Nine people indicted in Ohio U fraternity pledge’s death last fall

Court Street in Athens, Ohio in August 2017. File Photo by Connor Perrett.

Nine people were indicted by the Athens County prosecutor today in connection with the hazing-related death of Collin Wiant, an Ohio University student, last fall. 

Of the nine people indicted, seven were Ohio U students at the time of Wiant’s death. Additionally James Wanke, the owner of the Silver Serpent Exotic Gifts, and Stephan Lewis, the daytime manager of Silver Serpent, are also facing charges; both are accused of improperly distributing nitrous oxide.

Wiant — a pledge of the Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Epsilon Chapter — was found unresponsive at 45 Mill St., an unofficial annex of the fraternity, on Nov. 12, 2018, according to The Athens NEWS. An autopsy by the Athens County Coroner determined Wiant died from asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion; Wiant was found with containers of nitrous oxide, referred to as “whippets,” near his body. 

Joshua Androsac, a student, faces charges of permitting drug abuse, hazing, involuntary manslaughter, trafficking harmful intoxicants and trafficking in cocaine. Androsac allegedly supplied the whippets, according to a report by The Columbus Dispatch. 

Saxon Angell-Perez, a student, faces charges of permitting drug abuse, hazing and trafficking cocaine.

Dominic Figliola, a student, faces charges of permitting drug abuse, hazing, aggravated trafficking in drugs and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.

Corbin Gustafson, a student, faces a charge of reckless homicide. Gustafson called chapter president Elijah Wahib, who told him to call 911 on Nov. 12, 2018, when Wiant was unresponsive. Gustafson then waited nine minutes to make that call, according to the Dispatch. 

Wahib was charged with tampering with evidence, permitting drug abuse, hazing, assault, obstructing justice and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.

Zachary Herskovitz, a student, was charged with permitting drug abuse and hazing.

Cullen McLaughlin, a student, was charged with two counts of trafficking in LSD.

Wanke — of Silver Serpent — was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the first and third degree, two counts of trafficking harmful intoxicants and improperly distributing nitrous oxide. Lewis — also of Silver Serpent — was charged with trafficking harmful intoxicants and improperly distributing nitrous oxide.

Maggie Prosser contributed to this report.