Bernero daughter close to 1 of 2 men found dead

WKAR Public Media

Published March 26, 2010 at 5:11 PM EDT

By AP

LANSING, MI –

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero says his daughter was close to one of two Lansing men whose deaths are being investigated as homicides.

Eighteen-year-old Darren Antonio Brown Jr. and 23-year-old Owen Wesley Goodenow died Thursday. Bernero, one of three Democrats running for governor, said at a Friday news conference that his younger daughter, Virginia, was close friends with Brown.

He declined to characterize their relationship but said his daughter came home every week or two from Central Michigan University, where she's a student, and frequently saw Brown. Brown also had been at their home for meals.

Bernero says police told him the two deaths were drug-related. Asked if his daughter was involved in drugs, Bernero said, "I don't believe so, and I certainly hope not."

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