Nov 9, 2008 7:45 am US/Eastern
Police: NJ College Student May Have Drank To Death
KENDALL PARK, N.J. (CBS/AP) ―
Authorities are looking into the possibility of an alcohol overdose as part of the investigation of a University of Delaware freshman's death.
Paramedics were called to a home in Newark just before 3 a.m. Saturday, where police found 18-year-old Brett Griffin of Kendall Park, N.J., in cardiac arrest and not breathing.
After only a few weeks away at college, the student, whose family lives in Kendall Park, won't be coming home.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police say Griffin was a pledge of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and was attending a function at the fraternity's house. About 40 people were at the house at the time.
"[It's] just a shame that a social thing got out of hand," neighbor David Jaquette said. "It does upset me that [drinking] is out-of-control here, that it can't be something just fun."
Police are looking into the possibility that Griffin was forced to drink too much alcohol as part of a hazing ritual.
"The law says if someone of legal age provides alcohol to someone who is a minor, he will be held criminally liable," Lt. Bryan Henry, of the Newark Police Department, said. "So that will be part of the investigation."
"Kids just don't know how to stop," neighbor Jeff Meyer said. "They don't know when enough is enough."
Counselors will be made available on campus, while family members struggle to understand how college fun turned so tragic.
Griffin was a recent graduate of South Brunswick High School.
Police say an overdose of alcohol is being investigated as a preliminary cause of the medical emergency. An autopsy will be performed, most likely on Sunday.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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