© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

9 Indicted In Hazing Death Of Ohio University Student

 This June 12, 2006 file photo shows a gate with a historic marker on the Ohio University campus in Athens, Ohio. In October 2019, the university announced the blanket suspension of 15 fraternities in response to a hazing investigation on campus. [Joe Maiorana / Associated Press]
This June 12, 2006 file photo shows a gate with a historic marker on the Ohio University campus in Athens, Ohio. In October 2019, the university announced the blanket suspension of 15 fraternities in response to a hazing investigation on campus.

An Athens County grand jury has indicted nine people in relation to the death of Ohio University student Collin Wiant.

Wiant died at 45 Mill St. in Athens, a house multiple members of the Sigma Pi fraternity lived in and used for fraternity activities, on Nov. 12, 2018. A toxicology report showed he died of asphyxiation caused by nitrous oxide ingestion.

Joshua Thomas Androsac, 20, of Lewis Center, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, trafficking in cocaine and permitting drug abuse. The charges are all considered felonies. He is also charged with misdemeanor hazing.

Saxon Angell-Perez, of Columbus, is charged with felony counts of trafficking in cocaine and permitting drug abuse. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of hazing

Dominic A. Figliola, of Athens, is charged with the felony counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and permitting drug abuse. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of hazing and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.

Corbin Michael Gustafson, 22, is charged with felony reckless homicide.

Zachary Herskovitz, 22, of Coraopolis, Penn., is charged with felony permitting drug abuse and misdemeanor hazing.

Cullen Willi McLaughlin, 20, is charged with two counts of trafficking in LSD, which is a felony.

Elijah Robert Wahib, 22, of Westlake, is charged with felony counts of obstructing justice, tampering with evidence and permitting drug abuse. He is also accused of misdemeanor assault, failure to comply with underage alcohol laws and hazing.

Stephan Brent Lewis, 27, is charged with a felony count of trafficking in harmful intoxicants and a misdemeanor count of improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.

These people will appear before the Court of Common Pleas for arraignment.

James Dylan Wanke, 25, with Silver Serpent, LLC, is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, third-degree involuntary manslaughter, and two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants. These charges are all felonies. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.

The involuntary manslaughter charge is related to Wanke’s business, Silver Serpent, selling nitrous oxide, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.

Wanke is scheduled to appear before Judge Patrick Lang for arraignment Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.

Anyone who has not appeared, or made arrangements to appear, will have nationwide arrest warrants issued.

Blackburn’s office announced Tuesday that the indictments were the result of an investigation by the Athens Police Department, Major Crimes Unit and the prosecutor’s office into the events of alleged hazing activities by the fraternity.

Sigma Pi was  expelled from Ohio University in Aprilfor “Hazing and Other Violations.”

Copyright 2019 WOSU 89.7 NPR News. To see more, visit WOSU 89.7 NPR News.