State office takes over Penn St. fraternity-fall death case
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Pennsylvania prosecutors are taking over a criminal case stemming from the death of a Penn State fraternity pledge after a night of drinking and hazing.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Monday his office agreed to assume the case from Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna.
Former members of now-shuttered Beta Theta Pi are accused of various offenses related to the February death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey. Piazza had fallen several times.
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Their charges range from alcohol offenses to aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter.
Cantorna cited a conflict of interest in seeking Shapiro's involvement, but the attorney general's spokesman declined to provide details.
Cantorna beat incumbent District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller in May's Democratic primary.
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Shapiro's team is launching an independent review of the case.