‘Bible Study’ drinking game may have led to LSU frat pledge death

A “Bible Study” drinking game may have led to the death of a 18-year-old Louisiana State University freshman looking to join a fraternity, according to police reports.

Max Gruver, originally from Georgia, was “highly intoxicated” the night before he died last month, a witness told police at LSU.

Several other young men looking to pledge to the Phi Delta Theta chapter at the university told investigators that they were called to “Bible Study” at 10 p.m. on Sept. 13.

The game allegedly involved answering trivia questions about the chapter, with wrong answers leading to punishment in the form of drinking.

A witness said that the frat members and pledged appeared to be drinking hard alcohol, The Advocate reported.

RELATED: LSU freshman Maxwell Gruver -- potential frat hazing case

Gruver, who wanted to study journalism, died at a hospital after being found with a weak pulse on Sept. 14.

Police say that they have obtained video footage from inside the fraternity house, as well as text messages about what was happening to the teen.

Members in another fraternity, the Pennsylvania State University Beta Theta Pi chapter, face criminal consequences for the hazing death of 19-year-old Timothy Piazza last year, though the most serious charges have been dropped.

It is unclear if any charges will come of Gruver’s death, though local prosecutors said that some involved had hired lawyers and refused to give statements to police.

The toxicology report for Gruver is expected to be released next week.

LSU suspended Greek life after the death, with the Phi Delta Theta chapter closed by its national organization.

With News Wire Services