Penn State Student's Hazing Death Was No Accident, Grand Jury Says
Eight Beta Theta Pi fraternity members face charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of a new pledge in February. For nearly 12 hours after Timothy Piazza fell, no one called an ambulance.
His death was initially ruled an accident. But a grand jury that looked into the case of Timothy Piazza, a Penn State University student who died after a night of excessive drinking in February, is now calling it "the direct result of encouraged reckless conduct."
Eight Beta Theta Pi fraternity members face charges of involuntary manslaughter; another 10 face lesser charges. The charges include multiple counts of hazing, reckless endangerment of another person, and furnishing alcohol to minors.
Piazza's injuries included a fracture at the base of his skull and a ruptured spleen. It wasn't until 10:48 a.m. the morning after a Feb. 2 party that an ambulance was called.
