Florida State University vs. University Nevada, Reno

 

Florida State University. TPD Case #: 17-37378. Filed January 17, 2018 

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FSU – The event was known as the “big brother night”.
UNR – The event was known as the “big brother reveal”.

FSU – The big-little relationship creates a lineage for a “family”.
UNR – The big brothers and little brothers were grouped into “families”.

FSU – Andrew Coffey was a pledge (Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity).
UNR – Ryan Abele was a pledge (Sigma Nu Fraternity).

FSU – The party is traditionally known for excessive alcohol consumption and revelry.
UNR – The event was their “Tradition” and known to be a night of excessive drinking.

FSU – The big brother indicated that Wild Turkey Bourbon was his family bottle.
UNR – The big brother indicated that Captain Morgan Rum was their family bottle.

FSU – The ‘big’ supplied the ‘little’ with a 750 ml bottle of 101 proof Wild Turkey Bourbon.
UNR – The ‘big’ supplied the ‘little’ with a 750 ml bottle of 100 proof Captain Morgan Rum.

FSU – The big brother night was characterized as the most intoxicated they had ever been.
UNR – The big brother reveal was the night when the pledges were expected to drink the most.

FSU – The fraternity members hired two female strippers to perform at the party.
UNR – The fraternity members hired two female strippers as ‘entertainment’ for the event.

FSU – There was an expectation to finish the bottle.
UNR – You were supposed to finish the bottle. That was the goal.

FSU – The environment created by the fraternity led to an expectation of abusive drinking at the event.
UNR – The environment created by the fraternity led to an expectation of abusive drinking at the event.

FSU – The party was organized and executed under the direction of the executive council.
UNR – The event was planned and orchestrated by the fraternity leaders.

FSU – The action intentionally endangered the physical health of the pledges.
UNR – The fraternity members recklessly endangered the physical health of their pledges. 

FSU – The actions constitute hazing and ultimately contributed to the death of Andrew Coffey.
UNR – The actions constitute hazing and led to the death of Ryan Abele.

FSU – Andrew Coffey died of alcohol poisoning. “Acute ethanol toxicity”. His BAC was .447 and he had an estimated peak alcohol level of .558

UNR – Ryan Abele died of severe head trauma. Ryan was woken at 5:55 am and ordered to go down stairs while still severely intoxicated. Forcing him to go down stairs in that condition was equivalent to leading him off the edge of a cliff. He impacted the concrete wall at the bottom of the stairs head first. His BAC at 7 am when he arrived at the hospital was .30. His estimated BAC at midnight was .412. 

FSU – The fraternity members were NOT initially cooperative or forthcoming.
UNR – The fraternity members were NOT initially cooperative or forthcoming.

FSU – The statements of the fraternity members appeared rehearsed.
UNR – The statements of the fraternity members appeared rehearsed.

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Different State. Different University. Different Fraternity.
Incredibly similar case in nearly every respect, except the response of law enforcement.

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Florida State University 
Tallahassee Police Department investigated in coordination with Florida State University Police.
The investigation resulted in criminal charges against nine people. 

The fraternity members whose actions led to the death of a pledge are facing jail time. 

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University Nevada, Reno

University Police investigated alone. They failed to seek assistance.

The investigation resulted in no criminal charges. None.

The fraternity members whose actions led to the death of a pledge were welcomed back to campus.

 

Some have since graduated.

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The University Police at UNR clearly lacked the temperament and tenacity required to effectively investigate the death of an 18 year old. Their approach was exceedingly soft.

 

Rather than aggressively investigating the case they chose to coddle their "students" and treat them as though they had been granted diplomatic immunity.

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The University Police at UNR refused to seek investigative assistance from Reno Police Department.

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https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/letter-to-unrpd  Letter to UNRPD

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/the-botlle-and-the-law  The Bottle and the Law

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/penn-state-vs-unr  Penn State vs UNR

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/accountability-candor  Accountability and Candor

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/max-gruver-lsu  Max Gruver LSU - Poisoning

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/snakes-sigma-nu-fraternity  Snakes Sigma Nu

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/remembering-ryan-1  Remembering Ryan

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/hank-nuwer  Hank Nuwer, Professor & Author, “Hazing: Destroying Young Lives.”

https://jackabele1.wixsite.com/ryan-abele/the-lowest-of-the-low  Reno Attorney Jack G. Angaran

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