Frat brothers face murder charges in 2013 Baruch hazing death

Summary

Five college students from Baro College face murder charges in the hazing death of a fraternity pledge, Shon Michael Ding, nearly two years ago. A Pennsylvania grand jury indicted 37 members of P Delta Psi, with 32 accused of a cover-up. The incident involved a dangerous hazing ritual that led to severe injuries and the eventual death of Ding. The charges include third-degree murder, a rare occurrence in hazing cases, indicating the severity of the crime. If convicted, the students could face decades in prison, signaling a strong message against such behavior in college fraternities.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Five college students face murder charges in a fraternity hazing incident that led to the death of a pledge.
• 🏛️ A Pennsylvania grand jury indicted members of the P Delta Psi fraternity from Baruch College in Manhattan.
• 🕯️ The victim, 19-year-old Shon Michael, died nearly two years ago during a fraternity retreat.
• 🏥 The fraternity members are accused of not seeking immediate medical help or calling the police after the incident.
• 🔍 The fraternity members allegedly attempted to cover up the incident by changing the victim's clothes and removing fraternity items.
• 🤕 The injuries sustained by the victim were described as blunt force trauma to the head, torso, and thighs.
• 📜 The charge of third-degree murder is rare in hazing cases and is akin to involuntary manslaughter.
• 👨‍⚖️ The prosecutor took a couple of years to build the case, indicating a serious stance against hazing.
• 📊 All 37 members of the fraternity face charges, with five facing murder charges, suggesting a broad scope of accountability.
• ⚖️ The grand jury's involvement indicates a thorough examination of the case to determine individual culpability.
• 🏢 The case sends a strong message to other colleges about the consequences of hazing and the importance of ending such behavior.

Q & A

What is the main subject of the New York Times article mentioned in the transcript?

The main subject is the indictment of five college students on murder charges in connection with the alleged hazing death of a fraternity pledge.

Which fraternity is involved in the case discussed in the transcript?

The fraternity involved is Pi Delta Psi from Baruch College in Manhattan.

Who was the victim in this case and how did he die?

The victim was 19-year-old Shon Michael Ding, who died nearly two years ago during a fraternity retreat due to hazing.

What kind of hazing ritual was described in the transcript?

The hazing ritual involved blindfolding a pledge, loading him with backpacks filled with 30 lbs of sand, making him go through a gauntlet on a frozen lake, and repeatedly tackling him to the ground until he was knocked unconscious.

What was the response of the fraternity members after Shon Michael Ding was injured?

Instead of calling the police or seeking medical attention, they brought him into a house, changed his clothes, got rid of fraternity paraphernalia, and looked up symptoms online before taking him to the hospital over an hour later.

What are the injuries that Shon Michael Ding sustained?

He suffered from blunt force trauma, with repeated trauma to the head, torso, and thighs, indicating significant and severe forces were used.

What is the legal charge of third-degree murder as mentioned in the transcript?

Third-degree murder, as described, is similar to involuntary manslaughter, where the act is intended but not the death. It is a rare charge in hazing cases.

How many members of the fraternity are facing charges in total, and what are the charges?

A total of 37 members are facing charges, with five of them facing third-degree murder charges.

Why is the indictment of all 37 members significant, as discussed in the transcript?

The indictment of all members is significant because it sends a message that everyone involved in such unacceptable behavior will be held accountable, not just those directly causing harm.

What is the potential consequence if the five students charged with murder are convicted?

If convicted, the five students could face decades in prison.

What is the purpose of the wrongful death suit brought by the parents, as mentioned in the transcript?

The wrongful death suit allows the parents to amend their civil case to identify the five primary wrongdoers among the 37 members charged, which could influence the criminal indictment and the civil suit's outcome.