Fraternity ends Louisiana State chapter after student death

BATON ROUGE, La. – A national fraternity says it has closed its chapter at Louisiana State University while it investigates the death of a freshman who was being considered for membership.

A statement Monday on Phi Delta Theta’s website says preliminary results from its investigation of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver’s death found that some members were violating a rule against alcohol in fraternity houses.

The Oxford, Ohio-based fraternity says it has removed the LSU chapter’s charter, and will immediately close it.

Gruver died Thursday. The coroner’s office said Friday that a preliminary autopsy found a “highly elevated” level of alcohol in his blood, and marijuana also was present in his blood and urine.

Phi Delta Theta Executive Vice-President and CEO Bob Biggs say the alcohol-free housing policy began in 2000.