CU Fraternity Pledge Found Dead Identified

An 18-year-old University of Colorado freshman found dead in a fraternity house Friday morning has been identified as Lynn Bailey Jr. of Dallas.

There was no obvious sign of trauma, but investigators had not yet determined the cause of death, Boulder police spokeswoman Julie Brooks said.

An autopsy was pending.

Bailey's body was found in a common area of the Chi Psi fraternity house after police received a 911 call early Friday, Brooks said. Students who live near the fraternity, located across the street from the campus, said they believed there was a small party at the house late Thursday.

"They're cool guys," said 20-year-old Derek Kellogg, who lives three houses down from the fraternity and pledged the house when he was a freshman two years ago. "They're definitely rowdy guys, but who isn't?"

Campus Chancellor Richard Byyny said the Chi Psi chapter had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

In a separate incident early Friday, Boulder County sheriff's deputies pulled over a charter bus for speeding on U.S. Highway 36 and discovered members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity had been drinking.

The fraternity members were returning to Boulder from an outing in Denver, sheriff's spokesman Vincent Montez said in a statement.

Eighteen of the bus' passengers were cited for underage drinking after it arrived in Boulder, Montez said in a statement.

Fraternity members gathered outside the majestic, white-pillared chapter on Friday and some were escorted into the building by police to retrieve their belongings. None would talk with reporters.

The death comes less than two weeks after the death of Samantha Spady, a 19-year-old sophomore at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Authorities Friday said she died of alcohol poisoning at the Sigma Pi fraternity on Sept. 5 of alcohol poisoning.

Investigators said Spady, of Beatrice, Neb., had drunk the equivalent of up to 40 beers and vodka in 11 hours.

The Boulder school has been stung by recent events tied to alcohol: It was dubbed the nation's top party school by the Princeton Review and its football program was recently criticized for the use of sex, drugs and alcohol by player-hosts during recruiting visits.

Byyny said the circumstances surrounding Bailey's death were still unclear.

"These kinds of events are always shocking and we worry about the grief of the young man's family and friends," Byyny said. "In light of recent events in Colorado and the nation, we worry about the possible role of alcohol. When we as a university learn decisive facts, we'll take appropriate action."

Students already can face suspension and in some cases expulsion for off-campus violations, such as underage alcohol possession and misdemeanors. Some students fear the school would further clamp down.

"It's outside my school responsibilities, on a weekend at my own house," said 20-year-old student Nate Ebbs. "It sucks that we can get disciplined (for off-campus violations).

More Information:

ChiPsiColorado.org
ColoradoGreeks.com