College Student's Death 'Not A Penn State Case,' DA Says

EASTON, PA — Authorities do not suspect criminal behavior in connection with the sudden death of a freshman Lafayette College student last week. McCrae Williams, 19, a lacrosse recruit from Massachusetts, died Monday after authorities determined he suffered blunt-force head injuries after attending an off-campus party.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli held a press conference Tuesday afternoon, where he said he is not viewing the situation as "a Penn State case." Charges have not been filed in connection with the case at this time.

RELATED: Timeline Of Events Leading Up To Lafayette Student's Death Released

Morganelli is referencing Penn State student Timothy Piazza, who died in February after falling at a fraternity party. Piazza sustained severe head injuries and internal bleeding as a result of the fall; charges were filed in that case. Prosecutors say his Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers provided him with copious amounts of alcohol and did not summon the help that was needed after he took a series of serious spills during a pledge acceptance party.

While the police investigation into the death at Lafayette is still incomplete, Morganelli said he so far sees no criminal wrongdoing on the part of those who were with Williams in the hours leading up to his death.

The Morning Call reports that Williams' friends sought help for him as soon as they realized how grave his condition was, and they checked on him in the hours leading up to his hospitalization.

According to an NBC10 report, Williams was at an off-campus party in the hours before his death. He then left the party and returned to his dorm room, Ruef Hall North, where he laid in bed until Sunday afternoon. That's when his peers became concerned and called for help, the report said.

Williams was taken to Easton Hospital around 4:20 p.m. Sunday afternoon. He was later moved to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Monday.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim completed Williams' autopsy Wednesday but did not determine a manner of death, saying he's awaiting toxicology results before officially determining how the lacrosse recruit died.

Williams' death is under investigation by Easton Police, Lafayette College Public Safety, the Northampton County District Attorney's Office and the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.