Penn State pledge Timothy Piazza "looked like a corpse" after he was fatally injured at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, a detective testified today.
Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4 after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. Fraternity members did not call 911 until the morning of Feb. 3, about 12 hours after Piazza's fall, according to a report on the grand jury's investigation. Piazza's death "was the direct result of traumatic brain injuries," according to the forensic pathologist.
Eighteen Penn State students are facing charges: eight for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and hazing, among other charges; four for reckless endangerment and hazing, among other charges; and six for evidence tampering. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity -- which has since been barred from Penn State -- is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and hazing.
The students have not yet entered pleas and are set to appear at preliminary hearings today.
High-quality surveillance video recorded what happened inside the fraternity house the night of Feb. 2, and the video was played in open court today. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial and the surveillance video is a key part of that evidence. Piazza's family left the courtroom when surveillance video was played
In the video, Piazza appeared visibly drunk during the hazing ritual on Feb. 2; he was wobbling as he walked and was unable to stay still, and he appeared more intoxicated than the other students.
Piazza's fall down the stairs the night of Feb. 2 is not seen on video, but after the fall, four fraternity members were seen carrying him upstairs, and a large bruise was visible on his body, which prosecutors say was a spleen injury.
The brothers put Piazza on a couch but did not stabilize his head and neck, the video appears to show, and the 19-year-old fell off the couch. The fraternity members were "not being careful with his head at all," a detective testified.
The video appears to show fraternity members pouring beer on him; Piazza appeared unconscious at one point but was later seen moving.
The video appears to show the fraternity brothers putting a backpack on Piazza so he would not roll onto his back and choke on his vomit; as they placed the backpack on, Piazza's head snapped backward and moved frequently.
According to a grand jury report, which cited evidence including surveillance video, testimony and phone records, at about 10 a.m. on Feb. 3, fraternity members found the 19-year-old in the basement lying on his back, breathing heavily and with blood on his face. One brother said Piazza's eyes were half open and he felt cold. Three men carried Piazza's unconscious body upstairs and placed him back on the couch. Surveillance footage showed brothers shaking him and trying to prop him up.
A detective testified today that, hours after the fall, Piazza "looked like a corpse."
A detective testified today that, according to the video, no one gave him CPR the morning of Feb. 3, and there was a lot of talking and worried looks before someone finally called 911.
At 10:48 a.m., a fraternity member called 911.
Piazza had "lost all color" at that point, a detective said today.
Fraternity members tried to dress Piazza but couldn't because his body was too rigid, the detective said.
Piazza was hospitalized and died the next day.
Prosecutors claim the fraternity brothers waited to get Piazza help in an attempt to cover up their drinking and "coordinate a story."
One of the defense attorneys in the case told ABC News last month, "Of course, it's a tragedy. But that doesn't mean there's any intent involved in any of this."
The Piazza family is planning on filing a lawsuit against the fraternity members and the university.
Earlier this month, Penn State announced proposals for new safety reforms, including: university staff members monitoring social events; the university taking control of the fraternity and sorority misconduct and adjudication process; and permanent revocation of university recognition for any chapter involved in "hazing that involves alcohol, physical abuse, or any behavior that puts a student’s mental or physical health at risk."
Penn State President Eric Barron said, "There are other measures being discussed and will be instituted over time -- all with a focus on prevention, monitoring and enforcement. These measures augment a series of actions taken earlier this year, which are being made permanent."
Barron added, "I am resolved to turn the pain and anguish radiating through our entire community into decisive action and reform, concentrating on the safety and well-being of students at Penn State."
Penn State's Interfraternity Council said, "We agree that added social restrictions, education, transparency and professional staff support are critical. We have tried to remain committed to being an active part of the solution within our community. We stand firm on our belief that when students are involved in collaborating with the university in monitoring and accountability, a greater impact is made. For that reason, we will continue to push for a partnership between student leaders and the university."
ABC News' Stephanie Gomulka contributed to this report.
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