Northern Illinois University Hazing Death: Four Pi Kappa Alpha members charged in freshman's death due in court

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

DeKalb police Sgt. Jason Leverton speaks with a Northern Illinois University police officer at the Pi Kappa Alpha house in DeKalb, Ill. on Nov. 2, 2012

/ AP Photo/Daily Chronicle, Kyle Bursaw

(CBS/AP) DEKALB, Ill. - Four fraternity members at Northern Illinois University charged in the hazing death of 19-year-old freshman David Bogenberger are scheduled to make their first court appearance on Friday, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Alexander Jandick, 21; Omar Salameh, 21; Steven Libert, 20; and James Harvey, 21, were each charged with a felony last month after an investigation into Bogenberger's death. Bogenberger was found unresponsive on Nov. 2, 2012 after a night of heavy drinking during an initiation party at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house in DeKalb, about 65 miles west of Chicago.

Toxicology results found Bogenberger's blood alcohol content was about five times the legal limit for driving, the DeKalb County Coroner's Office said. The coroner ruled Bogenberger's cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, with alcohol intoxication as a contributing cause.

The four due in court Friday were all in positions of responsibility, the Tribune reported. Jandick was chapter president, Harvey was the chapter vice president, Libert served as event planner and Salameh was the pledge adviser.

A fifth fraternity member charged with a felony, 19-year-old Patrick Merrill, does not have a court date schedule yet, DeKalb County prosecutors said. Merrill was the fraternity secretary, according to the newspaper.

DeKalb police and prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 22 members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on Dec. 17, 2012. The other 17 members are facing misdemeanor hazing charges.

DeKalb police Lt. Jason Leverton said Thursday that 18 of the 22 charged surrendered to authorities. Three additional students told police they were out of state but would surrender after they returned to campus from the holiday break, the Tribune reported. Leverton said that left just one student unaccounted for.

The Tribune reported that the fraternity chapter was suspended in the wake of Bogenberger's death, and NIU has announced that 31 students will face university disciplinary hearings for their participation in the initiation party.

More on Crimesider
Dec. 19, 2012 - Northern Illinois University Fraternity Death: 13 frat members turned themselves in on hazing charges, police say
Dec. 18, 2012 - Northern Illinois University Fraternity Death: 22 fraternity members charged in student's hazing death, police say

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