Adam Oakes Wiki – Adam Oakes Biography
Adam Oakes, a Virginia Commonwealth University student who died of alcohol intoxication in February, eleven people have been charged. According to his parents, he was forced to drink a huge bottle of whiskey as part of his initiation procedures, causing him to pass out on the frat couch, where he was found dead the next morning.
Eleven people have been charged in the February death of a Virginia Commonwealth University student, Richmond police said Friday. Adam Oakes died in an off-campus home, and the medical examiner attributed his death to alcohol poisoning.
Adam Oakes Age
Adam Oakes was 19 years old.
11 Students Arrested – Charged
Nearly a dozen people have been charged in connection with the death of Adam Oakes, a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University who died of alcohol intoxication after a frat party in February, Richmond police said Friday. Eight of the 11 defendants have been arrested and three more are expected to surrender in the coming days, police said. They all face misdemeanor charges that include illegal hazing. At least three also face charges for giving alcohol to a minor.
The death of 19-year-old Oakes of Sterling generated national attention and renewed questions about hazing and binge drinking by Greek organizations at the University of Richmond and in universities across the country. Oakes’ family said in a statement that the charges gave them a measure of relief, but they hope that more serious charges will be brought in the case and that the state legislature will explore the possibility of making illegal hazing a felony.
“We are grateful for some measure of justice that these charges and arrests can produce, as well as the protection against hazing they can provide to young and impressionable college students,” the statement read.
“The last seven months have been agony for our family. This is the first time that these young people have been held responsible for their historically toxic and destructive traditions, the manipulation of the disciplinary systems of the VCU and for the death of Adam, ”the statement said.
Oakes died after attending what is known as a “Big Little Reveal” sponsored by the Delta Chi fraternity, his family said. Oakes was committed to the fraternity and he was supposed to introduce him to the older brother who would guide him through Greek life. About 12 hours after going to the party, Oakes was found dead on a couch in an off-campus home, his family said. A Virginia state medical examiner later ruled that Oakes died of alcohol poisoning and that his death was an accident.
Family members said Oakes was a huge sports fan who once refused to wash his hands after getting a high-five opportunity with NBA star Kevin Durant. He was thinking of specializing in sports management, marketing, or criminal justice.
Courtney White, a relative of Oakes, said the group of people charged included Oakes’ older brother in the fraternity. Richmond police declined to comment on whether all of the defendants were members of the fraternity or what role, if any, they played in the group.
Those arrested include, Benjamin J. Corado, 19; Quinn A. Kuby, 22 years old; Riley K. McDaniel, 21; Alessandro Medina Villanueva, 21 years old; Jason B. Mulgrew, 21; Christian G. Rohrbach, 22 years old; Colin G. Tran, 20; and Enyanat W. Sheikhzad, 22. The names of the accused were not released but not detained.
A website for the group listed Corado, Kuby, Villanueva, Rohrbach, Mulgrew and Tran as part of the “leadership team.” None of the defendants were yet listed in online court records, so it could not be determined whether they had lawyers. All of the defendants declined to comment or could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.
Delta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters said it is aware of the arrests and condemned the alleged actions of its former members. Delta Chi’s VCU chapter remains indefinitely suspended, authorities said.
“Our policies are clear regarding expected member conduct, including the fact that no member should participate in or tolerate hazing,” said fraternity leaders. “Anyone held accountable must be held accountable to the fullest extent permitted by law. No family should have to experience what the Oakes family has experienced. ”
After Oakes’ death, Virginia Commonwealth University, campus police, and Richmond police launched investigations into the incident. After a months-long investigation into Delta Chi, the university expelled the fraternity from the campus in June. The investigation was triggered by Oakes’s death, but it also followed reports of misconduct, including some allegations that fraternity members violated coronavirus protocols and policies regarding events, recruiting activities, alcohol, and hazing.
Amid increased scrutiny of Greek life on university campuses, the university initiated a review of its 20 fraternities and 17 sororities. It also hired an outside firm to conduct a similar audit, which found that Greek organizations provide members “largely positive and meaningful” experiences, but struggle with hazing and alcohol abuse.
The results of those reports led the university to ban alcohol at all Greek events this school year, initiate a hiatus in recruiting new members, and commit to posting incidents of misconduct online.
Both the outside company, Dyad Strategies, and the university made various suggestions to improve the health and safety of some 1,200 students involved in Greek life, including expanding the school’s hazing policy and working with fraternities to reevaluate the “Big Brother” mentoring programs.
University officials said they will provide an update on the school’s progress in December. The VCU issued a statement Friday saying the university is still in mourning over the “tragic death” of Oakes.
“VCU continues to mourn the tragic death of Adam Oakes and thanks to the Richmond Police Department for its investigation,” the statement said. “VCU is dedicated to continuing its efforts, announced this summer, to promote a culture of life of fraternity and brotherhood that is safe and welcoming for all.”
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