ITHACA, N.Y. — Prosecutors say it was a mock kidnapping, part of a fraternity tradition, that led to the death of 19-year old George Desdunes.
On Thursday, four defendants stood before a judge, all former pledges of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Cornell University. EJ Williams, Max Haskin and Ben Mann, all 19, are charged with first degree hazing and unlawfully dealing with a child. Williams is also charged with criminal nuisance. A fourth defendant who is under the age of 19 was also charged, but his name has not been released.
Prosecutors say the four took a complicit Desdunes and another frat brother to a campus apartment around 1 a.m. February 25th after Desdunes called a designated driver for a ride home from a bar. Investigators say the pledges bound Desdunes’ hands and feet with zip ties and duct tape and quizzed him on the history of the fraternity. When Desdunes answered incorrectly, prosecutors say the pledges gave him water, flavored syrups, sugar or vodka and made him do exercises, such as sit-ups.
Desdunes passed out on the way home around 5 a.m. and the pledges left him on a couch in the library of the frat house. That is where a custodian found him later that morning.
Desdunes was taken to Cayuga Medical Center and pronounced dead. His blood alcohol content was .35 percent.
“The grand jury has reviewed this case very carefully, has lodged misdemeanor offenses against these young men, but certainly has made very clear that they are not responsible for the death of Mr. Desdunes,” say Ray Schlather, Haskin’s attorney.
A representative from Cornell University said none of the students are currently enrolled. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon house has been suspended and vacated.
The three named defendants pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
“He certainly intends to fight this and clear his name and it is expected that when the dust finally settles, that’s exactly what will happen,” Schlather said of his client.
All of these charges are misdemeanors and carry a maximum punishment of one year incarceration. It’s not yet known whether the case will go to trial.
Attorneys for Mann and Williams declined to comment. Representatives of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity did not appear in court, and prosecutors say a corporate summons will be issued.
