Fraternity at University of Maryland could face charges over death of pledge

<br>COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) _ Members of a University of Maryland, College Park, fraternity could face criminal charges now that an autopsy has concluded that a student pledge died from alcohol intoxication.

Wednesday, March 27th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) _ Members of a University of Maryland, College Park, fraternity could face criminal charges now that an autopsy has concluded that a student pledge died from alcohol intoxication.

Prince George's County police and prosecutors plan to meet soon to discuss whether to charge members of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity in the death of Daniel F. Reardon, 19, or send the case to a grand jury, police said. Investigators have said charges in the case could range from hazing to manslaughter.

Paramedics found Reardon unconscious following a party at the fraternity house early on the morning of Feb. 8. He was in a coma and died on Feb. 14 after being taken off life support.

A report from the state medical examiner's office Tuesday showed that Reardon registered a blood alcohol level far exceeding the legal limit of 0.08. Officials would not reveal the exact level, but Reardon's father said Washington Adventist Hospital recorded levels as high as 0.50.

``This was a supervised, needless tragedy,'' Daniel P. Reardon said.

Phi Sigma Kappa has since been suspended from campus and its charter has been revoked by the national organization.

Reardon's death was the second fatality on the university's Fraternity Row in six months. Alexander E. Klochkoff, 20, died Sept. 5 on the front porch of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Toxicology tests later revealed the drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, contributed to his death.

No charges were filed in that case.