Google Maps / Sam Seidel
Eighteen members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the fraternity corporation had charges filed against them Friday morning for their role in the death of Penn State sophomore Timothy Piazza.
What Happened?
The Beta Theta Pi corporation has been charged with involuntary manslaughter as well as eight other former members of the fraternity. Nine brothers face arraignment at 2:00 P.M. Friday at the Centre County Court House.
The list of fraternity members charged include: President Brendan Young, Daniel Casey, Jonah Neuman, Nick Kubera Michael Bonatucci, Gary Dibileo, Luke Visser and Joe Sala. Michael Angelo Schiavone, Craig Heimer, Lars Kenyon Parker Jax Yochim, Ed Gilmartin, Ryan McCan, Lucas Rockwell, Braxton Becker, Ryan Foster and Joseph Ems were also charged.
Piazza, 19, passed away on February 4 after suffering major internal injuries from a fall during pledge night activities at the Beta Theta Pi house at Penn State.
Piazza’s death spurred a cascade of changes in the Penn State greek life community. On March 30, Penn State levied hard sanctions against greek life focused on hazing. These changes altered the rules for how fraternities and sororities can recruit members and host social events with alcohol. Beta Theta Pi was also permanently banned from Penn State.
Jim Piazza, Timothy’s father, has made public comments about the charges.
The chapter has responded to the charges levied against them.
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ also “Beta”) is a North American social fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America’s oldest, the fraternity currently consists of 110 active chapters and 26 colonies in the United States and Canada. More than 300,000 members have been initiated worldwide and there are currently around 10,000 undergraduate members. Beta Theta Pi is the oldest of the three fraternities that formed the Miami Triad along with Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi.
Beta Theta Pi has 136 chapters and 300,000 lifetime members.
