In the video shown in court today, pledges, as part of the ritual, are brought into a basement room and instructed to sit on a bench. 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. [51], Tim Bream, the Penn State Nittany Lions football Head Athletic Trainer, attempted to sue Penn State for wrongful termination but the judge ruled against him, citing prescription drugs being stolen right out of his work desk. By the time help was called the next day, a police official said he had the look of a. Please enter valid email address to continue. Here is how the night of Feb. 2 and early morning hours of Feb. 3. He also was seen falling and hitting his head on the stone floor, and grabbing his head and midsection in apparent agony. They also are charged with involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison. Moments later, fraternity brother Greg Rizzo sent a group text message saying Piazza had fallen down the stairs and might actually be a problem.. ", "The scene of these young pledges walking single file into a room, being put into a lineup where they needed to drink alcohol and be marched out like prisoners of war from the room, only to face one more shot of alcohol, only to face one more round at the wine station, to face one more round of the beer station," Kline said. This scenario has been analyzed in a number of intellectual books, including Discover Sociology: Core Concepts[43] and Harvard University Press's Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels. At about 10 a.m., fraternity members found the 19-year-old back in the basement lying on his back, breathing heavily and with blood on his face, the grand jury report said. Multiple defendants have pled guilty; two defendants have successfully filed a stay. Shortly after 7 a.m., he apparently fell down the basement stairs again. Piazzas father, Jim, rocked back and forth quietly in the front row of the courtroom as he heard his sons final hours described. Its the same system, she said. Jim Piazza addressed the media with his wife Evelyn Piazza and Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, left, on March 23, 2018, in Bellefonte, Pa. Corman unveiled his proposals to make severe hazing a felony and make fraternity houses, where hazing occurs, subject to confiscation during a break in a preliminary hearing for defendants in Tim Piazza's hazing death. [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. Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com. When young men recklessly leverage someones desire for friendship against him and direct him to guzzle enough alcohol to endanger his life so he can aspire to be one of them, and it results in his death or seriously (sic) bodily injury, the crime they face in court should reflect the seriousness of the offense and not the lowest grade misdemeanor Pennsylvania has in its crimes code.. On the night of Feb. 2, 2017, Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore, participated in an alcohol-fueled hazing ritual at the frat house. 2. ABC News' Stephanie Gomulka contributed to this report. Lars Kenyon, 19, of Barrington, Rhode Island: Reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. And they agonized over this decision," Kline said. Civil lawsuit filed by the Piazza family; 25 of 47 defendants settling civilly. [27] The Atlantic article pointed out the ties between Beta Theta Pi and Joe Paterno. Jonah Neuman, Lars Kenyon, and Edward Gilmartin colluded in prohibiting witnesses from calling 9-1-1. The report released by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller on Friday condemned hazing within the Greek community at Penn State as rampant and pervasive, and accused Penn State of demonstrating apathy to drinking culture and turning a blind eye to problems within fraternities. Around 5 a.m., the cameras captured Piazza falling head-first into an iron railing. It cannot be fairly stated that the cause of Timothy Piazzas death was unique to Penn States culture. There is neither a factual nor a legal basis for the critiques and allegations in the Report that the University is somehow responsible for this tragic loss, the university said in its response. She is currently a practicing attorney in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Only one witness, a detective, testified during about 10 hours of a preliminary hearing that will decide whether there's enough evidence . Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. When he reappears on camera, carried by fraternity brothers, his body is limp and his abdomen clearly bruised. But Theyre Still Finding Joy at Christmas, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. 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. Gary Dibileo, 21, of Scranton, Pennsylvania: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. But that doesn't mean there's any intent involved in any of this.". Updated on: June 12, 2017 / 8:52 AM Prosecutors in Pennsylvania are set to announce, May 5, 2017, the results of a grand jury investigation into the death of the Penn State student, Timothy Piazza, who fell down steps Feb. 4, during an alcohol-fueled pledge ceremony. His parents Jim and Evelyn Piazza are second and third from left. He reportedly drank a large amount of alcohol during a hazing ritual that night. He posted it to Snapchat and later deleted it, Scicchitano testified. Centre County prosecutors claim the video shows the students failed to help Piazza after a night of heavy drinking, causing his death the next day. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life. The brothers put Piazza on a couch but did not stabilize his head and neck, the video appears to show, and the 19-year-old fell off the couch. Connect with TODAY Online!Visit TODAY's Website: http://on.today.com/ReadTODAYFind TODAY on Facebook: http://on.today.com/LikeTODAYFollow TODAY on Twitter: http://on.today.com/FollowTODAYFollow TODAY on Google+: http://on.today.com/PlusTODAYFollow TODAY on Instagram: http://on.today.com/InstaTODAYFollow TODAY on Pinterest: http://on.today.com/PinTODAYPenn State Hazing Case: Tim Piazzas Final Hours Shown On Video | TODAY The scholars, of the Moorad Sports Law Journal, point to the Timothy J. Piazza law as precedent and indicate that 95% of college students don't report hazing. We stand firm on our belief that when students are involved in collaborating with the university in monitoring and accountability, a greater impact is made. Three brothers picked him up and placed him back on the couch. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. On February 8, 2019, Parks Miller received a law license suspension of one year and one day for communicating improperly with judges and defense attorneys. (AP Photo/Chris Knight), Michael Bonatucci, left. Sixteen of them appeared before a judge on Monday with their lawyers, filling the courtroom for a hearing lasting nearly 11 hours. "Seeing the videotape of the young man who was force-fed alcohol, had his own shoes thrown at him, beer thrown on him, punched, sat on, and then left literally to die," Kline said. Old Main on the Penn State main campus in State College, Pa., Oct. 28, 2015. He continued to stand up only to repeatedly fall back down. 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]. Security footage shows them poking Piazza in the face, to determine if he was okay, but he remained unconscious and unresponsive. Video of Penn State fraternity pledge Tim Piazza chugging vodka, beer and wine at a pledge ceremony inside the Beta Theta Pi house the night he fatally fell down the frats stairs was shown in court today. The Piazza family is planning on filing a lawsuit against the fraternity members and the university. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Dave Scicchitano testified. Confrontations among defense lawyers and Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller grew increasingly contentious as the day went on, leading District Judge Allen Sinclair to admonish the parties. Eighteen students are facing charges in connection with Timothy Piazza's death. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. More extreme behaviors including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and the killing of small animals were documented. [10], In September 2016, a pledge named Kordel Davis was driven to a clinic after a night of hazing that left a gash on his head. But sadly, just because someone passes away doesn't mean that everybody in the room is responsible.". The judge continued the hearing until July 10 after the defense argued they didnt have any time to question the police detective or make arguments. Jim Piazza held his head in his hands and sobbed as prosecutors showed pictures of his son in the hospital. 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. No fraternitys existence is worth more than the life of Tim Piazza.. It later was revealed that Piazza took prescription anti-depressants, which contributed to his inebriation. They dumped water on his face and slapped him in an apparent attempt to wake him, to no avail. Once he was finally able to maintain balance, he staggered toward the lobby area of the house, but fell again headfirst into an iron railing and landed on a stone floor, likely incurring serious head trauma. Another captures Piazza on his phone as he rolls around. As it relates to my client we didnt hear a lot. Penn State banned the fraternity after concluding it had engaged in a persistent pattern of excess drinking, drug use and hazing. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity -- which has since been barred from Penn State -- is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and hazing. Michael Bonatucci, 19, of Woodstock, Georgia: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. [46], On September 1, 2017, defendant Joseph G. Ems appeared on ABC News with his lawyer. Shortly after, Piazza apparently fell head-first down the basement stairs. Passage of the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law signed by, Daniel Casey (age 19): 201 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Brendan Young (age 21): 200 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Jonah Neuman (age 19): 79 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Lars Kenyon (age 19): 52 counts, including reckless endangerment; charges reduced to furnishing alcohol to a minor, Michelangelo Schiavone (age 21): 52 counts, including reckless endangerment; charges reduced to hazing and furnishing alcohol, Nick Kubera (age 19): more than 50 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to hazing and furnishing alcohol, Ryan Foster (age 21): one count of tampering with evidence, Edward Gilmartin (age 20): one count of tampering with evidence, Joshua Kurczewski (age 19): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Ryan Burke (age 21): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor; pleaded guilty on June 13, 2018, Jonathan Kanzler (age 19): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Aiden O'Brien: eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Brian Gelb: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Patrick Jackson: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Reggie Goeke: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Mike Fernandez: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Donald Prior: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 17:02. [4] Additional charges were added later. When one pledge tried to intervene, insisting they get Piazza some help, he was shoved into a wall and told the brothers had it under control, the grand jury report says. 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. Magazines, Digital Individuals poured liquid on him, slapped him and even threw his own shoes on him, Scicchitano told the judge. Two others waived their right to a hearing. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? All Rights Reserved. Its a tragic situation, but criminally, Joey Ems did not commit a crime, he said. Within 90 minutes of starting the gauntlet, the video shows Piazza stumbling through the kitchen toward the basement steps. [6], In 2005, Penn State alumnus Donald G. 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