One year after Phi Gamma Delta hazing incident that left a freshman disabled, legal battle continues
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
It's almost been one year since the Phi Gamma Delta hazing incident at the University of Missouri that left one pledge disabled, leading to 11 Fraternity brothers being charged with felonies.
A calm fall night last year on Oct. 20, 2021 took a turn as hundreds of students gathered outside of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity yelling and chanting.
News broke of the tragic events that left a freshman unresponsive and in the hospital. That freshman is Danny Santulli, who was left unable to walk, talk or see after he was forced to drink an entire bottle of vodka.
Santulli was hospitalized with a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit and suffered cardiac arrest at the fraternity's "Pledge Father Reveal" party.
Surveillance video shows fraternity members funnel beer into Danny's mouth. Video also shows Danny collapsing at around 11 that night, and then he is then carried to another room. Close to two hours later the brothers realize something is wrong and take Danny to the hospital at one point dropping him on the floor.
The fraternity was kicked off the MU's campus and its national organization after the incident.
The Santulli family sued 23 fraternity members and quickly settled with all 23. On Sept. 8, the family sued an additional 2 members.
A Boone County prosecutor charged 11 boys with felony hazing. One of the boys, Thomas Shultz, is also charged with tampering with evidence and supplying liquor to a minor.
On Sept. 26, a Boone County Grand Jury found enough evidence to send eight of the boys to trial.
Samuel Gandhi, Thomas Shultz, Alec Wetzler and Blake Morsovillo have pled not guilty and John O'Neil was granted a change of judge.
Santulli, after attending rehab in Colorado is currently back with his family in Minnesota needing around-the-clock care.
O'Neill, Gandhi, Samuel Lane, Shults, Harrison Reichman and Benjamin Parres have hearings scheduled this month and next month.
No trial date has been set as attorneys are waiting until a deposition is done with the University.
