Latest news with #SigmaPi
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Fox News
California State freshman drowns during fraternity trip to Arizona lake
Print Close By Julia Bonavita Published May 23, 2025 A California State freshman died in an accidental drowning while vacationing with fellow fraternity members in Arizona over the weekend, according to the Sigma Pi Fraternity at Cal State Fullerton. Simon Daniel, 18, was visiting Lake Havasu River with his fraternity on Saturday when he decided to go for a swim with friends. The college freshman entered the water with three fraternity brothers and two sorority members when "unbeknownst to them, recent heavy rains in the Havasu Valley region had significantly increased water flow, creating hazardous conditions including strong currents, crosswinds and swells," the fraternity said in a statement on Facebook. COLLEGE SENIOR KILLED AFTER 'ACCIDENTALLY' FALLING FROM TROPICAL ISLAND HOTEL BALCONY DAYS BEFORE GRADUATION Sigma Pi Fraternity's national chapter and Cal State Fullerton did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Several members of the fraternity jumped in to save the six students, according to Sigma Pi's Cal State Fullerton chapter. "Tragically, Simon was swept away by a sudden wave that separated him from one of the rescuers," the fraternity said. "He disappeared beneath the water." FAMILY OF COLLEGE STUDENT WHO DIED IN NASHVILLE FILES WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST FRATERNITY The students called 911, with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, along with additional agencies, deploying divers, remotely operated vehicles and sonar to search for Daniel. Daniel "went under the water on Saturday and did not resurface," sheriff's deputies said, according to FOX 11. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information. FIVE ILLEGALS CHARGED IN ALLEGED MARITIME HUMAN SMUGGLING ATTEMPT THAT LEFT CHILD DEAD Daniel's body was recovered Sunday morning following an extensive search by authorities. Daniel was studying computer science and is survived by his mother, according to the fraternity. Members of Daniel's family did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "[Simon] was known for his love of music, boundless energy and kind spirit," Sigma Pi's Cal State Fullerton chapter said in a statement. "He was the heart of the fraternity – genuine, joyful and someone who brightened every room with his brilliant smile." Print Close URL
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
18-year-old vanishes as friends try to pull him from lake, CA fraternity says
An 18-year-old's body has been found after he vanished while swimming at Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border, sheriff's officials reported. A 911 caller reported that Simon Daniel, 18, of Pinole, California, went underwater and did not resurface near Copper Canyon on the lake at about 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Daniel, a first-year student at California State University, Fullerton, visited the lake with fellow fraternity and sorority members, the Sigma Pi fraternity at the college said on Facebook. The swimmers did not realize that recent heavy rains had created dangerous conditions in the water, the fraternity said. Other fraternity members entered the water to assist the swimmers, but a wave separated Daniel from the others and he vanished underwater, the fraternity said. A dive team using sonar and a remote-operated vehicle found his body just before 9 a.m. Sunday, May 18, the sheriff's office said. He was known for his 'love of music, boundless energy and kind spirit,' the fraternity said. The fraternity described Daniel as a computer science major and 'a respected leader on campus' at the Los Angeles-area university. 'He was the heart of the fraternity - genuine, joyful and someone who brightened every room with his brilliant smile,' the fraternity said. Deputies ask anyone with information to call Cpl. Brandon Abell at 760-326-9200. Lake Havasu is about a 300-mile drive east from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
College Freshman, 18, Reportedly Dies During Lake Havasu Trip with Fraternity Brothers: ‘He Was the Heart of the Fraternity'
Simon T. Daniel of Pinole, California, drowned while on vacation with members of Sigma Pi Fraternity at Cal. State Fullerton on Saturday, May 17 The first-year student, 18, and other students were unaware that "heavy rains in the Havasu Valley region" had made conditions "hazardous" to swim in before entering the water, according to the Sigma Pi fraternity "He was the heart of the fraternity - genuine, joyful, and someone who brightened every room with his brilliant smile," Daniel's fraternity brothers wrote on FacebookAn 18-year-old California State University, Fullerton student died during a visit to Lake Havasu with his fraternity brothers, according to multiple reports. Simon T. Daniel of Pinole, California, disappeared while swimming in the Copper Canyon area at around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, May, 17, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. He had entered the water alongside three members of the Sigma Pi fraternity and visiting sorority members. 'Unbeknownst to them, recent heavy rains in the Havasu Valley region had significantly increased water flow, creating hazardous conditions including strong currents, crosswind, and swells,' according to a Facebook post by Sigma Pi fraternity. 'When the group found themselves in distress, several fraternity members heroically risked their own lives to rescue all six students,' the post continued. 'Tragically, Simon was swept away by a sudden wave that separated him from one of the rescuers. He disappeared beneath the water.' The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department teamed up with other agencies to search for Daniel, using divers, sonar and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) until darkness fell, ABC 7, KTLA, and CBS News reported. His body was found at around 8:54 a.m. the next morning, per the Los Angeles Times, citing officials. Over 200 students attended a candlelit vigil in his memory later that day, and the university announced via the Sigma Pi fraternity Facebook page that those affected by Daniel's death can access their counselling services. 'Simon was a computer science major, a proud initiated member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, and a respected leader on campus,' the fraternity said on Facebook, adding that he was 'known for his love of music, boundless energy, and kind spirit. He was the heart of the fraternity - genuine, joyful, and someone who brightened every room with his brilliant smile.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sharing photos of Daniel alongside the Facebook post, they wrote, 'Simon is survived by his mother and a community of loved ones and brothers who deeply mourn his loss.' The fraternity called on everyone to be 'respectful and thoughtful' when discussing the tragedy as 'we grieve this profound loss together.' PEOPLE has reached out to Sigma Pi Fraternity at Cal. State Fullerton and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for comment. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Six members of Penn State Altoona frat charged after student athlete's death
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The death of a 17-year-old Altoona High student-athlete in October has led to charges against the fraternity members who allegedly supplied the alcohol leading up to the DUI crash on the 10th Avenue Expressway. Police were called to the scene of a crash Oct. 27 where 17-year-old Lundyn Treese was pronounced dead at the scene after being thrown from the vehicle 19-year-old Jared Detwiler was allegedly driving. Since then, Blair County investigators and District Attorney Pete Weeks have been looking for answers on how the tragedy unfolded. Now, six members of the Sigma Pi fraternity are being charged for supplying alcohol to Detwiler and multiple other underage teens, criminal complaints show. According to court documents, Sigma Pi members Andrew Lee Demitis, 20, Luke O'Shaughnessy, 21, Alex Martinez, 20, Grant Edward Elder, 19, Mason Benjamin Wolfe, 20, and Omar Seiam, 20, have all been charged with furnishing liquor to minors, corruption of minors, reckless endangerment and conspiracy of all previously listed charges — six misdemeanor charges in total, each. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Driver involved in death of Altoona student athlete jailed on $100K bail According to the criminal complaints, searches of cell phones showed that the frat gave little care about underage drinking and wouldn't turn away anyone who brought alcohol. While those charged claimed they checked for Penn State IDs at the door, witnesses said underage teens would often sneak in through the back door. Snapchat revealed more for investigators, the complaint shows. Investigators said they viewed various Snapchat conversations and posts showing multiple defendants at the party with Lundyn and other underage teens. According to the complaint, detectives also viewed a Snapchat with a girl passed out on the couch at the frat house with beer bottles all around and the caption 'Should we rape her?' One witness that investigators spoke with claimed she has been to multiple parties held by Sigma Pi and was there the night Lundyn was killed, saying Lundyn and Detwiller were both drinking, adding that Detwiller had alcohol in both hands at one point. In addition, investigators said there was a group chat seen on the defendants' phones by the name of 'bump chat' with a snowflake which detectives said is indicative of cocaine to the complaint, one of the defendants claimed they don't provide alcohol nor do they let people bring alcohol. A statement police found far-fetched based on the numerous empty alcohol containers they said were seen all over the floors and outside. Penn State said they do not recognize Sigma Pi or any fraternities at the PSU Altoona campus as official fraternities. They also told WTAJ that these students will go through the university's internal student conduct process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
