The Hazing Death of Tim Piazza
I’ve heard about this case several times, but most recently on Nancy’s Grace podcast, Crime Stories. I’ve never been a part of a sorority, or have never been to a fraternity or sorority party, but honestly I’m happy I’ve never been to one after everything I’ve heard. I’m not saying all frats or sororities are bad, but hazing seems to happen a lot and it has resulted in many deaths. Tim Piazza was an innocent person, just looking to have fun. He died as a result of drinking and not getting the help he needed when people realized there was an issue, or of people simply not caring about another human’s well being.
Background
Timothy ‘Tim’ Piazza was born on September 25, 1997. He was an engineering student at Penn State University, and he was in his sophomore year in 2017. He was also a pledge at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He went to a party in February 2017, and that’s when he was killed, he was just 19 years old.
Tim Piazza
Evelyn, Tim and Jim Piazza
The Party
Tim went to the party at Beta Theta Pi on February 2, 2o17. The first hazing activity was an obstacle course called “The Gauntlet,” in this course, pledges had to drink from a bottle of vodka, drink a beer and drink from a bag of wine. It was discovered that Tim had also taken antidepressants that night, as well as drank on an empty stomach. He became intoxicated very quickly.
Beta Theta Pi house at Penn State University
He was knocked unconscious when he was walking around the house and fell down the basement stairs. He was carried to a couch by a member of the house named Lars Kenyon and it was caught on surveillance footage. Actually, the whole night was caught on camera. A few hours later, Tim regained conciusness, only to roll off the couch. He was placed back on the couch.
Tim woke up again around 3:30am, and tried to walk to the front door. On the way to the door he fell against an iron railing and then fell into the front door, which knocked him unconscious again.
Tim was finally found down in the basement. Around 11:45pm, a member named Greg Rizzo sent a text message to the group chat for the fraternity saying:
“Tim Piazza might actually be a problem. He fell 15 feet down a flight of stairs, hair-first. We are probably going to need help.”
He was reportedly very cold and only breathing rapidly. He was carried upstairs, and after everything that happened. Another member named Qobi Qcianoo took a Snapchat video of Tim laying on the floor, and then left the house. The police were not called until 10:30am the next morning.
In case everything that happened wasn’t bad enough, before the ambulance arrived, people wiped blood from Tim’s face and dressed him up in warming clothing.
The ambulance came and Tim was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center, but transported to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, because of his severe injuries.
Severe Injuries
Once Tim was brought to the right hospital, it was discovered that he had a ruptured spleen and class 4 hemorrhagic shock. His brain was also so swollen, that half of his skull had to be removed to relieve the pressure.
Tim couldn't be saved, and was pronounced dead early in the morning of February 4, 2017. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.40.
Charges
On May 5, 2017, 18 members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity were charged in Tim’s death. Out of the 18, 8 were charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the rest were charged with hazing charges.
Beta Theta Pi was also charged, and they were closed indefinitely. The fraternity and the members were charged with 850 criminal charges. This fraternity was also supposed to be alcohol free.
Fraternity Members Charged
I’m going to list all the members and what they are charged for, because it’s important that we talk about the victim and also who is responsible for Tim Piazza’s death.
Daniel Casey, age 19, Involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Brendan Young, age 21, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Jonah Neuman, age 19, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Nick Kubera, age 19, involuntary manslaughter, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Craig Heimer, age 21, reckless endangerment, furnishing alcohol to a minor
Lars Kenyon, age 19, reckless endangerment, furnishing alcohol to a minor
Michael Schiavone, age 21, reckless endangerment, hazing, furnishing alcohol
Ryan Foster, age 21, tampering with evidence
Edward Gilmartin, age 21, tampering with evidence
On November 14, 2017, 10 more members were charged with Tim’s death. There was also video showing that Tim had consumed 18 drinks in less than a 2 hour span. This video was also tampered with and deleted. These are the other members and their charges.
Joshua Kurczewski, age 19, involuntary manslaughter, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Ryan Burke, age 21, He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Jonathan Kranzler, age 19, involuntary manslaughter, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Aiden O’Brien, involuntary manslaughter, hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor
Brian Gelb, hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful acts relative to liquor
Patrick Jackson, hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful acts relative to liquor
Reggie Goede, hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful acts relative to liquor
Mike Fernandez, hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful acts relative to liquor
Donald Prior, hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful acts relative to liquor
There was also blame put on Tim Bream. Bream was the Penn State football head athletic trainer, as well as the live- in advisor for the fraternity. It was reported that he was present when everything happened to Tim Piazza. He has never been charged in this case.
Guilty Pleas
On June 13, 2018, one of the fraternity members named Ryan Burke, pleaded guilty. He pleaded guilty to four counts of hazing and five counts relating to unlawful acts relative to liquor. Ryan was accused of giving Tim the bottle of vodka that he drank from. Ryan confessed that he was present during the obstacle course.
On July 31, 2018, Ryan Burke was sentenced to three months of house arrest. He was also sentenced to 27 months of probation, and had to pay fines and restitution.
Other
Tim’s parents, Jim and Evelyn Piazza, introuced the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law on March 23, 2018.
This bill created tiers that hazing resulting in bodily harm or death could be a third degree felony, which could result in 7 years in prison and fines up to $150,000. Hazing resulting in bodily harm would be a third degree misdemeanor, and could result in a prison sentence of one year and fines up to $2,500.
The bill was passed on April 18, 2018.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So are none of these people going to get jail time, really????? This is terrible. They didn't just leave Tim struggling or unconscious, but they didn’t care enough to call the police in fear that they would get in trouble. They also tampered with security footage, where the whole incident was recorded.
I applaud the young man who wanted to get help for Tim, but I didn't know his name so I wonder what charges were against him. He could have been killed for suggestion they get help, because who knows what else these people are capable of. I think they all should get more jail time. A kid was killed and no one cared to help him, all they cared about was themselves and what would happen to them.
There are WAY too many crimes like this that have happened. Is it even safe to still have fraternities or sororities? When will hazing end?
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Tim_Piazza
