Report: Fresno frat members blocking death probe

Authorities looking into death of Philip Dhanens

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(Photo courtesy: AP Image)

Posted: 10/10/2012
Last Updated: 226 days ago

FRESNO - Authorities say members of a Fresno State fraternity where a teen drank himself to death are refusing to cooperate with police.

The Fresno Bee cites a search warrant, in which a detective says fraternity members refused to answer questions.

The court document, released Tuesday, indicated that Theta Chi pledges were taken to an off-campus room for initiation on Aug. 31 and told they couldn't leave until they finished several bottles of liquor.

Eighteen-year-old Philip Dhanens passed out and later died. The coroner's office found that he had a blood-alcohol level of .36 — nearly five times the legal driving limit.

The paper says Theta Chi officials couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. The fraternity's international headquarters has suspended the Fresno State chapter.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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