8 VCU Frat Members Charged in Death of Pledge Who Died From Alcohol Poisoning

A fraternity pledge died after he was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey at a party earlier this year by eight college students.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested the group of men, who range from 19-22 years of age.

Adam Oakes died in February. At the time of death, he was a 19-year-old freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, the New York Post reported.

He was pledging to join the Delta Chi frat.

The night of the incident, he attended the party to be paired with his “big brother.” During the party, he was forced to drink a large bottle of whiskey as part of the frat’s initiation rites. He passed out on the frat house couch, where he was found dead the following morning.

The coroner determined his cause of death was alcohol poisoning.

The university suspended the fraternity in March, as well as its national chapter. It was expelled indefinitely in June.

The eight students were each charged with criminal hazing, and half of them were charged with providing alcohol to a minor, officials said.

Oakes’ family released a statement following the arrests, which took seven months after the death.

“We are grateful for some measure of justice these charges and arrests may produce, as well as the protection from hazing they may give young, impressionable college students,” the statement read. “The past seven months have been agonizing for our family. This is the first time these young men have been held accountable for their historically toxic and destructive traditions, manipulation of the VCU disciplinary systems, and for Adam’s death.”