Gary DiBileo Jr. of Scranton left the Centre County Courthouse without knowing when he'll be back and if the charges against him will go to trial. Piazza died Feb. 4 at a hospital after consuming what authorities said was a dangerous amount of alcohol, as well as sustaining severe injuries to his head and abdomen. Piazza was at the Penn State University fraternity for a pledge event in February when he died after falling down a flight stairs. His parents saying he was perfect, and making it sound like he was kidnapped and tortured is misleading, and could lead to unfair punishments for a number of kids who made a horrible mistake. Over the last several months we listened to defense arguments centered around victim blaming or how could the defendants have known they were putting someone seriously at risk since no one died before, as if they were entitled to one free death, or the catch all argument of, We dont know,' he said. Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at Penn State. He was later He was estimated to have had a blood-alcohol level several times the legal limit for adult drivers. They bought and served absurd amounts of alcohol to a minor. As NPR's Bill Chappell reported at the time, charges were pressed against 18 members of the fraternity, including eight who were charged with involuntary manslaughter. The revelation came on Day 4 of the preliminary hearing for the fraternity brothers facing charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to furnishing alcohol to minors. Flanked by Piazza's parents, Centre County district attorney Stacy Parks Miller told reporters that 12 new defendants, as well as five old ones, are facing new criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter, hazing and giving alcohol to minors. A judge presiding over the preliminary hearing, which began in June, will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. Justin is an assistant managing editor at CBS News. The new allegations mark a significant escalation in a case that has taken several twists since the Dauphin County coroner initially ruled Piazza's death an accident. I'm not hanging on tooth and nail to anything, because I'm not invested in this on a personal level. "When law enforcement initially evaluated the video footage, fraternity brothers led police to believe that the basement cameras had been inoperable on Bid Acceptance Night," Parks Miller's office said in a statement. He fell down drunk, which initially knocked him out so that much is his fault. First published on November 13, 2017 / 12:53 PM. Gabe Gutierrez, an NBC News correspondent, said via Twitter that the courtroom was silent as prosecutors played video of Piazza dying. Of course the fraternity should be punished. WebDeleted surveillance video from inside a Penn State fraternity house recovered by prosecutors has led to new charges. Enter with a mindset for conversation, not debate. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He suffered severe head trauma and a ruptured spleen from the fall. Again, these are people who WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM BEING IN THAT CONDITION who were more concerned about the possible consequences for themselves than saving the life of a badly injured pledge. In the video, Piazza appeared visibly drunk during the hazing ritual on Feb. 2; he was wobbling as he WebSurveillance video played in court reportedly shows Piazza repeatedly falling, passing out and tumbling head-first down a flight of stairs, and no one called 911 for hours. / CBS News. I would feel sorry for myself, but it just wouldn't cross my mind to blame anyone and everyone for the situation. Three brothers picked him up and "slammed" him back onto the couch. Twenty-six people now face charges in the case. Newly recovered security camera footage from inside a Penn State fraternity house showed a pledge had been given at least 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes, investigators said Monday in announcing dozens of new charges related to the pledges death. This is especially true when the victim is a minor who was not used to binge drinking, and even more especially true after he's already too drunk to make good decisions. The Centre County District Attorney announced on Monday that the FBI has recovered video footage from the night before 19-year-old Timothy Piazza's death. WebAccording to the grand jury presentment, around 9 p.m., the videos show Piazza and other pledges in a ritual called "the gauntlet," consuming large amounts of beer, vodka and Look at the definition of murder..I don't like over the top hyperbole and I think that's why this case has bothered me in terms of coverage. However, I'd also like to argue that the fraternity is also legally and morally responsible for his initial intoxication. Third, being stupid instead of evil is not a defense for a crime. He was just trying to join an organization. The hearing, which is expected to enter a fifth day Friday, will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. Stupid yes, but they just don't fit my idea of evil. I can concede they are stupid. There was no premeditation, no joy in his suffering, I see more evil in the dad who wants to take revenge on the men in the fraternity to be honest. A place to post an opinion you accept may be flawed, in an effort to understand other perspectives on the issue. "A young man died unnecessarily," she said. Former attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial continues with closing arguments: Watch live. BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- (WNEP) -- Investigators say a Penn State fraternity pledge's slow death at a frat party was caught on cameras. An example should be made of that chapter, so I would say his parents are more like the dicks that are trying to fuck the assholes that just want to shit all over everything, IMO. WebTim Piazza may have been somewhat complicit in the hazing. To review Hyatts claims that he conducted daily, face-to-face evaluations of patients, investigators pulled roughly two months of video surveillance footage from the hospital, records indicate. In fact, on video, Tim Piazza does not obtain his own alcohol at any point rather, every drink consumed was provided to him by a fraternity brother, she said. Defense attorneys have challenged Scicchitano and claimedprosecutors are zeroing in onselect portions of the video. Sixteen Penn State fraternity brothers were in court Monday, all facing charges connected with the death of a pledge. While I don't disagree with your overall premise, rationality largely goes out the window at the death of a loved one - particularly when it's a child. WebDr. Plus I have been open to other view points when they have been raised. Parks Miller, whos leaving office at the end of the year, then refiled many of the charges. (Patrick Carns/Patrick Carns). That's illegal. Cold and hyperventilating. Advertisement Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore from New Jersey, died after tumbling down a flight of stairs and fracturing his skull during an alcohol-fueled pledge ritual at the Beta Theta Pi house on Feb. 4. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. After investigators determined the security footage was manually deleted, they then sent the tapes to the FBI, whose agents recovered the video, authorities said in a statement. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in the early hours of Feb. 4. They used this power not to keep him safe but to encourage him to drink to the point where even if he hadn't injured himself he would have almost certainly been hospitalized or died of alcohol poisoning. He is then carried up, while unconscious, by a group of frat brothers who then proceed to "slam" him, slap him, pour water on him and even throw a shoe at him, according to accounts of the footage. What these people chose to do was make it worse and try to hide the fact they were breaking campus rules at the cost of a fellow members well being. More:16 students face judge in Penn State hazing death of Timothy Piazza, More:'He looked like a corpse': Video shown of Penn State pledge after fatal injuries. He had to have more than half his skull removed to relieve the massive pressure built up from all those head injuries. He's unconscious," Scicchitano said after Piazzas first fall. The charges filed Monday which range from involuntary manslaughter to aggravated assault and hazing rely on surveillance footage taken during the pledge event connected with the 19-year-old's death. "However, after later examining one of the DVR surveillance boxes, State College Police uncovered evidence that the basement camera footage had actually been manually deleted just as State College Police were poised to take possession of the recording equipment.". According to reporters at the hearing, Scicchitano said the fraternity brothers were acting like "drill sergeants" and yelling at the pledges to drink. The grand jury that investigated Piazzas death, video footage and preliminary hearing testimony painted a disturbing picture of his final night inside the fraternity house. One of the 18 Beta Theta Pi members charged with the Feb. 4 death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza removed everything from the basement camera two days after his alcohol-related passing. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Penn State's former Beta Theta Pi fraternity house now sits empty. Piazza's parents, Jim and Evelyn of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, left the courtroom before the prosecution began airing the footage, narrated by Scicchitano. Warner Bros. Entertainment | "I believe the charges will be bound over. That night after the February event, Piazza drunkenly fell down the stairs and sustained the injuries that led to his death less than two days later. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Timothy Piazza, 19, from New Jersey died after falling down a flight of stairs during a hazing ritual at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. Ok, you are right. WebThe Discovery of Timothy Piazzas Unconscious body is disturbing. Prosecutors allege Piazza was forced to drink excessively before falling and hurting himself. His tragic death made national headlines after it was revealed that frat members didn't alert authorities until about 12 hours after he fell down the stairs. Excerpts from the footage havebeen compelling: Fraternity members are shown holding Piazza down, strapping him to a backpack to keep him from turning over and choking, pouring liquids on him and trying to get him to stand so they could dress him even whenhe appeared to be unconscious. His "brothers," could have handled it better, but it is clear his parents taught him no accountability, and have no idea what it is themselves. It's a horrible idea for any crime, this one included. I see the frat members as stupid, not evil. "In all," The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, "25 Beta Theta Pi members now face charges.". I don't even know where you get the whole idea I am making personal digs at people, or how you can think anything i said could only be thought by a frat bro, or whatever. They are the sole reason he is dead. They did not call 911 until the morning of Feb. 3, about 12 hours after Piazza fell, the report said. Brothers [in the fraternity] were coming up to him and giving him those drinks.". This was men who intended to force-feed lethal amounts of alcohol into other young men. There's fault to go around there. "It really is difficult to watch.". One of the 18 fraternity members facing charges in the death of a Penn State pledge deleted footage from a basement surveillance camera two days after the 19-year-old sophomore died, a detective testified Thursday. This might not be as bad as consciously deciding to delay medical treatment, but this is still something the fraternity brothers should be culpable for. For the time he was awake during those twelve hours he was in agony. The grand jury concluded that, after Piazza was taken to the hospital, there was an active attempt to conceal evidence of the hazing and underage drinking, from deleting text messages to admitting to discussing erasing surveillance video. His brothers. Attorney Ted Simon asked Scicchitano if he had a chance to identify and interview the girl, as well as a second girl spotted on the stairs. Press J to jump to the feed. Piazza received "at least 18 drinks in over 1 hour and 22 minutes," Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said at a news conference Monday, and he "never once obtained any of those drinks for himself. Prosecutors claim the former fraternity brothers at Beta Theta Pi waited to get Piazza help in an attempt to cover up their drinking and "coordinate a story.". Upon arrival, Piazza was rushed into surgery, where he was discovered to have a ruptured spleen and class IV hemorrhagic shock. Any questions or concerns? Centre County Report. When Piazza was finally brought to the hospital on Feb. 3, he had a damaged spleen. Piazza, a 19-year-old engineering student from Lebanon, New Jersey, suffered a fractured skull, shattered spleen and other injuries, likely during a series of falls inside the house. Once he was finally able to maintain balance, he staggered toward the lobby area of the house, but fell again head first into an iron railing and landed on a stone floor, likely incurring serious head trauma. At this point normal people would call for medical help. "America's Got Talent" Comedian Bringing The Laughs To Newtown, Senator Pushes Bills To Bring Justice To Childhood Sex Assault Victims, Jules Thin Crust Pizza Looking For The Next Menu-Worthy Pie, Comedy Star Dena Blizzard Fri. & Sat. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. We'd like to remind you of a couple of things. In May, a grand jury revised that assessment, calling it "the direct result of encouraged reckless conduct." Heated disagreements broke out while Parks Miller shared hours of evidence with the court, including surveillance video from cameras set up around the frat house. Another 11 frat members are already facing similar charges. Attorney Rocco Cipparone Jr., whose client Michael Bonatucci was accused of new counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and liquor code violations, said he hopes the next district attorney will take a fresh look at the case and some of the charging decisions that have been made.. Penn State Frat House Death: Fast Drinking, Slow Death, Frantic Coverup In Grand Jury Timeline, Frat House Death At Penn State: A Who's Who Of The Accused. The district attorney's office in Centre County, Pennsylvania, has announced new charges in the death of Tim Piazza. "State College Police sent the box to the FBI, whose agents were able to restore the video from the deleted hard drive," the district attorney's office said. Piazza subsequently stumbled toward the basement steps, then fell down them. No defendants have entered pleas at this time. "It's time to man up, fellas, and be held accountable for your actions," Piazza's father, James, told reporters, his voice cracking. The 19-year-old staggered through the house, visibly in pain he fell head first several times. Pledges showed signs of intoxication, and Piazza had to be helped to a couch. The most serious offenses include involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, while others are charged with hazing or alcohol violations. WebNewly-recovered footage shows Beta Theta Pi members forcing 18 drinks on Piazza and other pledges in less than an hour and a half on the night he sustained the injuries that No one called for help until late the next morning, and the New Jersey native died Feb. 4. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. 18 and up is an adult. ", As NPR's Bill Chappell reported at the time, Penn State Student's Hazing Death Was No Accident, Grand Jury Says, 'Horror' Of Student's Hazing Death At Penn State Sparks Change. I can honestly say that would not be how my mind would work. Investigators say his blood alcohol level was between .28 and .36. I think they're acting like distraught parents struggling to cope with the death of their son even if it means distorting reality a bit and choosing to see his son in the best of lights and his frat brothers in the worst. Speaking of which, downvotes don't change views! Doctors saidthesophomore from Lebanon, N.J.,suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen. "Theybasically treated our son as roadkill and a rag doll, Jim Piazza toldNBCsTodayshow. His brain had swollen to the point that roughly half of his skull had to be removed to relieve the pressure. They have caused that condition," said Parks Miller. 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