5 Ex-NIU Fraternity Members Avoid Jail Time in 2012 Fatal Hazing Case

David Bogenberger was 19-years-old when he died at the fraternity house in November 2012

Five former Northern Illinois University fraternity members avoided jail time Friday when they were sentenced in connection with a hazing case involving the death of a pledge in 2012.

Initially charged with class 4 felony hazing, the men -- Omar Salameh, James Harvey, Patrick Merrill, Alexander Jandick and Steven Libert -- accepted a deal and each pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor reckless conduct. They were each sentenced to 24 months of court supervision. They'll each also have to pay $1,000 in fines and perform 100 hours of community service.

Seventeen others charged in the case were sentenced to the same court supervision and community service but were ordered to pay lesser fines of $500 each.

Nineteen-year-old pledge David Bogenberger died at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house after reportedly consuming 26 vodka shots. Police reports said he and other pledges were pressured to drink by fraternity brothers and humiliated by sorority sisters brought in for a well-planned ritual called "Greek Parents Night."

An autopsy later done determined that David had suffered a fatal cardiac attack as a result of the excessive drinking. A toxicology report said his blood-alcohol content was 0.351 percent.

"Twenty-two young men pledging to be David's brothers for life ridiculed, tormented, poisoned and killed him," Bogenberger's mother, Ruth Bogenberger, said in her victim impact statement.

The case has brought national attention to excessive drinking and hazing at fraternity and sororities on college campuses.

Contact Us