Almost three months after the tragic death, the Centre County District Attorney announced more than 850 charges against the fraternity and its 18 members - including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, aggravated and simple assault, providing alcohol to minors and evidence tampering among several others.
Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore, died from a traumatic brain injury early February 4 after chugging beer, wine and vodka in a pledge ritual and falling down stairs - with his fellow students, who did nothing for almost 12 hours, allegedly hatching a coverup to explain their delay in action.
Ten other members of Beta Theta Pi face lesser charges, including hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, reckless endangerment, and tampering with evidence. Police said Piazza fell at the frat around 11 p.m. however, first responders were not called until nearly 12 hours later.
"It's extremely weak. It's probably one of the weakest presentments I've ever seen as it relates to my client", Walker said after the arraignment.
He was pledging Beta Theta Pi. Some of the brothers, who were also very drunk apparently, started fighting, and one of them physically landed on top of the unconscious teenager's body. That drinking was directed by his soon to be fraternity.
The fraternity says members were "well educated" on its policy of not tolerating hazing or alcohol abuse "but they are entitled to the presumption of innocence as they face these charges".
The Chicago Tribune reported that University President Eric Barron called the report "heart-wrenching, sickening, and incomprehensible".
Piazza tried to get up around 3.20am but fell backward and hit his head on the wood floor, the report said.
Video evidence showed some of the brothers carrying Piazza to a couch.
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The cause of death was traumatic brain injury that resulted from several falls, including a fall down a set of basement stairs, according to a 65-page statement issued by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller after a county grand jury investigation. Police have managed to determine the events leading up to the student's death, thanks to a combination of suspect and witness questioning, grand jury testimony, and surveillance footage. "He saw Piazza 'thrashing and making weird movements on the couch" and screamed at the fraternity brothers for help, stressing that Piazza needed to go to the hospital because he could have a concussion.
Even the fraternity itself faces charges as an entity: one count of misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, 50 counts of hazing, 48 counts furnishing alcohol to minors, and 48 counts of unlawful acts relative to liquors. "They thought calling for help was just unnecessary".
In addition to the 18 students being charged, Beta Theta Pi corporation was charged with involuntary manslaughter. "Also the guys taking care of him didn't call an ambulance right away.I just don't know what I'm liable for as president".
He then wrote a list alcohol to purchase, cases of Crown Rose vodka, Natural Light beer, 15 cases of Four Loko and multiple boxes of wine, giving the list to Craig Heimer, 21, of Port Matilda, Pa., who purchased it from three businesses.
Footage throughout the night shows Piazza rolling around, moving and vomiting.
Penn State's Greek life is now under increased scrutiny.
.The fraternity said in February that it would continue to cooperate in any investigation, although its Penn State chapter would cease operations.
In an interview with Good Morning America that aired Sunday, Beta Theta Pi brother Kordel Davis says despite his repeated pleas to call 911, no one did.
The grand jury report concluded that "the severity of Timothy Piazza's condition was obvious and noticed by the fraternity brothers and pledges around him that evening".
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