farmers wouldn't let police search their fields.

[@Mrch33ky]

Farmers may have been worried about being sued if his body turned up on their property. It's basically a slip and fall resulting in death on your property. Would you want to lose your farm because some drunk kid trespassed and then died on your property?

[@mikegardens]

@@Mrch33ky If I knew there was a missing person and dead body on my property, YES I would let authorities know. I wouldn't deny a family closure because I was worried about being potentially sued. I would deserve to be sued if I left a well or cistern open.

[@kenw2225]

Even if you went bankrupt and lost your job , house, and farm? What would you do after that? Start over new ? How's your family enjoying being homeless and hungry? Would your wife stay?

[@j.bean8672]

If he was walking in a field, was he walking in a cow pasture? Growing up next to a dairy farm, people cutting through the field & chased by a bull happened more than once! One young guy was almost killed. Just a thought.

[@ambroseacres]

Thank you for keeping me entertained during evening chores Dr Grande!

[@longshanks5531]

Can’t stress enough, if you’re in a situation like this, STAY where you are especially if you have shelter like a car. Do not wander around in the cold dark.

[@kcmet79]

This has always been one of the creepier “missing” stories of which I’ve heard, even tho foul play seems unlikely. The fact Brandon thot he had crossed W-E highway 19 (pretty much required to be “near Lynd” from his starting point) seems to show he was likely impaired, even if his parents hadn’t picked up on it via the phone calls.

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

I would be real suspicious of the farmers who refused a search.

[@matthewnorman2951]

As a lifelong farmer, I would not be surprised by the denial to search.

[@Someonerandom1656]

@@matthewnorman2951 why not?

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

You didn't address the possibility that he was abducted by aliens. What this young man failed to realize that he was better off staying with his car and waiting for help rather than trapsing through farmland in the middle of the night. Even if he was afraid of the cops, more than likely his parents would have found him before the cops would if they wouldn't have called them anyway. What a terrible tragedy for his family too.

[@PenelopePitstop888]

Thought about an abduction too. 👽

[@Danni-8890]

This was my first thought

[@jmac3934]

Exactly why its one of the cases investigated by David Paulides for his "Missing 411" series. Wikipedia falsely slanders him and he cant access the page, dont believe what they write about him. Books on his website for $25.

[@isabellind1292]

They know we're onto them. They wouldn't risk someone having "Indian Love Call" on their phone.💦👽💦

[@birdlover7776]

Missing 411…

[@Flamsterette]

After the Criminally Listed video I'm currently watching, I'll switch to this one! I also watched the EWU upload on Jodi Arias today. Thanks for the upload, Dr. Grande!

[@stephaniesamra7960]

What’s the EWU upload on Jody arias?

[@Flamsterette]

@@stephaniesamra7960 Unreleased Tapes Reveal Jodi's Twisted Mind

[@peytonweb]

​@@stephaniesamra7960EWU is the Explore with Us channel.

[@paschallhouston]

A lot of marijuana being grown in the area for people not wanting their property searched for a missing young man.

[@paulah317]

I grew up in that area and lived in one of those towns on highway 68. I remember the story of his disappearance and it was in the local news for quite some time. I've wondered what happened to him and figured he fell into an abandoned well and died.

[@m.brooks7776]

Dr. Grande as a long time viewer thank you for all that you do. your videos never fail to calm my anxiety despite the often dark and disturbing subject matter. your delivery is like none other and I love your dry humor as well, it softens the seriousness of the content. well done as always I appreciate your work so much 😊 (edited for dumb typo oops 😅)

[@lisabradford8180]

It's not likely that a killer would be out there, but the man that kidnapped and killed Jacob wetterling was indeed in a cornfield when he stopped Jacob and the boys with him.

[@elliebellie7816]

Just like a different Brandon (Lawson) who went missing in Texas, I believe time will eventually reveal what happened to this guy. Don't drink, drive, and do drugs folks.

[@adriel7229]

This case is so similar to Brandon Lawton. For those who aren't familiar, Brandon Lawton ran out of gas in the middle of the night in rural Texas. He also spoke with family (his brother) on his cell phone, then disappeared. Many local landowners refused to let their land be searched. Earlier this year they were able to search some land they previously were not and Brandon L's remains were finally found. His brother admits Brandon was using drugs and was having a mental health episode due to it that night. He got lost in a field and died of exposure. So glad Brandon L's family finally has closure.

[@isabellind1292]

@@adriel7229 Thank you.

[@alexisavenged6538]

I've seen this story on TV and KZbin and find it interesting how much wasn't covered - like his DUI and partial blindness. While i get you want help looking in the early days, the full picture might have been helpful. Either way, a family lost a son and that's beyond tragic.

[@ghosthost1672]

Ive done this before taking the backroads to avoid the cops when i was younger

[@katherinebergdahl2669]

I graduated in 2007 and this case has always haunted me because it could just as easily been me or one of my friends in this kind of situation

[@thegatesofdawn...1386]

Brandon freaked out before he vanished, something bad happened to him. He wanted help he wasn't trying to get lost. He made some bad decisions., with tragic results.

[@Josue_Cristobal]

One element not mentioned that could mitigate the idea that he fell into the river is that when his parents and others tried to contact him after the last “oh shit!” call, his phone would ring before going to voice mail. This went on for a day or two. So if he went into the river, he didn’t take his phone with him. And I think the fact that some farmers wouldn’t allow their land to be searched is a pretty glaring gap in the search, and not to mention seems suspicious on the part of the land owners. They’re searching for someone’s son. Why wouldn’t they let it be searched? Further, do police really need “permission” to search private property when it comes to a missing person’s case?

[@poling1990]

You always need permission unless you have a warrant.

[@drswaqqinscheckingin7210]

I dropped a diamond ring in your yard, can I come in and dig through your mothers jewelery box to see if it's in there? NO!??!?? WHY NOT??? SOMETHING TO HIDE?? METHINKS SOMEONE IS AWFULLY SUSPICIOUS.

[@flaminhotyoshi7403]

This is my “pet case” and I’m glad to finally see it covered on here. I agree that theory #1 is likely, but I would rate theory #2 slightly above it; mainly due to the scent dogs and the fact that the river had been searched thoroughly. Additionally, there are the farmers who haven’t given permission for their land to be searched, leaving many acres of farmland that could potentially be of interest. I’m sad that he’s been missing for 15 years and his family hasn’t had closure. But I also appreciate that you brought up how the alcohol was a factor and inadvertently led to the “perfect storm” of events that led to his disappearance.

[@isabellind1292]

You never know what'll turn up one day. 18 yr old Joshua Maddux of CO went for a walk one day in 2008 and never came home. His remains were discovered 7 yrs later in a neighboring, abandoned cabin chimney when the owner came to demolish the cabin. Such a terrible demise to be stuck in a chimney, less than a mile from his home, all alone to die. I hope people have been able to get some drones in the air in Brandon's case. The not-knowing would be nearly unbearable to live w/everyday. Poor loved ones.💓

[@bigl9478]

Do they seriously give drivers licenses to people who are blind in one eye in the US?! That is the most unsettling part for me.

[@franbeller5897]

Brandon was not blind. He was legally blind

[@r.c.miller6161]

More unsettling than his disappearance?

[@ncsprung1847]

I had a coworker who was blind in one eye due to an accident in adulthood. He still drove. I also knew a woman who was almost entirely blind in one eye. She still drove. So, yes, You can have a drivers license with one good eye.

[@trentbrownstone1481]

​@@franbeller5897 he was BLIND IN ONE EYE

[@trentbrownstone1481]

Yeah, it's nuts. Imagine, there are 80 year olds driving RIGHT NOW with only one working eye.

[@rejaneoliveira5019]

Great closing thoughts, Dr. Grande. I couldn’t agree more. This is certainly a tragic case that could easily be avoided. Thank you!❤

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Great video, as always, Dr. Grande. ❤ Disappearances are so disturbing. We appreciate your interesting and informative analysis and look forward to your daily videos.❤

[@gregevans6044]

Wonder if he approached or even knocked on a farmer’s door and was shot out of fear. Not necessarily intentional murder. And then concealed somewhere on the property. ??? I’ve seen this case just recently. Definitely baffling. Thanks as always, Dr. G!

[@vikramgupta2326]

Less likely than theory #1 but it would explain why some farmers did not consent to their property being searched. But based on the phone convo, doesn't sound like it.

[@PenelopePitstop888]

I was thinking something similar. 🤔

[@user-lf9og2sr6n]

❤Thank you❤Sending LOVE, please pass it on❤❤❤

[@jaydenn.douglas]

I’ve always wondered if he had gotten drugged/roofied. It’s strange that he stated he didn’t drink that much and all this disorientation occurred.

[@RoseGrace100]

Thank you for covering this case. I’ve live in MN my entire life and this is a big case here.

[@Jason21012]

Not like anything else happens there. I’ve been to Wisconsin and it still looked like the 50’s

[@maxalberts2003]

@@Jason21012 Where the hell do you live? Visit the Twin Cities much? Um...we're considered the most progressive state in the nation, with top school systems and medical centers as well as theatres and art and cultural centers. Also great natural beauty. Ever visited Bemidji? Or the North Shore? Or the Boundary Waters? If you don't like Minnesota you won't like northern California or the northwest coast, either. I can't imagine where you'd want to live. But it's probably some low rent place like "Vegas" or Miami....Wow, you've been to WISCONSIN?????!!!! You sure are well-traveled!

[@elliebellie7816]

While Dr. Grande may be off on his assessment of Minnesota I can tell you it's not a paradise for everyone for many reasons.

[@nanaman]

@@maxalberts2003 Are you mad

[@valentinakren8816]

Do you think maybe one of the local farmers harmed him?

[@Rasputin443556]

You have to admit that he did achieve his goal of avoiding law enforcement. And everyone else, it seems.

[@lewisdoherty7621]

There is a similar story in Louisiana in which a driver who had probably been drinking instead of taking the main straight-line highway home likely decided to avoid the weekend DWI checkpoints, took the bending River Road which follows the curving Mississippi River/levee, ran off the road and became stuck. The police on one of their patrols checking river warehouse properties, found the car, ran the license plate and went to his house thinking he might be hiding from him in order to avoid a DWI. Eventually, from what they could tell, he may have gone up and walked on the levee only to fall into the river. The body was never found.

[@joettekanter7699]

Dr.G, 😊 Thank you for another informative analysis. I agree with you that he drowned, but it was odd that a few farmers refused to allow their land to be searched. When there is an active police investigation I didn’t think anyone was allowed to refuse. This was some interesting information and I’m sure the laws vary state to state.

[@user-ru3ql6ji4p]

That's a sad story, but there's really no mystery. Brandon died of exposure and his remains were never found because some farmers did no let searches to be conducted on their properties.

[@LKre-vi5oq]

Uhhh, if it's a missing person, the farmers cannot refuse a le search.

[@katrinashostakovich3607]

Did u not watch the video?

[@lindawilson4625]

He consumed more alcohol than anyone thought. If you accept that along with everything else we know about him it all makes sense. Therory #2 most likely IMO with #1 a very close second. Youthful idiotic mistakes in a pitch black environment. Another great analysis. THANKS!

[@andrea439]

His poor parents

[@BonnieLiedtka]

Very informative. My first guess is that he drowned I'm wondering if in time skeleton remains would of washed up on the bank and in time maybe someone would find some remains and they report them. It would be nice for family to have closure 🦋

[@PenelopePitstop888]

Yes it would; never knowing is tragic.

[@SkipFlem]

sinkhole???

[@wintercame]

He didn't know where he was, overshot his own town on his way home unknowingly, and drove into a ditch. He was drunk.

[@marknewell997]

I believe he fell into the river, clambered out again and died of exposure later in a field. Farmer could have unwittingly ploughed the body, or found and buried him.

[@NYCHFAN]

If there is irrigation going on, the water being pumped out of the well will sound pretty loud. The theory of hypothermia sounds most likely, especially since his scent was picked up on both sides of the river. Being impaired would raise the risk significantly. It's possible coyotes, a cougar, or wild boar dragged off his body.

[@R2Bl3nd]

May he rest in peace. Whether or not his actions contributed to his death, it was probably not his intention. And he definitely didn't deserve the outcome that most likely happened. This also makes me wonder, what can we learn from this? I think there's plenty of lessons here even though we don't know what happened. Because if those are possibilities, we have to treat them all as if they happened because we can't rule anything out. I think the actual lessons themselves are pretty self-evident in terms of what the correct actions would have been. But often it's only in hindsight that one can realize this, as is the tragic case here. He made a string of poor decisions, none of which was a fatal one per se, but they all worked together insidiously. Just like with aviation, the more layers of safety you remove, the riskier the situation is, and it could develop into an accident If unchecked.

[@chubbycatfish4573]

I've always thought he fell in a hole of some kind... an old mine shaft or well maybe.

[@GelatinousCube-jw8vg]

Forgot about this one. Kind of terrifying to think that one minute a person is there and the next they are seemly gone from the face of the earth.

[@cmurdock5256]

Aliens? Yes I'm serious. I think definitely a possibility.

[@juli859]

Intersting insights on this case. Thank you for sharing! I always enjoy your videos.

[@johnnymidnight2982]

The foul play could have been a wild animal (although no animal calls were recorded) or he stumbled into a meth operation. Some wild animals may not sound when they strike, like a cougar or mountain lion. Minnesota farm country has been known to have some nasty critters.

[@Taco_Raider]

Not familiar with this case. Eager to learn of it, and hear your analysis. Thanks, Doc!

[@theraptorsnest5891]

I agree that he probably slipped into the river and was overwhelmed by the cold temps, or swift water, and in an impaired state, he found himself unable to exit the water. The only thing that bothers me about this is the fact that this water way isn't very big or swift and one would think that his body would be easily recoverable.

[@Slow_Hand_Path]

This case is ultimately a large mystery of a missing persons. Because search and rescue is a pretty well settled science. The experts in search and rescue know how to comb an area thoroughly and find a body, even when there's water involved. That's what makes this so unsettling. Additionally with it not being a raging river, but more of a creek the notion that he could have been swept away somewhere never to be found again is really almost impossible.

[@johnny10grasp3]

If he heard running water then it must have been fast enough to take him away.

[@civotamuaz5781]

Well then surely it must've been the aliens.

[@cats.addict6457]

What shock me the most in this story is that farmers have the right to refuse their land to be search related to an alleged murder or even just a simple accident. So it means u can kill someone and get away with it if the police can't even inspect the place. That makes absolutely no sense to me

[@momof1576]

You have to have grounds to search without a warrant. That being said I suspect the police didn’t bother to even try to get a warrant.

[@cats.addict6457]

@@momof1576 true, I agree with both of your points

[@poling1990]

If the dogs had traced the scent to the border of a property a warrant could have been obtained. No reason to just search every farm within a few miles of where the car was without consent.

[@markpinther9296]

That water is damn cold in May as all the snow is melting. Farm fields can be very muddy early in the season and I mean mud that can be up to 1.5 feet thick. Thick enough to rip your shoes or boots off. Almost impossible for a SOBER person to walk through. The moon was 73% illuminated that night which actually contributed to his desire to cut across farm fields. He could see farther… thus more confident.

[@magicunicorn4710]

This case comes to my mind from time to time. There were some aspects I did not know and learnt from watching you Dr. Grande. Hopefully his parents can get some closure some day

[@chelseamag3125]

This case made me think of Grant Solomon.. I would love to hear your take on that case.

[@astralshore]

Alcohol: the socially accepted hard drug.

[@glendasully]

This is so sad. I feel badly for him & his parents

[@LectronCircuits]

Disappearance (with presumed gruesome death) can happen to anybody at any time. Let's be careful out there! Audience wishes his folks all the best. Cheers!