The last of four former Cal Poly students arrested in connection with a hazing-related student death pleaded not guilty Thursday.
The charges are related to the death of freshman Carson Starkey who was found unresponsive in a local home in December 2008 after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity party.
Earlier this week, Haithem Ibrahim, 20, Zacary Ellis, 22, and Russell Taylor, 22, pleaded not guilty to one felony violation of hazing causing death or great bodily injury and one misdemeanor violation of permitting a minor to consume alcohol.
Adam Marszal, 21, who appeared in court Thursday, also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of the same violations.
The four men were arrested on May 21. They each surrendered themselves after warrants were obtained for their arrests and were booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail, but each posted bail on the same afternoon.
Starkey died Dec. 2 after spending the night at an SAE pledge initiation event called “Brown Bag Night.”
He was given large quantities of alcohol allegedly purchased by Ellis, Taylor and Marszal. Ellis, the SAE pledge educator, reportedly told the 17 underage pledges to finish their portions of alcohol within an hour and a half.
When Starkey became unresponsive later in the night, a few SAE members reportedly tried to take him to the hospital, but returned to the house on Highland Drive when Starkey began vomiting, police said.
The next morning Starkey was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where his autopsy showed that he died of respiratory arrest due to acute ethanol toxicity, or alcohol poisoning. His blood-alcohol content was between 0.39 and 0.45 percent.
Previous coverage:
- Four Cal Poly students charged in Starkey’s death
- Alcohol poisoning and hazing determined to be causes of Starkey death (Jan . 21, 2009)
- Greek life discusses future at summit (Jan. 12, 2009)
- Greek life still suspended after student death (Jan. 6, 2009)
- Deceased freshman remembered by students and community members (Dec. 5, 2008)
- Freshman student dead after fraternity party (Dec. 3, 2008)
