Thirteen Northern Illinois University Students turned themselves into authorities Tuesday in connection with the death of a fraternity pledge that authorities say was alcohol- and hazing-related.
Pi Kappa Alpha members Hazel Vergaralope, 21, of Dekalb; Michael Phillip, 20, of Western Springs; and Michael Pfest, 23, of Chicago reported to police Tuesday morning after arrest warrants were issued Monday for 22 people. All three were released on bond. Their next court date was scheduled for Jan. 8.
By Tuesday afternoon, authorities said 10 others had turned themselves in, including fraternity president Alexander M. Jandik, 21, event planner Steven A. Libert, 20, both of Naperville; fraternity pledge advisor Omar Salameh, 21, of DeKalb; as well as fraternity members David R. Sailor, 20, of Princeton, IL; Alexander D. Renn, 19, of Naperville; Michael A. Marroquin, 20, of Roselle; and Russ Coyner, 21; Nelson A. Irizarry, 19; Johnny P. Wallace, 20; and Daniel S. Post, 20, all of DeKalb.
Arrest warrants remain outstanding for fraternity vice president James P. Harvey, 21, and fraternity secretary Patrick W. Merrill, 19, both of DeKalb. They've been charged with Class 4 felony Hazing.
Also wanted are fraternity members Thomas F. Costello, 20, of Munster; Estevan A. Diaz, 22, of South Beloit, IL; Andres Jiminez, Jr., 19, of Glendale Heights; Isaiah Lott, 19, of Cupertino, Calif.; Andrew W. Bouleanu, 21, of Skokie; Nsenzi Salasini, 20, of Mt. Prospect and Nicholas A. Sutor, 19; od DeKalb.
They're charged with providing alcohol to underage pledges and "creating a situation where the pledges felt compelled to consume alcohol as part of membership initiation and the Greek parenting process," officials from the DeKalb Police Department and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office said in a written statement.
Freshman David Bogenberger was found dead at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house near the DeKalb campus the morning of Nov. 2. Toxicology tests showed his blood-alcohol concentration was about five times the legal limit for driving.
The cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrhythmia, with alcohol intoxication as a significant condition contributing to death, officials said.
Bogenberger's family, including his parents, Gary and Ruth Bogenberger, also issued a statement in which they said universities must do more to "stop the hazing and initiation rituals."
"No other family should endure what we are going through," their statement reads. "Yet, we are losing these talented, beautiful and hopeful young people because of illegal drinking unrestrained by maturity and exacerbated by social pressure."
The fraternity has temporarily been removed as a recognized student organization. Additional sanctions could be taken against Pi Kappa Alpha and nearly three dozen of its members, campus officials said Monday.
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| L to R: David Sailer, Nelson Irizarry, Johnny Wallace, Michael Marroquin |
