Booking documents say LSU fraternity pledge Gruver was targeted by members during hazing

quote:

---

LSU fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver, who died in September following a hazing event called "Bible Study," was "targeted" in the drinking game, according to the arrest reports of 10 men, eight of whom were active members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at LSU.

Matthew Alexander Naquin, Zachary Castillo, Elliott Eaton, Patrick Forde, Sean Paul Gott, Zachary Hall, Ryan Isto, Hudson Kirkpatrick, Sean Pennison and Nicholas Taulli were booked into Parish Prison Wednesday afternoon all on a count of hazing. Naquin was also booked on negligent homicide.

Naquin, Gott and Isto were listed as the active fraternity members who were the "main members" of the hazing, according to arrest reports. Naquin was singled out as the member that was "the most aggressive by far during the hazing event" and "in charge of the hazing event."

Gott was enrolled at LSU at the time, but has since dropped out.

All ten men wanted on hazing counts in connection with the death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver, a pledge at Phi Delta Theta fraternity, turned themselves in Wednesday to the LSU Police Department.


“Are you ready for bible study,” Naquin said, according to his arrest report. “Y’all better do well, I’m already f----- up.”

Police said pledges were then told to make a single file line and go upstairs, where Gott threw mustard and hot sauce on them, the reports say. The pledges then lined up in the hallway with their nose and toes against the wall while loud music played and a strobe light was flashing.

Several active members were upstairs at the time of the event, the report says.

Two active members interviewed by police said they told Naquin and Gott to “cut it out” and “slow it down,” but they wouldn’t stop, according to the report.

Naquin continually yelled at the pledges, including Gruver who kept messing up the Greek alphabet after the pledges were told to recite it, and forced them to take drinks from a type of alcohol called Diesel, which is 190 proof, according to the report. The pledges were also forced to do wall sits and planks during the event.

One pledge who was next to Gruver during the hazing event said Gruver took at least 10 to 12 long drinks from the Diesel, while most pledges took three to four, the reports say.

Multiple pledges said they thought Naquin, Gott and Isto were mad at Gruver for always being late to events, according to the report. One pledge said Naquin stated several days before that he wanted to “cut” Gruver from the pledging process, the report says.

All ten men booked in connection with the death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver, a pledge at Phi Delta Theta fraternity, turned themselves in Wednesday to the LSU Police Department.

---