18 Charged In Penn State Frat House Death

BELLEFONTE, PA — Eighteen people have been charged in connection with the death of Penn State student Timothy Piazza during a fraternity party in February. The charges follow an investigation that revealed minors were provided copious amounts of alcohol that they were forced to drink rapidly as part of a hazing ritual.

The investigation further revealed fraternity members did not summon the help that was so desperately needed after the 19-year-old sophomore student fell down a flight of stairs during the Feb. 2 pledge party, the Centre County District Attorney announced Friday.

Charges include involuntary manslaughter, hazing, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault, among others. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity itself has also been charged, Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said during the news conference.

Piazza, a student from New Jersey, was intoxicated when he fell down the stairs during the fraternity party. Authorities say members in the frat house did not summon medical attention after he fell and instead placed him on a couch, where he remained for 12 hours.

He died two days later as a result of his injuries, which included a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and traumatic brain injury. Officials have said his death was preventable and that the injuries initially were not life-threatening.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the grand jury investigation revealed Beta Theta Pi pledges were forced to participate in the fraternity's ritual known as “the gauntlet.” During "the gauntlet," pledges had to visit stations that featured various ways to consume alcohol quickly, such as games and chugging.

A fraternity member told the grand jury that some pledges drank as many as five alcoholic drinks in two minutes, the Inquirer report said.

Eight are charged with manslaughter, including Chapter President Brendan Young and Pledge Master Daniel Casey, as well as six others: Jonah Neuman; Nick Kubera; Michael Bonatucci; Gary Dibileo; Luke Visser; and Joe Sala.

Eight other fraternity brothers face related charges of reckless endangerment, furnishing alcohol to minors, hazing and tampering with evidence.

The Penn State Interfraternity Council has issued a statement in response to the charges. "Our thoughts continue to lie with the Piazza family as the justice process moves forward," Michael Cavallaro, the organization's VP for Communications, said in a statement. He said Penn State's greek organizations are focused on preventing another similar tragedy in the future.

"We are committed to addressing the critical issues in our fraternity community head on," Cavallaro said in the statement.

A video of the fatal frat party exists, according to sources, and will likely play a role in the case. The university has since revoked recognition of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.