Two former Penn State students who orchestrated the hazing incident that left New Jersey freshman Timothy Piazza dead have pleaded guilty to 15 counts of hazing and reckless endangerment.
Beta Theta Pi President Brendan Young, 28, and Vice President Daniel Casey, 27, were in charge of the fraternity when it organized the drinking “obstacle course” that left Piazza, 19, dead of traumatic brain injury in February 2017.
The young engineering student drank 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes and was knocked unconscious after falling 15 feet down a flight of stairs, but it took more than 12 hours for the alarm to be raised.
More than 1,000 charges have been filed against 18 members, making it the largest criminal indictment against a fraternity and its members in U.S. history.
“This case cannot be discussed without acknowledging the tragic loss of life and the resulting devastation to Mr. Piazza’s family and friends,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry.
Timothy Piazza, 19, drank 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes before collapsing and falling down a flight of stairs during a Beta Theta Pi hazing ritual at Penn State in February 2017
Beta Theta Pi President Brendan Young has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of hazing and one count of reckless endangerment
Young and his vice president Daniel Casey, pictured, were originally charged with more than 200 counts each, including involuntary manslaughter
On February 2, fourteen members were taken to the student house, where they were forced to drink a glass of vodka several times. They were then forced to walk an obstacle course, drink beer and wine, and play beer pong.
Video played in court showed Piazza collapsing just before 11:30 p.m., but no one came to his aid.
Then, over the next eight hours, we watched him collapse repeatedly when trying to crawl, roll on the floor, vomit in his sleep, and occasionally lose consciousness.
As the hours passed, he was thrown against a bench by one of the fraternity members, had a beer or several beers thrown over him, and later found himself in a coma as a young man threw his shoes at the visibly drunk student.
When Piazza was carried to a bench just after 10:00, several members of the fraternity had already left for school. However, it was another 45 minutes before 911 was called.
Three student association members were sentenced in April 2019 to prison terms ranging from 30 days to nine months for their roles in the student’s death.
Joshua Kurczewski, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hazing, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was sentenced to three to nine months in prison.
Prosecutors say he set up the beer pong station, carried beer into the frat house and gave beer to at least 10 members, including Piazza. He was also at the bottom of the stairs when Piazza fell into the basement.
A total of 28 members of the now-closed Beta Theta Pi house (above) at Penn State were charged at some point after Piazza died during the fraternity’s pledge acceptance night in February 2017.
Parents Evelyn Piazza, left, and Jim Piazza, right, have spoken to thousands of students on college campuses across the country in an effort to end hazing.
Michael Bonatucci, 21, who pleaded guilty to three counts of hazing and one count of conspiracy to commit hazing, ran the beer shotgun station. He was sentenced to 30 days to six months in jail.
Luke Visser, 21, pleaded guilty to six counts of hazing and one count of conspiracy to commit hazing. Prosecutors say he took photos of the victim as he lay unconscious on a couch. He was sentenced to two to six months in prison.
A fraternity brother who was present at the first fall said in an interview that he was thrown against a wall when he tried to help Piazza, a claim supported by footage shown in court.
Kordel Davis made animated gestures after seeing Piazza lying on the couch, at which point he was thrown against the wall by another fraternity member.
Another fraternity member saw him vomiting in his sleep on the couch and texted a few friends about the incident, but did not call for medical help or alert authorities.
Some members tried to hide what had happened that night, including a text message found by police urging them to destroy evidence of alcohol.
The case shocked America and prompted the introduction of the Timothy Piazza Antihazing Law, which criminalized serious injuries or deaths resulting from hazing. The law has since been signed into law by the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Piazza’s parents, Jim and Evelyn, have spoken to thousands of students on college campuses across the country in an effort to end hazing. Shortly after their son’s death, Penn State permanently banned Beta Theta Pi, accusing the school of a “persistent pattern” of excessive drinking, drug use and hazing.
Michael Bonatucci, 21, and Luke Visser, 21, were two of three former Penn State fraternity brothers convicted in connection with Piazza’s death
In October 2018, Michael Angelo Schiavone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to furnish alcohol to minors after it was revealed he controlled the fraternity’s “slush fund” that was used to pay for drinks. Dozens of other cases are still pending in court.
State College Police Detective David Scicchitano said Piazza had a blood alcohol content of nearly 0.40 percent, five times the legal limit for drivers when he was found.
The 19-year-old died on February 4 after being rushed to surgery with a ruptured spleen and class IV hemorrhagic shock.
“Mr. Piazza simply wanted to join a social organization to serve the community and share experiences, as so many college students do,” Henry said.
“Most of these students have successful lives and successful careers. These are basic expectations that you can expect after your studies, but that Mr. Piazza never had the chance to experience.”
Young and Casey will be sentenced on October 1.