Tag: Nolan Burch

Judge Recuses Self from WVU Student Hazing Death Case

A judge has recused himself from a hazing case stemming from a West Virginia University student’s death.

The Dominion Post reports that Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Philip Gaujot said he was member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity when he was a college student.

Kappa Sigma members Jordan Hawkins of Hightstown, New Jersey, and Richard William Schwartz of Williamstown, New York, are charged with misdemeanor hazing stemming from the death of 18-year-old Nolan Burch.

Morgantown police say Burch was found unresponsive at the Kappa Sigma house on Nov. 12, 2014, following an initiation ceremony. The freshman from Williamstown, New York died two days later.

Police say Burch’s blood alcohol limit was more than six times the legal driving limit.

Judge Susan Tucker has been appointed to replace Gaujot.

Police: WVU Frat Pledge Drank Heavily Before Death

  Police say a West Virginia University fraternity pledge drank a large amount of alcohol shortly before he died.

Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said Tuesday that medical tests showed 18-year-old Nolan Michael Burch’s blood alcohol level was 0.493. That’s more than six times the legal limit of 0.08.

Preston says Burch was among 20 pledges who participated in a Kappa Sigma initiation function on Nov. 12, 2014. Each pledge received a bottle of liquor from a senior member or alumnus of the fraternity.

Burch says Burch became highly intoxicated. Officers were later called to the fraternity house for a medical emergency and found someone performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation on Burch. The Buffalo, New York, resident later died at a Morgantown hospital.

Preston says prosecutors are reviewing the investigation’s findings.

WVU to Hold Ceremony Remembering Late Student

West Virginia University will hold a bell-ringing ceremony in honor of a student who died last month at a school fraternity.

Eighteen-year-old freshman Nolan Burch died on Nov. 14. He was from Williamsville, New York, a Buffalo suburb.

The ceremony will begin about today at noon at Oglebay Plaza on WVU’s downtown campus. Relatives and friends of Burch and the university community are being invited to attend.

Police said Burch was found unconscious and not breathing at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said the incident was alcohol-related, although a cause of death hasn’t been released.

The death prompted WVU to suspend fraternity activity indefinitely.

WVU Offers Students Bus Trip to Classmate's Funeral

West Virginia University is providing transportation to the funeral of a student in Buffalo, New York.

The university says Nolan Burch’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Episcopal Church in Buffalo. The 18-year-old freshman from Williamsville, New York, died last Friday.

WVU says a charter bus will depart from the Mountainlair at 3:30 a.m. Thursday and from Summit Hall at 3:45 a.m. Students will return to Morgantown following the service.

Police have said Burch was found unconscious and not breathing at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston confirmed the Nov. 12 incident was alcohol-related.

WVU has ordered a halt to all activities at its fraternities and sororities.

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