The impact of Piazzas death spanned further than changes in university policy. Four fraternity brothers carried his limp body back upstairs, where some poured liquid on him, and another slapped him three times in the face, the grand jury said. [2][4] Suddenly he fell onto an iron railing, inflicting further head trauma. Old Main on the Penn State main campus in State College, Pa., Oct. 28, 2015. [18][19] Joseph Sala also pleaded guilty and received several months of house arrest. The Piazzas have acted as catalysts for much of the push for hazing reform at a university, statewide and national level. "This video should be watched by every president of every university to see what happened at Penn State, and to say to themselves, 'This can never ever happen again.'". In fact, his death rewrote Pennsylvania hazing law. Part of the explanation is found in the bystander effect: when group dynamics prevent individuals from intervening on behalf of another in crisis. In the video, Piazza appeared visibly drunk during the hazing ritual on Feb. 2; he was wobbling as he walked and was unable to stay still, and he appeared more intoxicated than the other students. [16] A "clear all data" command was apparently logged when Becker was managing the video, but his defence argued there was no evidence of this. Thankfully the judge quickly brought them in order, Jim Piazza said after court. When a fraternity brother insisted Piazza needed medical help, he was confronted and shoved into a wall, the report said. As Timothy Piazza was slowly dying at the Beta Theta Pis pledge event on Feb. 2, he was surrounded by people who not only refused to help him but were either unimpressed or entertained by his suffering. He tries to get on his feet and falls back on the floor. The pledge took a video of Piazza on the floor and posted it on Snapchat. Do you have the right to take a picture of someone who cant consent to the picture being taken?). 2023 Cable News Network. Penn State will release biannual hazing reports in accordance with the law. The detective and the prosecutor said that about half an hour after the boy's fall, a group-text-app message was sent to frat members reading, "Tim Piazza might actually be a problem. If you look around the country, universities across the board are taking a tougher stance against hazing. We are in the people business. [21][22] Civil lawsuits have also been filed by the Piazza family against 42 individuals, 25 having been settled by March 2021. ", Penn State President Eric Barron said, "There are other measures being discussed and will be instituted over time -- all with a focus on prevention, monitoring and enforcement. As the evening wears on the video jumps to Piazza lying in a fetal position on the ground, rolling around. [2][4][1] After having regained consciousness once more, he succeeded at reaching his feet and staggered towards the front door. Why did those same young men wait until mid morning of the next day to get help; when it was too late? 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We rely on the holidays to reconnect with the people who are most important to us and now we cant in ways that feel right. "This attempt to blame somebody who had no hand in what happened is just proof of how some of these defendants are going to go to try and exonerate themselves," she said. The unfortunate truth is that many of our own children could be in this situation and make similar decisions. [12][13] At 10:48 am, 911 was called, Piazza being taken initially to Mount Nittany Medical Center, only to be sent to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for emergency treatment. — -- High-quality surveillance video that captured the final movements of Penn State pledge Timothy Piazza as he was fatally injured at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house was played in court today, and the Piazza family attorney called the footage "gruesome.". His chest was bare, his breathing heavy and he had blood on his face. He felt cold to the touch, his skin was pale and his eyes were half-open, according to the grand jury report. Michael Bonatucci, 19, is among those facing the most serious charges, including aggravated assault. Jim said he and Evelyn have spoken to well over 100,000 college students about Piazza and hazing. [2][4][5][1] It should be noted that he along with 11 others were under the minimum drinking age of 21. "[The chapter adviser] obviously was involved in having knowledge of the social agenda, what was going on at various times, Ambrose said. Defense attorneys argued in court that because police and EMTs don't appear to immediately perform CPR or chest pumps on Piazza, that the court shouldn't expect their clients to have done so either. He looked like a corpse, he said. Medical reports concluded, Piazza suffered from multiple traumatic brain injuries, including a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen, which resulted in 80% of his blood supply in his abdominal cavity. Jim Piazza pauses as he addresses the media during a press conference explaining their role and feelings of new Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing legislation during the second Penn State Beta Theta Pi preliminary hearing at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday, March 23, 2018. Those eight and another 10 fraternity members were charged with counts including hazing, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, and alcohol-related offenses. Why would someone want to take a video of Timothy? Students are only able to rush after earning 14 credit hours at Penn State or 27 transfer credits, meaning most first-semester freshmen are barred from rushing. Another adjusts a blanket on him. ", Penn State's Interfraternity Council said, "We agree that added social restrictions, education, transparency and professional staff support are critical. Time Unknown: Timothy Piazza falls down the basement steps. and our 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. Piazza family attorney Tom Kline told ABC News today, "The video is horrific, it is gruesome, it is something that you couldnt imagine until youve seen it.". All Rights Reserved. Ultimately, Jim said he hopes to continue the dialogue on hazing, increase transparency in greek life and harshen the punishments for hazing. [2][4][5][1] By 03:49 am, he awoke completely alone, him clutching his abdomen as he fell once more, leaving him unconscious for another hour. Lawyers for the victim's family described the video as "gruesome." Sixteen Penn State fraternity brothers were in court Monday, all facing charges connected with the death of a pledge. The video shows Rizzo take off Piazzas shirt and position him on the couch. The fraternity brother apparently leaves him on the ground. ", Kline said Piazza's family "did not have the strength or capacity to want to see the video.". He heardPiazza groaning, and eventually he saw Piazza roll off the couch and land on the floor. While the state laws that the Piazzas advocate for deal with the crime of hazing, federal laws they promote deal with accountability and transparency. [4][5][1][2] While he was an organ donor, his organs were so badly damaged by the ordeal that only one kidney could be salvaged and donated. [2][4][5][1] He staggered towards the front door, but his inebriated state prevented him from opening it properly, and decided instead to open another door. The surveillance video shows Piazza chugging from a bottle of liquor early in the night and chugging a beer at another point. [2][4] As with other pledges, he was to undergo binge drinking to prove his worth to other members. As he continued to groan, Piazza got to his knees and placed his head in his hands as if, in the pledge's words, he had "a really bad headache. But the challenge for all of us is to admit that we live in the same culture as Beta Theta Pi, and few of us know how to act in the one moment when it makes a difference. There's 300 other people in that house and a dozen that spent some time with him. Shortly before 2 a.m., Piazza falls off the couch and the video appears to show Ems throw a shoe at his head. [25][26][27] Pennsylvania State University was accused of turning a blind eye regarding the extent of hazing rituals conducted among its fraternities and sororities, with many former pledges stating the acts occurred behind closed doors. [2][5][7], From 2009, Beta Theta Pi was placed on probation. IE 11 is not supported. At 6:57am, pledge Qobi Quainoo begins to video (Unconscious) Timothy on the floor using the Snapchat Application (Page 46.) Kidding among themselves. Timothy Piazza, 19, died following a Feb. 2 pledge event at the Beta Theta Pi frat house after falling down basement steps during a night of heavy drinking, authorities have said. Fraternity members tried to dress Piazza but couldn't because his body was too rigid, the detective said. This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 18:41. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity -- which has since been barred from Penn State -- is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and hazing. She is a senior studying digital and print journalism with a minor in political science. Mr. Piazza managed to stumble upright a few . There is no one who could see that whose heart wouldnt cry and whose eyes wouldnt shed tears.". The death of Timothy Piazza, an engineering student and Beta Theta Pi fraternity pledge, put Penn State on the frontline of an ongoing national battle: how to control fraternities and sororities. As Ems repositions Piazza on the couch, prosecutors say the video shows him punch Piazza in the abdomen, leaving a visible bruise on his side. A fraternity brother starts to drag him, the video appears to show, and then leaves him on the floor, throwing a blanket over him. His death caused Penn State to permanently ban Beta Theta Pi and sent numerous former brothers to court for their roles in the alcohol-fueled rituals leading up to Piazzas death and the deletion of security footage depicting the fatal night. At the end of the day, I'm accountable for it all, I'll be the one going to court, paying for attorney, and maybe put in jail. Senator Jake Corman addresses the media during a press conference explaining his new Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing legislation during the second Penn State Beta Theta Pi preliminary hearing at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday, March 23, 2018. Additionally, since February 2017, Piazzas death has sparked a transformation in Penn State greek life, Pennsylvania hazing law and the national conversation on hazing. [24] Now, cases resulting in serious injury or death became a third-degree felony, with those convicted likely to expect a maximum of five years imprisonment and a maximum $15,000 fine. [2][4][5][1] However, when Davis appeared and tried to assist Piazza, an angered Neuman threw him against a wall. The lighthearted behavior continued after the hearing as the defendants and their families gathered, the Piazzas lawyer, Tom Kline said. [1][11] Nevertheless, courtroom sketches of key highlights were shown in media reports. Eighteen students are facing charges in connection with Timothy Piazza's death. "Other fraternity brothersdiscovered Piazza in the basement at about 10 a.m. Timothy was lying on his back with his arms clenched tight at his sides and his hands in the air, jurors wrote. It is known that surveillance cameras had captured Piazza's final hours, and showed that fellow fraternity brothers had contributed towards his death. The eight defendants charged with manslaughter in the frat house pledge death of Timothy Piazza sit in court. [4][1] Casey also allegedly tasked Kenyon to delete a GroupMe thread to avoid possible screenshots and other evidence from publicly leaking. Throughout the night, Piazza is rolling on the floor, getting up, stumbling back down and slamming into the stairs or furniture, the video shows. For an optimal experience . A forensic pathologist said Piazza had a blood alcohol content between .26% and .36% at one point during the night. He fell onto a stone floor at 5 a.m. Fifteen minutes later, a fraternity member went downstairs for a drink of water. Its doubtful. According to the report, Piazza is limp, his eyes are closed and he appears unconscious. Thats our goal. Timothy Piazza Watch the 5 p.m. news live right now on Local 4+ Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. Sign up today! Eighteen students have been charged with a variety of offenses, from involuntary manslaughter to alcohol-related offenses more than 1,000 counts in all. My goal was to frame a discussion about consent (i.e. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [20], As of 2023, Pennsylvania v. Alpha Upsilon et al. You would have thought today that it was a fraternity reunion. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial and the surveillance video played in court today is a key part of that evidence. But their answers revealed much more. [2][4] After becoming severely intoxicated, Davis fell and suffered a gash to his forehead. "[2][4][5] Four brothers carried an unconscious Piazza back to the living room, his torso exposed and showing a bruise indicating a damaged spleen. "The Piazzas made a decision that it was incompatible with their mental health to sit and watch this video," he said. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017 after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. When the same brother insisted again that Piazza required help, he was told others were biology and kinesiology majors so his opinion wasnt as valuable as theirs, the jury said. Another pledge testified before the grand jury that he woke up at about 7 a.m. and saw Piazza on a couch. The legal limit for driving while intoxicated is .08 percent. He also has a clear bruise on his abdomen, seen clearly despite his distance from the camera. The university has banned or suspended numerous greek life organizations since Piazzas death. He looked dead. [1][4][2] Instead of assisting, Quainoo decided to film Piazza for a Snapchat video before leaving. Piazza was hospitalized and died the next day. [4][14] By May 2017, 1,098 charges were filed. Piazza is limp and has a visible bruise on his abdomen. He was subsequently found at the bottom of the steps after apparently falling face-first. One that is both safe and beneficial to the happiness and wellbeing of all students who are a part of it.. Through speaking to students, Jim said he hopes to educate students on what hazing is and the consequences of it. Piazza tried to get up around 3:20 a.m.but fell backward and hit his head on the wood floor, the report said. We wake up every morning to give you and your family all you need to start your day. But Piazza felldown three steps and the fraternity brother steppedover him and lefthim there.Anotherpledgetestified before the grand jury that he woke up at about 7 a.m. and saw Piazza on a couch. Piazza gets up again and walks toward the front door, before he staggers and slams into the door, the video appears to show. 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. 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. There was an error processing your request. "The want to remember their son as the young, bright, handsome, full of life person who he was. He tries to get on his feet using his hands and falls over. The pledge tooka video of Piazza on the floor and posted it onSnapchat. Joking among themselves. Sixteen of them appeared before a judge on Monday with their lawyers, filling the courtroom for a hearing lasting nearly 11 hours. Jim and Evelyn continue to encourage states to adopt stricter laws regarding hazing. [1] About three would later be shown in court, including the aforementioned 90-minute binge drinking and other videos where he was described as looking "like a corpse". [17][15][2] This included all involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges, resulting in about 14 members now being charged with a total of 328 counts by November 2017. Culturally, young men are conditioned to not get too upset or emotional. Jim Piazza addresses the media about the new anti-hazing legislation from Pennsylvania Senator Jake Corman during a press conference during the second Penn State Beta Theta Pi preliminary hearing at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday, March 23, 2018. On their lawyers advice, the couple left for the hourslong viewing of the video. [1] Beta Theta Pi was among several Greek fraternities and sororities, and was a source of pride at Pennsylvania State University. [23][22] In the State of Pennsylvania, a new law, titled The Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law was approved and introduced in August 2021. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017, after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2 . It did not go unnoticed by me, and more importantly, by the family, he said. "The Piazza familys ultimate goal is to make sure that this never happens again," Kline added. ", One of the defense attorneys in the case told ABC News last month, "Of course, it's a tragedy. Going through the highlights of the Penn State and State College news so you don't have to. 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. A little later, another brother went downstairs for a drink of water and walked Piazza to another room. Piazza's fall down the stairs the night of Feb. 2 is not seen on video, but after the fall, four fraternity members were seen carrying him upstairs, and a large bruise was visible on his body, which prosecutors say was a spleen injury. In total, around 13 hours of Piazza's final moments were recorded. "The Piazza Center will provide an essential leadership role to compel the collective change required.. First Centre County Investigating Grand Jury report concerning the case. The Discovery of Timothy Piazza's Unconscious body is disturbing. The fraternity brothers were seen standing around Piazza but the prosecution pointed out that no one administered CPR. ABC News' Stephanie Gomulka contributed to this report. For more information, please see our It highlights the story of. Other lawyers joined in the joke, shocking the Piazzas. Jim Piazza held his head in his hands and sobbed as prosecutors showed pictures of his son in the hospital. "And the last memories of my son will be him being abused for 12 hours and dying a slow and painful death.". The video shows Piazza staggering through the house the. "It's a tragic situation, but just because somebody is deceased and it's sad doesn't mean that everyone who was even in any room at any time should be held criminally accountable, Cipparone said. If it matters to you, it matters to us. The fraternity members appear agitated and at one point a shoving match erupts between two men. Prosecutors showed the video for the first time Monday in a preliminary hearing to determine if theres enough evidence to go to trial. More than two hours later the video shows a group of men carrying him back to the couch around 9:30 a.m. His body is rigid as the men stand around, some with their hands on their hips. [5][4] Piazza became extremely inebriated within a short time span; not only was he provided 18 drinks within 1 hour and 22 minutes, he also had been taking medication to tackle depression which can worsen the effect of alcohol. As it relates to my client we didnt hear a lot. They watched as he fell down a flight of stairs and they stepped over him as he lay unconscious on the floor. Were certainly proud of the difference weve been able to make at Penn State already. Of course the people who contributed to Timothys death should be held accountable. We are highly offended by the insensitivity displayed given the severity of the crimes committed and ultimate outcome.. 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