15 fraternity members charged in alcohol-poisoning death of Washington State University pledge Sam Martinez

The Whitman County prosecutor has filed criminal charges against 15 current or former members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Washington State University following the death of a student from alcohol poisoning. The charges filed Wednesday are related to the death of 19-year-old freshman Sam Martinez of Bellevue, Washington.

Martinez died of acute alcohol intoxication on Nov. 12, 2019 after attending a fraternity event. The Whitman County Coroner ruled that the death was accidental. CBS affiliate KIRO-TV reports that in February, the Pullman Police Department chief also recommended filing hazing charges, but the one-year statute of limitations for hazing had already passed.