This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

NIU Student Accused in Hazing Went to Batavia To Turn Himself In

Pi Kappa Alpha members began surrendering themselves after arrest warrants were issued on Monday in connection with the alcohol-related death of a fraternity pledge.

One of the Northern Illinois University students charged in connection to a fatal Nov. 1 hazing incident turned himself in at the Batavia police station Monday, records show.

Daniel S. Post, 20, of the 1200 block of N. Stone St., Chicago, walked up to the Batavia Police Department, 100 N. Island Ave., at 5:20 p.m. Dec. 17 to respond to an outstanding arrest warrant, according to a police report.

The warrant, out of DeKalb County, was in connection to a misdemeanor hazing charge. Post posted $500 bond plus a $14.25 transaction fee. He was released with a court date of Jan. 4, 2013, the report said.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Post is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) fraternity's NIU chapter in DeKalb. He and 16 other fraternity members were issued arrest warrants for misdemeanor hazing, police said.

Post also has an address in DeKalb. The accused fraternity members were able to turn themselves in at any local police station. The Batavia police report did not specify why Post turned himself in there.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

NIU freshman and Pi Kappa Alpha pledge David Bogenberger was found unresponsive on the morning of Nov. 2 at the Pike fraternity house, 1020 W. Hillcrest in DeKalb. Bogenberger had a blood-alcohol content of .351 at the time of his death; "a highly-elevated blood alcohol content about five times the legal limit," according to the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office.

Police said Bogenberger, 19, had been taking part in an unsanctioned Pi Kappa Alpha event for the fraternity's 19 pledges on the evening of Nov. 1.

Five other Pike members face Class 4 felony hazing charges in connection to the Nov. 1 event, according to DeKalb police.

Fraternity leaders did not officially register the event, known as "Parent's Night," with the national chapter or NIU, according to DeKalb police. The event involves the assignment of “Greek dads and moms” to student pledges.  

According to police, "Greek dads" are upperclassmen in the fraternity that serve as mentors to the pledges, while "Greek moms" are members of associated sororities. On Nov. 1, pledges went from room to room in the fraternity house while being asked a series of questions. Pledges were then provided cups of vodka and other liquor to drink, the release said.

"This resulted in the pledges drinking a large quantity of alcohol in about a two-hour time period," police said in a release.  

A number of other fraternity pledges reported getting sick due to excessive drinking that night, police said.

David's parents, Gary and Ruth, as well as his siblings issued a statement regarding his death. 

“We are trying to understand the reality of our David’s death. It is almost impossible for us to accept that David is gone at the age of 19; that our future does not include his excitement at learning and growing; becoming a man; marrying and having children; that these events will never happen."

NIU suspended the Pi Kappa Alpha DeKalb chapter shortly after Bogenberger died, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Naperville Patch Editor Collin Czarnecki contributed to this report.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.