Frat Members Start to Surrender, Charged in NIU Hazing Death

Thirteen of the 22 Northern Illinois University students facing criminal hazing charges in the death of freshman David Bogenberger, 19, of Palatine, turned themselves into police Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity started to surrender after 22 arrest warrants were issued Monday. According to reports, five people were charged with felony hazing, 17 face misdemeanor charges.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Yahoo News reports, seven of the men turned themselves in to authorities in Delkab, all have since bonded out. The others surrendered at different police stations, it’s unclear if they’ve posted bond at this time. 

NIU students from Mount Prospect, Roselle, Skokie, Glendale Heights and Naperville are among the 22 fraternity members listed in the arrest warrants issued Monday, the Daily Herald reports. 

According to USA Today, those who surrender this week will appear in court Jan. 8.  

The misdemeanor and felony hazing charges stem from the death of 19-year-old Bogenberger. .

According to USA Today, the night before, Bogenberger participated in a non-sanctioned event at the fraternity house called "parents' night."

Assigned “Greek dads and moms,” upperclassmen in the fraternity and women affiliated sororities, the Washington Post reports, pledges went from room to room to answer questions and were then provided cups of liquor to drink.

Bogenberger was found unresponsive in his bed the next morning. Autopsy results showed the 19-year-old had a blood alcohol content of 0.351, close to five times the legal limit for drivers, Northern Star, the NIU daily paper reports. 

According to the Chicago Tribune more than 30 NIU students are also facing sanctions from the university for their involvement in the events that led up to Bogenberger's death.