A Louisiana State University fraternity pledge died from excessive alcohol consumption hours after playing an initiation drinking game called ‘Bible Study’.
Maxwell Gruver, 18, died sometime early on September 14 with a witness telling police Gruver was ‘highly intoxicated’.
According to the reports filed in court Monday, the ‘Bible Study’ game meant Phi Delta Theta pledges had to drink if they incorrectly answered questions about the fraternity.
Maxwell Gruver, 18, (pictured) died sometime early on September 14 with a witness telling police Gruver was ‘highly intoxicated’
Members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity left him on a couch sometime after midnight on September 14.
Around 11am that morning, members found Gruver still on the couch with a weak pulse and couldn’t tell if he was breathing.
Two people drove him to hospital immediately but he died later that day.
According to the reports filed in court Monday, ‘Bible Study’ meant Phi Delta Theta pledges (which Gruver was) had to drink if they incorrectly answered questions about the fraternity
Police are looking into the case as they say it could be a result of ‘fraternity hazing’, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Following the tragic incident the school ended the Phi Delta Theta branch at Louisiana State University.
A medical professional said tests found a ‘highly elevated’ blood-alcohol level in Gruver’s body.
Members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity left Gruver (pictured) on a couch sometime after midnight on September 14. Around 11 a.m. that morning, they found Gruver on the couch with a weak pulse and couldn’t tell if he was breathing. He died in hospital later that day
According to the police witnesses have revealed: ‘that the pledges were forced to drink in excess. Several of the pledges stated that they received a group text message stating there would be ‘Bible Study’ at the house.’
During a search warrant at the fraternity police took a bag filled with beer cans, bottles of booze, a glass smoking pipe, a ‘pledge test,’ cleaning supplies and two strands of white knotted rope.
They also confiscated a mobile phone, which allegedly belonged to the fraternity member who sent the group text message about the ‘Bible Study’ session.
Hillar Moore, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney, has said police interviewed lots of fraternity members.
However, several have refused to comment on the situation and instead have hired lawyers.
Police said: ‘Investigators also learned that there were several text messages sent about (Gruver’s) condition.’
After Gruver’s death, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement September 21: ‘One loss of life to hazing or drug and alcohol abuse is too many, and I know that you share my very serious concerns,’ he said.
After 18-year-old fraternity pledge Maxwell died from excessive alcohol consumption, police guarded off the university for an investigation
Louisiana State University Police have been investigating a possible hazing incident at an on campus fraternity house, Phi Delta Theta (pictured here)
Following the tragic incident the school ended the Phi Delta Theta branch at Louisiana State University (pictured here)