Baruch Fraternity Members Face Charges in PA Murder Case

Details

Category: Crime

Published on Sunday, 06 July 2014 18:24

Written by Janet Walker

Pocono County prosecutors have announced the intent to bring charges against all thirty of the Pi Delta Psi Fraternity members present the night pledge Chun Hsien Deng was killed in a hazing ritual in rural Tunkhannock Township, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Deng, known as Michael, died December 19, 2013 of blunt force trauma according to the coroner suffered during a hazing initiation.

Pocono County Police Chief Harry W. Lewis, who handled the investigation, indicated the lapse in proper medical response to an emergency situation played a factor in the freshman's death.

 He also indicated the fraternity members were evasive in the beginning hours of the investigation, hiding cell phones and other electronic devices. The Chief also stated all "conversations, content, searches, videos" and other electronic correspondence of any kind were confiscated.  

The pledges were ordered to wear backpacks filled with 20lbs of sand and run across a frozen yard, blindfolded while attempting to avoid other members who were blindsiding them full force. Deng was hit and it is unknown the length of time he was subject to the harsh and extreme weather.

New inductees were the level of charges could range from involuntary homicide to pre-mediated murder, as well as concealing evidence, disturbing a crime scene.

According to reports all those present were members of the Pi Delta Psi, known as Asian Friendly Fraternity from Baruch College in Manhattan, and traveled to the house in the Pocono Mountain region that had been rented for the weekend.