Manslaughter Charges 'Inappropriate,' Woodstock Family Of Accused Penn State Student Says

By Kara Seymour (Patch National Staff)

STATE COLLEGE, PA — The family of a Penn State University student from Woodstock charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a fellow fraternity brother in February has issued a public statement saying the charges are "inappropriate."

The family of Michael Bonatucci, 19, of Woodstock, Ga. issued the statement Monday, hours after Timothy Piazza's parents appeared on several morning news programs. In a Monday interview with Matt Lauer of NBC's "Today," Piazza's father, Jim, said the fraternity brothers who failed to call for help, allowing his son to suffer for 12 hours, are responsible for his death. "They killed him," Jim Piazza said to Lauer.

Timothy Piazza fell 15 feet down a flight of stairs during a Feb. 2 party at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. No one called 911 until the following morning. Piazza died the next day.

Bonatucci's lawyer disputes his client, one of 18 charged in connection with the fatal incident and one of eight facing manslaughter charges, is in any way responsible for that death.

"Michael was not even present in the Beta house when the most salient events and observations alleged in the presentment occurred," according to a statement from the family that was distributed by Rocco C. Cipparone Jr, the lawyer representing Bonatucci.

The charges are "devastating to him and to our entire close-knit family," the family's statement said.

Bonatucci is charged with:

• Involuntary manslaughter
• Aggravated assault
• Simple assault
• Recklessly endangering another person
• Hazing
• Furnishing alcohol to minors
• Unlawful acts relative to liquor

Cipparone did not immediately return a request for comment seeking clarification as to where exactly Bonatucci was as the situation unfolded in the late hours of Feb. 2 and into the early morning of Feb. 3. The harrowing grand jury timeline, created using surveillance footage and witness testimony, can be read here.
Cipparone said the charges against his client, who was in his freshman year at Penn State when the fatal incident occurred, "simply do not fit the facts and evidence known to date."

"There is no indication in that very detailed presentment that Michael personally provided any alcohol to Mr. Piazza; that Michael saw or was aware that Mr. Piazza fell; that Michael saw any bruising or injury to Mr. Piazza; that Michael engaged in the alleged “backpacking” as to Mr. Piazza; that Michael had any physical contact with Timothy Piazza before, during or after he fell; or that Michael participated in any alleged debate about Timothy Piazza’s condition or what to do about it," the lawyer said in the statement.

Cipparone said Bonatucci "is a normal young man who enjoys sports" and is "a wonderful son and human being and we trust that in the judicial process, airing of the true facts will demonstrate he should never have been charged.”

The Centre County District Attorney announced Tuesday that the preliminary hearing for the 18 defendants in the case, originally scheduled for May 17, will be held June 12 at 8:30 a.m.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Penn State Frat House Death: Fast Drinking, Slow Death, Frantic Coverup In Grand Jury Timeline
• 18 Charged In Penn State Frat House Death
• Penn State Frat Party Victim's Family Shares Heartbreaking Details Of His Final Moments
• Brother's Painful Tribute To N.J. Man Who Died At College Frat House
• Penn State Student's Death Now Considered Criminal Investigation

PHOTO: The Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, 220 N. Burrowes St., State College, PA (Google Earth)