More than 1,000 counts were levied against 18 members of Beta Theta Pi, including eight who were charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. For the first time, the public may see surveillance video showing what happened inside a Penn State fraternity house before a student died. We are highly offended by the insensitivity displayed given the severity of the crimes committed and ultimate outcome.. Eight members of the fraternity face involuntary manslaughter charges in Piazzas February 4 death. A Pennsylvania judge handed out the first jail sentences in the hazing death of Penn State sophomore Timothy Piazza. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017 after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. One former fraternity member allegedly texted his girlfriend "drink hazing can send me to jail," and "I don't want to go to jail for this, prosecutors said. In this state of intoxication, he fell on the basement stairs of the house and was knocked unconscious. "No fraternity's existence is worth more than the life of Tim Piazza." Piazza died in February following an alleged hazing ritual in which he was forced to drink a toxic amount of alcohol . Eighteen students are facing charges in connection with Timothy Piazza's death. The students have not entered pleas. (AP Photo/Chris Knight), Michael Bonatucci, left. If it takes eliminating these dens of depravity that wont reform their ways, then do it, Parks Miller said at a press conference. He tries to get on his feet using his hands and falls over. Finally, the report recommended that Penn State establish a confidential hazing hotline. "Trying to raise to his feet in a praying position, and falling back down. Subscribe to our channel for exclusive TODAY archival footage \u0026 our original web series. Luke Visser, 19, of Encinitas, California: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. "No parent wants to see what is apparently on this videotape," Kline said. Last week Piazza's parents joined with a local state politician in announcing a new anti-hazing bill in the hopes to "change the landscape" in Pennsylvania and become a model for the nation. The new charges were filed after the Centre County District Attorney announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had recovered video showing that Piazza had been given at least 18 drinks in an 82-minute span, and that the video had been intentionally deleted. When he reappears on camera, carried by fraternity brothers, his body is limp and his abdomen clearly bruised. Other hazing would be a summary offense. Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com. Within 90 minutes of starting the gauntlet, the video shows Piazza stumbling through the kitchen toward the basement steps. "We will continue to cooperate with authorities in all manners to make sure of it. Piazza is identified as the 9th pledge in line in a suit and tie. The report recommended a zero-tolerance policy against those who violate hazing law and the implementation and enforcement of severe restrictions for underage drinking. In the video, Piazza appeared visibly drunk during the hazing ritual on Feb. 2; he was wobbling as he walked and was unable to stay still, and he appeared more intoxicated than the other students. Today's preliminary hearing will determine whether the 18 brothers, as well as their fraternity, should stand trial. [52] In March 2021, Bream sued Penn State a second time, claiming the university violated his contract and created "intolerable" working conditions as a result of his role in the Beta Theta Pi house. The preliminary hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to county court for trial. Thankfully the judge quickly brought them in order, Jim Piazza said after court. The video shows Piazza staggering through the house the night of February 2 before disappearing near basement stairs where police say he fell 15 steps and lost consciousness. Soon emergency services arrived and Piazza was brought to Mount Nittany Medical Center, but was quickly transported to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center because of the severity of his injuries. He died a day later of traumatic brain injuries. The death of Tim Piazza led to the largest criminal indictment against a fraternity and its members in American history. Courtesy of Patrick Carns A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial and the surveillance video played in court today is a key part of that evidence. Fraternity members didnt call 911 until nearly 12 hours after his first fall. 2. Eight face the most serious charge of aggravated assault, a felony that carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. Another captures Piazza on his phone as he rolls around. His death caused Penn State to permanently ban Beta Theta Pi and sent numerous former brothers to court for their roles in the alcohol-fueled rituals leading up to Piazza's death and the deletion of security footage depicting the fatal night. Two minutes later, the video shows a group carrying Piazza up the stairs unconscious. On the night of February 2, 2017, while undergoing hazing activities for the fraternity, Piazza, on an essentially empty stomach, drank large amounts of alcohol in a short time as part of an obstacle course called "The Gauntlet", which required each pledge to drink from a bottle of vodka, drink a beer, and finally drink from a bag of wine. The video included him stumbling through the house before he was found, hours later, in the basement. The next few hours of video show him in and out of consciousness, rolling on the floor, struggling to stand and repeatedly falling and hitting his head before he disappears again the morning of February 3. Timothy John Piazza (September 25, 1997[1] February 4, 2017) died as the result of hazing at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pennsylvania. The videos were recorded by security cameras inside the Beta Theta Pi house on February 2, and have never been seen publicly. He later tried once more to ascend the basement stairs and was missing until several of the fraternity brothers discovered him several hours later behind the bar in the basement, cold and breathing rapidly. Most serious charges dismissed in Timothy Piazza hazing . Scicchitano said Piazza was clearly injured after his first serious fall, at 11:22 p.m. He is unconscious, his eyes are closed, he is limp. By that time, he had lost all color, and some of the fraternity members thought he may have died, Scicchitano said. [44], The Chronicle of Higher Education pointed out that four pledges died in 2017 alone, but the added media coverage the Piazza case has attracted can help lead to monumental change for the first time. Piazza suffered a traumatic brain injury from several falls, including one down a set of basement stairs, according to a grand jury investigation. Piazza died in February following an alleged hazing ritual in which he was forced to drink a toxic amount of alcohol at least 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes, according to surveillance video. Piazza was hospitalized and pronounced dead in the early hours of Feb. 4, according to a grand jury investigation report. For that reason, we will continue to push for a partnership between student leaders and the university.". 37K views 5 years ago This video is meant to raise awareness about the dangers of hazing. This Oct. 31, 2014 photo shows Timothy Piazza, center, with his parents Evelyn Piazza, left, and James Piazza, right, during Hunterdon Central Regional High School football's "Senior Night" at the high school's stadium in Flemington, N.J. A Warner Bros. STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania - Newly uncovered surveillance video from the basement of Beta Theta Pi shows that on the night of Timothy J. Piazza's hazing death, fraternity brothers gave the . Tampering with evidence and endangerment charges have also been dismissed against three other students, Joseph Ems (ghost brother and leader of dangerous hazing events in the Fall of 2016),[16] Ryan McCann, and Lucas Rockwell. Piazza family attorney Tom Kline told ABC News today, "The video is horrific, it is gruesome, it is something that you couldnt imagine until youve seen it.". Ryan Foster, 21, of Bedford, Massachusetts: Evidence tampering. appreciated. Throughout the night, Piazza is rolling on the floor, getting up, stumbling back down and slamming into the stairs or furniture, the video shows. A forensic pathologist said Piazza had a blood alcohol content between .26% and .36% at one point during the night. ", Barron added, "I am resolved to turn the pain and anguish radiating through our entire community into decisive action and reform, concentrating on the safety and well-being of students at Penn State. One brother said Piazza's eyes were half open and he felt cold. [4], The death of Tim Piazza led to the largest criminal indictment against a fraternity and its members in American history. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Brendan Young Jr., walks out for a lunch break during his preliminary hearing on charges related to the hazing death of Timothy Piazza at Penn State's Beta Theta Pi fraternity; Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Monday, June 12, 2017. The grand jury report also called for a stronger state hazing law. It would be another 42 minutes before anyone called 911. Its a tragic situation, but criminally, Joey Ems did not commit a crime, he said. Meanwhile, the party appeared to go on, as people came and went, some looking concerned about his condition while others seemed to take no notice. Timothy Piazza, who died in 2017 after being hazed during Penn State Beta Theta Pi's fraternity initiation process, poses for his senior night photo in high school with his parents, Evelyn and Jim. Individuals poured liquid on him, slapped him and even threw his own shoes on him, Scicchitano told the judge. Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at Penn State. The surgeons attempting to save his life deemed the injuries to likely be nonrecoverable, and Piazza was pronounced dead in the early morning of February 4, 2017. Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at Penn State. Jim Piazza said he thinks the state bill -- the Timothy J. Piazza Law -- could make Greek life safer, hold those who commit hazing accountable and save lives. About an hour later, while the video is in black and white in night-vision mode, it appears to show Piazza moving into the fetal position many times, also cradling his head a few times. Around 5 a.m., the cameras captured Piazza falling head-first into an iron railing. "My intent with this legislation is clear to prevent death or serious injury due to hazing so that families, such as Tim's, never experience tragedies like this ever again. Members of the fraternity carried Piazza up the steps and put him on the couch. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017, after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremo.Show more --- Courtesy Piazza Family The bill stems from the alcohol-fueled hazing ritual 19-year-old sophomore Tim Piazza participated in at the Beta Theta Pi frat house on Feb. 2, 2017. ", Penn State President Eric Barron said, "There are other measures being discussed and will be instituted over time -- all with a focus on prevention, monitoring and enforcement. Eighteen members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, which has since been banned by Penn State, face a variety of charges, with some accused of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault and others of less serious offenses. It later was revealed that Piazza took prescription anti-depressants, which contributed to his inebriation. [14] Investigators discovered texts in which Schiavone admitted to operating the fraternity's Slush Fund.[14] Schiavone states the Slush Fund was utilized to purchase alcohol for the fraternity's parties. During many months of testimony from multiple witnesses, including former pledges and others with first-hand experience, the Grand Jury collected evidence about the University's response and handling of hazing across the board. Prosecutors fired back saying "maybe [police and EMTs] had medical reasons" not to do that. Toward the end of the hearing, defense lawyer Andy Shubin stood up during a break and said it was cruel and unusual punishment to make the attorneys stay in court for so long. A few brothers appear to touch him or shake him, the detective testified the video shows. The bill would also establish "organizational" and "institutional" hazing categories. After the pledge left the room and Piazza was alone, Piazza went to the basement. It was at this point that he was carried upstairs. Police and EMTs then arrived at the house. A fraternity brother starts to drag him, the video appears to show, and then leaves him on the floor, throwing a blanket over him. Piazza was hospitalized and died the next day. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. At least not today. UPDATE: On Monday a spokesperson for the fraternity told "CBS This Morning," "As these hearings begin, Beta Theta Pi International Fraternity has confidence in the judicial system that due process and justice can and will be served. ", Piazza was a 19-year-old sophomore engineering student at Pennsylvania State University. Magazines, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, Grand Jury Slams Penn State for 'Rampant and Pervasive' Fraternity Hazing After Tim Piazza's Death. Piazza was pronounced dead at the Hershey Medical Center the morning of Feb. 4, 2017. He gets up, walks into a wall, turns around, stumbles and falls over in a pattern repeated for several hours as he staggers through the house in a zombie-like state. Vanity Fair published the article "How a Fatal Frat Hazing Became Penn State's Latest Campus Crisis" on October 3, 2017. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, Pandemic-era food benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise, Prosecutors may reveal key video in Penn State fraternity death. Other lawyers joined in the joke, shocking the Piazzas. [27] The Atlantic article pointed out the ties between Beta Theta Pi and Joe Paterno. Cordell [sic]. [45], In 2020, the Villanova University School of Law analyzed a Penn State Football Hazing lawsuit in which a victim sued Head Coach James Franklin. He got up and tried to reach the front door but fell headfirst into it, knocking himself unconscious again. The Report recommended strengthening laws against furnishing alcohol to minors and that Penn State create a "pledge's bill of rights" that outlines acceptable and unacceptable behavior during the pledge process. After unsuccessful attempts by attorneys to have Bream subpoenaed, the judge in the case ordered that Bream have his own hearing on possible contempt of court and avoiding his subpoena.[21]. And my client was only with him for seconds. The Journal of College and University Law, published in conjunction with Rutgers Law School, analyzed the Pennsylvania laws created out of the Piazza case and determined that not enough legal changes have yet been made. [56], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 17:02, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, List of hazing deaths in the United States, "Recovered video leads to new charges in Penn State fraternity death", "Most serious charges in the Penn State hazing case were dismissed", "Prosecutor: Charges likely in deadly fall at Penn State frat", "Parents: 'Criminal' inaction by Penn State, frat members led to son's death", "A 19-year-old's death became a 'turning point' for America's fraternities", "Abbey's $3.5 million gift boosts Beta house restoration and Greek pride initiative | Penn State University", "READ: Stunning grand jury report on Penn State University fraternity culture", "Students charged with manslaughter in Penn State frat death", "Fraternity And Members Face Hundreds Of Charges In Timothy Piazza Hazing Death", "Former Beta Theta Pi social chairman pleads guilty", "List of 18 defendants, charges in Penn State hazing death", "Former Penn State frat member no longer charged in hazing case: 'No winners here', "18 drinks in 82 minutes: Prosecutor outlines new charges in Penn State frat hazing death", "Ex-fraternity house manager sentenced to 2 years' probation", "Video of Penn State Beta Theta Pi incident was deleted, officer testifies", "PSU hazing judge orders trainer Bream to court", "Former DA Parks Miller's law license suspended", "Castor Splits With Longtime Firm, Joining Phila. 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