Four Cal Poly frat members charged in hazing death
The Mustang Daily Staff; The Mustang, Cal Poly
Issue date: 5/28/09 Section: National College News
Four Cal Poly students were arrested Thursday in connection with last year's alcohol-related death of architecture freshman Carson Starkey after a nearly six-month investigation by the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
Investigators say the death was the result of a night of excessive drinking as part of a hazing ritual for pledges in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity.
Agriculture business sophomore Haithem Ibrahim, 20, of Lafayette and agriculture senior Zacary Ellis, 22, of San Luis Obispo were each charged with one felony violation of hazing causing death or great bodily injury and one misdemeanor violation of permitting a minor to consume alcohol. Computer engineering senior Russell Taylor, 22, of Fresno and agriculture business senior Adam Marszal, 21, were each charged with two misdemeanor counts of the same violations.
The four surrendered themselves Thursday morning after warrants were obtained for their arrests and were booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Bail was set at $50,000 for the felony charges and $10,000 for the misdemeanors. Each posted bail by Thursday afternoon.
If convicted, the suspects could face up to three years in state prison for the felonies and up to a year in county jail for the misdemeanor charges.
At a press conference at the San Luis Obispo police station Thursday afternoon, San Luis Obispo Police Department Chief of Police Deborah Linden said the investigation "exposed a ritual that was as disturbing as it was deadly."
"Carson's death was the result of a crime and it was entirely preventable," she said. "Tragically, his death was not the first resulting from a fraternity hazing ritual, and unless the greeks change their culture in a fundamental and meaningful way, it will not be the last."
Starkey, 18, passed away the morning of Dec. 2, 2008, at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was respiratory arrest due to acute ethanol toxicity, or alcohol poisoning. His blood alcohol content was estimated between .39 and .447 percent - a level equivalent to the effects of surgical anesthesia. It was determined that no marijuana or other drugs were in Starkey's system.
Investigators say the death was the result of a night of excessive drinking as part of a hazing ritual for pledges in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity.
Agriculture business sophomore Haithem Ibrahim, 20, of Lafayette and agriculture senior Zacary Ellis, 22, of San Luis Obispo were each charged with one felony violation of hazing causing death or great bodily injury and one misdemeanor violation of permitting a minor to consume alcohol. Computer engineering senior Russell Taylor, 22, of Fresno and agriculture business senior Adam Marszal, 21, were each charged with two misdemeanor counts of the same violations.
The four surrendered themselves Thursday morning after warrants were obtained for their arrests and were booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Bail was set at $50,000 for the felony charges and $10,000 for the misdemeanors. Each posted bail by Thursday afternoon.
If convicted, the suspects could face up to three years in state prison for the felonies and up to a year in county jail for the misdemeanor charges.
At a press conference at the San Luis Obispo police station Thursday afternoon, San Luis Obispo Police Department Chief of Police Deborah Linden said the investigation "exposed a ritual that was as disturbing as it was deadly."
"Carson's death was the result of a crime and it was entirely preventable," she said. "Tragically, his death was not the first resulting from a fraternity hazing ritual, and unless the greeks change their culture in a fundamental and meaningful way, it will not be the last."
Starkey, 18, passed away the morning of Dec. 2, 2008, at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was respiratory arrest due to acute ethanol toxicity, or alcohol poisoning. His blood alcohol content was estimated between .39 and .447 percent - a level equivalent to the effects of surgical anesthesia. It was determined that no marijuana or other drugs were in Starkey's system.
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