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Fraternity pledge killed in hazing ritual had 'bad attitude', brothers told police Fraternity pledge killed in hazing ritual had 'bad attitude', brothers told police
(31 minutes later)
Blindfolded and wearing a 30lb pack of sand on his back, Mike Deng did not readily submit to the blows of his would-be fraternity brothers on a December night in 2013. The “bad attitude” of this resistant pledge made him a target, the brothers later told police after hours of panic, hiding fraternity gear and trying to get their stories straight over how and why a 19-year-old was bludgeoned into a wheezing, non-responsive body as the result of a hazing ritual in the Pocono mountains.Blindfolded and wearing a 30lb pack of sand on his back, Mike Deng did not readily submit to the blows of his would-be fraternity brothers on a December night in 2013. The “bad attitude” of this resistant pledge made him a target, the brothers later told police after hours of panic, hiding fraternity gear and trying to get their stories straight over how and why a 19-year-old was bludgeoned into a wheezing, non-responsive body as the result of a hazing ritual in the Pocono mountains.
In its announcement that 37 members of Pi Delta Psi, as well as the fraternity itself, face criminal charges over the death of Chun “Mike” Deng, a Pennsylvania prosecutor’s office also revealed details of the investigation in a grand jury report released on Tuesday.In its announcement that 37 members of Pi Delta Psi, as well as the fraternity itself, face criminal charges over the death of Chun “Mike” Deng, a Pennsylvania prosecutor’s office also revealed details of the investigation in a grand jury report released on Tuesday.
Several dozen members of the Baruch College chapter gathered in rural Pennsylvania for a “pledge weekend” on 13 December 2013, in order to see six “Neos” initiated into the fraternity, brothers told police, according to the report.Several dozen members of the Baruch College chapter gathered in rural Pennsylvania for a “pledge weekend” on 13 December 2013, in order to see six “Neos” initiated into the fraternity, brothers told police, according to the report.
The ritual that ultimately killed Deng was called “the glass ceiling”, the members told police, and required pledges to run blind and burdened across a yard while fraternity brothers hit them. Deng “had an attitude at times” and “the ritual was bad for him because of the way he acts”, fraternity member Andrew Lu told police.The ritual that ultimately killed Deng was called “the glass ceiling”, the members told police, and required pledges to run blind and burdened across a yard while fraternity brothers hit them. Deng “had an attitude at times” and “the ritual was bad for him because of the way he acts”, fraternity member Andrew Lu told police.
Another member told investigators “Deng got it worse because he was talking back and kicking”, according to the report. At other times Deng was “just standing there” and mumbling, as one brother put it. Ultimately he “was not cooperating the way he should have”, another said.Another member told investigators “Deng got it worse because he was talking back and kicking”, according to the report. At other times Deng was “just standing there” and mumbling, as one brother put it. Ultimately he “was not cooperating the way he should have”, another said.
“He got the bros mad,” the police were told by Kenny Kwan, the last of several brothers to hit Deng. Other brothers said that Kwan, head down and with a 15-foot running start, “speared” the freshman. “This was the last spear,” according to the report. “He got the bros mad,” the police were told by Kenny Kwan, the last of several brothers to hit Deng. Other brothers said that Kwan, head down and with a 15ft running start, “speared” the freshman. “This was the last spear,” according to the report.
Deng had complained of a head injury after the first few blows, brothers said, and after the last he lost consciousness permanently. The brothers eventually carried him inside as he made “groggy” noises, “sucking air and making snoring sounds”.Deng had complained of a head injury after the first few blows, brothers said, and after the last he lost consciousness permanently. The brothers eventually carried him inside as he made “groggy” noises, “sucking air and making snoring sounds”.
Kwan told police that “no one called for an ambulance because someone looked it up and the bill/cost was too high”, the report says.Kwan told police that “no one called for an ambulance because someone looked it up and the bill/cost was too high”, the report says.
Other brothers searched the internet for solutions, according to the report. Police found cellphone searches for “concussion – adults, concussion can’t wake up, unconscious, snoring but not waking up, pupils don’t dilate”.Other brothers searched the internet for solutions, according to the report. Police found cellphone searches for “concussion – adults, concussion can’t wake up, unconscious, snoring but not waking up, pupils don’t dilate”.
They tried to resuscitate Deng with “water, sugar and chocolate”, according to the report.They tried to resuscitate Deng with “water, sugar and chocolate”, according to the report.
Instead of calling police, they called Andy Meng, the national president of their fraternity, who told them to hide and remove all Pi Delta Psi memorabilia. They obediently packed up their paddles, pledge books, sweatshirts, staffs and candles; a brother told police that it was “the protocol” to first protect the fraternity.Instead of calling police, they called Andy Meng, the national president of their fraternity, who told them to hide and remove all Pi Delta Psi memorabilia. They obediently packed up their paddles, pledge books, sweatshirts, staffs and candles; a brother told police that it was “the protocol” to first protect the fraternity.
Texts between brothers referred to “getting stories straight, hiding the fraternity gear, and Deng’s ritual being too hard”, according to the report.Texts between brothers referred to “getting stories straight, hiding the fraternity gear, and Deng’s ritual being too hard”, according to the report.
Eventually they carried Deng – described as “dead weight” by one brother, as “making groaning sounds, shivering”, by another – out to a car and to hospital. He reached an emergency room more than an hour after he hit the ground for the last time, the documents show.Eventually they carried Deng – described as “dead weight” by one brother, as “making groaning sounds, shivering”, by another – out to a car and to hospital. He reached an emergency room more than an hour after he hit the ground for the last time, the documents show.
When police arrived at the house in the Poconos, they found Deng’s clothing in a trash bag, supposedly hidden fraternity paraphernalia, marijuana, mushrooms and brothers with a variety of stories. Several later admitted being dishonest to police; others said they were asleep, or missed who had struck Deng, or left before the hazing spun out of control.When police arrived at the house in the Poconos, they found Deng’s clothing in a trash bag, supposedly hidden fraternity paraphernalia, marijuana, mushrooms and brothers with a variety of stories. Several later admitted being dishonest to police; others said they were asleep, or missed who had struck Deng, or left before the hazing spun out of control.
At the hospital, doctors found severe blunt force trauma all over Deng’s head, back and torso. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury, his lungs were damaged, and before long his organs failed in sequence and cardiac arrest sent him into shock and death. Forensic pathologist Wayne Ross concluded that the delay of one to two hours to the hospital “significantly contributed to the death of Mr Deng”. At the hospital, doctors found severe blunt-force trauma all over Deng’s head, back and torso. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury, his lungs were damaged, and before long his organs failed in sequence and cardiac arrest sent him into shock and death. Forensic pathologist Wayne Ross concluded that the delay of one to two hours to the hospital “significantly contributed to the death of Mr Deng”.
Charges against some of the members were announced this week. Five of the fraternity brothers, including Kwan, Deng’s “big brother” Charles Lai, and the fraternity’s “pledge educator” Sheldon Wong, face criminal homicide charges for the teenager’s death. Twenty-seven others, including national president Meng, face charges of hazing and hindering apprehension.Charges against some of the members were announced this week. Five of the fraternity brothers, including Kwan, Deng’s “big brother” Charles Lai, and the fraternity’s “pledge educator” Sheldon Wong, face criminal homicide charges for the teenager’s death. Twenty-seven others, including national president Meng, face charges of hazing and hindering apprehension.
Baruch College president Mitchel Wallerstein has permanently banned Pi Delta Psi from the school, and in a statement said Baruch has suspended “all pledging activities for campus Greek life organizations”. Baruch College’s president, Mitchel Wallerstein, has permanently banned Pi Delta Psi from the school, and in a statement said Baruch has suspended “all pledging activities for campus Greek life organizations”.
“We owe it to Michael and his family to hold accountable those who were responsible for the senseless death of this promising young man,” he said.“We owe it to Michael and his family to hold accountable those who were responsible for the senseless death of this promising young man,” he said.