WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The death of a 19-year-old Baruch College freshman during a hazing in the Pocono Mountains was a homicide, a Pennsylvania coroner said Friday.
The ruling by the Luzerne County Coroner's offered concluded a two-month investigation by the Pocono Mountain Regional Police, NBCNews.com reported.
Michael Deng, a freshman at Baruch College, suffered major head trauma during a December retreat conducted by the Pi Delta Psi fraternity.
Court documents indicate Deng became "unresponsive" during an activity in which pledges were pushed and shoved in the freezing dark while blindfolded and wearing packs filled with sand.
Fraternity members allegedly waited an hour after Deng was injured to take him to the hospital and then lied to police about him being hurt during a fraternity event.
The fraternity has been banned permanently by Baruch College. Pi Delta Psi's national organization said the retreat was unsanctioned and violated the group's policy against hazing.
