Nine men are facing hazing charges in connection with the death of a Florida State University fraternity pledge, Andrew Coffey
Nine men are facing hazing charges in connection with the death of a Florida State University fraternity pledge.
The Tallahassee Police Department on Tuesday said in an emailed release that arrest warrants were signed earlier in the day by a Leon County judge for Luke E. Klutz, Clayton M. Muehlstein, Anthony Oppenheimer, John B. Ray, Kyle J. Bauer, Christopher M. Hamlin, Conner R. Ravelo, Brett A. Birmingham and Anthony Petagine.
All nine, who range in age from 20 to 22, will be charged with ‘College Hazing-Cause Injury or Death.’
Andrew Coffey, 22, was a junior and a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi.
He died November 3 after he was found unresponsive after a party. The cause of death was later determined to be alcohol poisoning.
Coffey was found with a blood alcohol level of .447, which is more than five times the legal limit to drive.
He drank the alcohol at a fraternity event known as ‘Big Brother Night,’ when older pledges get acquainted with the younger pledges.


He died November 3 after he was found unresponsive after a party. The cause of death was later determined to be alcohol poisoning. Coffey was found with a blood alcohol level of .447, which is more than five times the legal limit to drive
Florida State quickly responded by indefinitely suspending its fraternities and sororities.
Pi Kappa Phi’s national office in Charlotte, North Carolina shut down its Florida State branch.
Klutz, Muehlstein, Petagine, Oppenheimer and Ray all held leadership positions in the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity Coffey was trying to join, the Tallahassee Democrat reported on Wednesday.
The chief of the Tallahassee Police Department, Michael DeLeo, released a statement announcing that his charges had concluded their investigation.


Clayton M. Muehlstein is one of the nine individuals whose name appears in the arrest warrant

Five of those who face charges – Muehlstein, Luke E. Klutz, Anthony Petagine, Anthony Oppenheimer, and John B. Ray – held leadership positions at Pi Kappa Phi (whose frat house is seen above in Tallahassee)
‘This collaborative investigation was critical to finding answers for Andrew Coffey’s family and our community,’ DeLeo said.
‘Hopefully this investigation and its outcome will prevent another tragedy from occurring.’
Two grand juries were convened in the case. The grand juries left the decision whether to prosecute the fraternity members to State Attorney Jack Campbell.
On Tuesday afternoon, Campbell sent emails to eight defense lawyers representing the suspects.
Campbell informed the lawyers that he intended to file charges.
‘The media has extensively requested notice of these decisions as have you. I am trying to strike a balance,’ Campbell wrote in the emails.
‘If I file I will immediately notify you, likely first thing in the morning, via this email and you will be able to have your client surrender and arrange bond before any cameras arrive at the jail.


Christopher M. Hamlin is also facing arrest and prosecution for his alleged role in Coffey’s death


Conner R. Ravelo is also named in an arrest warrant. None of the nine students facing charges have yet to be arrested and booked into jail

FSU joins a growing list of college campuses that have suspended Greek activities on campus due to tragedy that was caused by suspected hazing. Its campus in Tallahassee is seen in the above stock image
‘I will plan to notify the media that afternoon but will not lie if I get a specific question after filing so if it leaks otherwise I am sorry and have tried to avoid that.’
None of the nine students facing charges have yet to be arrested and booked into jail.
After Coffey’s death, police conducted a search of the fraternity’s home.
During the search, they discovered that Garrett John Marcy, a member of Phi Delta Theta, was allegedly dealing cocaine.
Marcy, 20, was arrested on November 6 and charged with trafficking cocaine. He is not suspected of involvement in Coffey’s death.

Garrett John Marcy, a member of Phi Delta Theta, was arrested in November for allegedly dealing cocaine. He has no known connection to Coffey’s death
FSU joins a growing list of college campuses that have suspended Greek activities on campus due to tragedy that was caused by suspected hazing.
Penn State suspended fraternities and sororities from holding social activities during the spring semester after the February hazing death of 19-year old Timothy Piazza.
Louisiana State had a one-month suspension and continues to ban alcohol at Greek parties after the hazing death of 18-year old Maxwell Gruver in September.
Just two weeks after Coffey’s death at FSU, Texas State University suspended all fraternity and sorority chapter activities following the death of a fraternity pledge after an initiation ritual.
University officials said Matt Ellis was found unresponsive on the morning of November 13 at an off-campus apartment.
The 20-year-old sophomore from Humble, Texas, had attended a party that Phi Kappa Psi fraternity members hosted Sunday night at the apartment.