BATON ROUGE -- Ten members of LSU's Phi Delta Theta fraternity turned themselves in after being charged with hazing and negligent homicide in connection with the death of Maxwell Gruver, a freshman pledge from Roswell, Ga.
According to LSU, all 10 students were charged with hazing and one of them, Matthew Alexander Naquin, is also charged with negligent homicide.
Wednesday morning, the coroner released the Gruver's cause and manner of death, saying the 18-year-old had a BAC of .495. For more on what the autopsy revealed, click here.
► Drinking game may have preceded LSU fraternity pledge's death
► LSU student death being investigated as possible fraternity hazing incident
Police reports suggest Gruver may have been forced to consume excessive amounts of alcohol during a game called "Bible Study" on the night before his death.
According to the reports filed in court, "Bible Study" meant Phi Delta Theta pledges had to drink if they incorrectly answered questions about the fraternity during a gathering the night before 18-year-old Gruver died. The report also states pledges were "taking pulls" from a "190 proof alcohol called Diesel." Gruver reportedly took 10 to 12 pulls.
A witness told police that Gruver was "highly intoxicated" when members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity left him on a couch sometime after midnight on Sept. 14. Around 11 a.m. that morning, members found Gruver still on the couch with a weak pulse and couldn't tell if he was breathing. He died at a hospital later that day.
The following men were arrested:
- Matthew Alexander Naquin, (charges of hazing and negligent homicide)
- Zachary Castillo, (charge of hazing)
- Elliott Eaton, (charge of hazing)
- Patrick Forde, (charge of hazing)
- Sean Paul Gott, (charge of hazing)
- Zachary Hall, (charge of hazing)
- Ryan Isto, (charge of hazing)
- Hudson Kirkpatrick, (charge of hazing)
- Sean Pennison, (charge of hazing)
- Nicholas Taulli, (charge of hazing)
Those men began turning themselves in to police on Wednesday morning. The Advocate captured pictures of the suspects being escorted by and meeting with LSU police officers and officials. The East Baton Rouge District Attorney's office confirmed it will be reviewing reports, interviews and evidence collected.
"This is a very serious matter involving allegations of dangerous behavior and a gross disregard for the health and safety of a fellow student," the office said in a statement.
Photos | LSU Frat boys turn themselves in of hazing, homicide charges
Later Wednesday, Phi Delta Theta issued a response to the charges filed against the fraternity brothers saying,
"We fully support local law enforcement in their decision to move forward and file charges against all of those alleged to be involved with the passing of Maxwell Gruver. As we have said from the outset of this tragedy, we want the authorities to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
Actions such as those described in the charges filed today are completely inconsistent with the values of Phi Delta Theta and in full violation of our established and communicated risk management policies.
After completing our initial investigation into the events around September 13 and reviewing the charges brought today by local police, Phi Delta Theta has formally removed the membership of those charged in this incident. This action effectively severs ties with those alleged to be involved.
We continue to keep the entire Gruver family in our thoughts and prayers. No parent or family should have to go through the pain and suffering that they are currently experiencing.
We are committed to continuing to work with LSU, the Baton Rouge police department and the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office to fully understand the events that led up to Max’s passing so we can help prevent another tragedy such as this from ever happening again."
MUG SHOTS | LSU students arrested in alleged hazing death
More
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