Woodstock Student Faces New Manslaughter Charges In Hazing Death

Involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges have been re-filed against 11 Beta Theta Pi brothers in connection with the alleged hazing death of a 19-year-old sophomore last February at Penn State University, authorities said Friday. One of those charged is Michael Bonatucci, 19, of Woodstock.

The most serious charges against the fraternity brothers, including Bonatucci, had been dismissed in August after a five-day preliminary hearing. Magisterial District Judge Allen Sinclair dismissed all counts of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. The unexpected ruling came as a blow to the prosecution, who vowed at the time to refile the charges.

Timothy Piazza, a sophomore from New Jersey, took a fatal fall after becoming heavily intoxicated at the party on Feb. 2. No one called for help until late the next morning, and Piazza died Feb. 4. He suffered head and internal injuries, doctors said, and had a life-threatening blood alcohol level following an alleged hazing ritual on bid acceptance night, prosecutors said.

A total of 18 Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers were charged in connection with Piazza's death; two waived their preliminary hearing. Eight fraternity brothers faced manslaughter charges. Others were charged with aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and related charges.

RELATED: Penn State Frat House Death: Fast Drinking, Slow Death, Frantic Coverup In Grand Jury Timeline

"The Commonwealth today resurrected every single count for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault against every single one of the eight defendants originally charged," Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said in a statement.

She continued:

"The Commonwealth filed the new criminal complaints in the office of Magisterial District Judge Allen Sinclair as required by law since he was the presiding judge over the last preliminary hearing. However, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, the District Attorney's Office will also be filing a Motion requesting the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas to assign an alternate issuing authority (a different Magisterial District Judge) to preside over the next preliminary hearing."

The following charges have been refiled against Bonatucci after dismissal by Judge Sinclair: Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Furnishing Alcohol to Minors, Unlawful Acts Relative to Liquor

Related: A who's who of the defendants in the Penn State hazing case

Bonatucci's family issued a public statement in May saying the charges were "inappropriate." The statement came hours after Timothy Piazza's parents appeared on several morning news programs. In an 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.

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.

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."

Click here for a timeline of the case.

— Story by Patch Editor Kara Seymour

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