Pledge dies at U. of Del. frat party

NEWARK, Del., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A University of Delaware freshman died early Saturday of apparent alcohol poisoning during a party at the fraternity where he was a pledge.

Brett Griffin, 18, of Kendal Park, N.J., lived on campus but was at a party at the Sigma Mu Alpha house off campus, The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., reported.

Rescue workers found Griffin in cardiac arrest and took him to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Newark, Del., Police Lt. Brian Henry said. Henry said a preliminary finding on the cause was an alcohol overdose, but an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday.

Griffin, the son of a police officer, was a varsity wrestler at South Brunswick High School. Joseph Dougherty, his high school coach, said Griffin was the only wrestler in his 21 years at the school who never missed a practice.

Henry said police have had no previous problems with the fraternity. No one has been charged with causing Griffin's death.