Stage set for Mizzou Fiji 'pledge dad' hazing trial on May 21 with Johnson County jury

The first of the felony hazing cases related to the incapacitation of University of Missouri Phi Gamma Delta pledge Danny Santulli to go to trial may be that of Ryan Delanty, described in court documents as Santulli's "pledge dad."

Delanty's one-day trial has been moved to May 21, with a jury selected in Johnson County, in western Missouri and the trial taking place in Columbia after that.

Santulli, a freshman pledge, consumed large amounts of alcohol during a party and hazing event at the Phi Gamma Delta House on Oct. 19, 2021. He collapsed during the night and became unresponsive before being resuscitated at MU Hospital.

The alcohol poisoning damaged Santulli's brain and now he can't speak, walk or see. He is under constant care at his parents' home in Minnesota.

Under the state of Missouri's anti-hazing statute, hazing is classified as a felony when "the act creates a substantial risk to the life of the student or prospective member."

Judge Kevin Crane on ruled April 1 on a defense change-of-venue motion for Delanty, including that the jury would come from 70 prospective jurors in Johnson County, where the county seat is Warrensburg. The jurors will be transported to Columbia after selection.

A witness list has been submitted and depositions have been taken.

Though the witness list isn't among the public documents available, it's likely to include several other defendants.

On Monday, the case for Benjamin Karl, of Columbia, was delayed until June 17.

"We were waiting on Mr. Karl to fulfill some obligations with the state in another case," Judge Joshua DeVine, said to Karl's attorney, Ben Faber, appearing on video.

That obligation was scheduled for May 21, Faber said.

Several other cases have been resolved with plea agreements, but there's also the potential for those defendants to be subpoenaed as witnesses.

Since the Santulli case, a more recent tragedy has struck a fraternity at MU. Last month, the body of Delta Chi member Riley Strain, of Springfield, was found in Nashville. Nashville police said there was nothing to indicate anything other than Strain falling into the Cumberland River accidentally.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Johnson County jury will hear Mizzou hazing trial in Boone County