Hazing Incident Leaves Student Permanently Blind, Unable To Speak Or Walk (2024)

The family of Danny Santulli, a student who was left permanently blind and unable to speak or walk after a hazing incident, is issuing a dire warning about the dangers of such practices.

In October 2021, during a fraternity event at Phi Gamma Delta, 19-year-old Santulli suffered cardiac arrest and severe brain damage after being compelled to consume a large quantity of alcohol, including a 1.75-liter bottle of Tito's vodka and beer funneled through a tube, as reported by The Independent.

Santulli was forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, leaving him incapacitated and unable to see, speak, or walk.

This tragic incident occurred during a pledge night, a common practice in fraternities where new members undergo rituals before official acceptance.

Disturbingly, footage from that night, which was shown in court, depicted Santulli unconscious on a sofa.

Legal documents reveal the extreme conditions pledges faced, including being provided with cocaine, marijuana, and being coerced into continuous alcohol consumption. Those who resisted were derogatorily pressured with taunts.

The lawsuit further reads: "Making matters worse, during the pledging process, Danny had been ordered to climb inside of a trash can that had broken glass in it."

According to the lawsuit, the fraternity house was stocked with 'c**aine, m*ijuana, and alcohol' to ensure the night was one they 'wouldn't forget'. The documents also state that pledges were derogatorily labeled as 'p*****s' if they failed to continue drinking from bottles of vodka that were strapped to their hands.

For a month, Danny Santulli was relentlessly at the mercy of his fraternity brothers as he underwent the demanding initiation rituals required for acceptance. His sister recalls him expressing his exhaustion and frustration just two nights before the tragic incident, saying he had 'had enough'.

The lawsuit details the conditions he endured: "He was sleep deprived, had to buy things for the fraternity brothers with his own money and was repeatedly ordered to clean the brothers' rooms and bring food, alcohol, and m**ijuana to them at all hours of the night," as reported by the Daily Mail.

Tragically, despite clear signs of distress, no help was called when Santulli collapsed from severe alcohol poisoning, his blood alcohol content a life-threatening 0.486, six times the legal driving limit.

The consequences were devastating. Hospitalized immediately after the event, Santulli's health quickly worsened, leading to permanent brain damage. He now requires continual medical care, with costs already surpassing $2 million.

Danny Santulli now lives with permanent disabilities as a result of the incident, including blindness, an inability to speak, and reliance on a wheelchair for mobility due to severe brain injuries he sustained.

Among those held responsible is Ryan P. Delanty, who has admitted his guilt and faces a six-month jail sentence, as reported by the Daily Mail. His sentencing is set for May 24. Delanty's lawyer, Stephanie Fortus, stated that her client is relieved to have reached a resolution that avoids a trial.

Following the incident, the fraternity involved was closed down, and Santulli's family filed a lawsuit, leading to a settlement with the fraternity and its members.

Other members of the fraternity, including Samuel Gandhi and Alec Wetzler, also faced legal consequences, pleading guilty for their involvement in the hazing that took place in October 2021.

Thomas Shultz, another member of the fraternity, pleaded guilty to providing alcohol to a minor. His sentence includes a 30-day jail term, probation, community service, and he is required to attend educational programs on substance abuse.

"Hazing is a form of initiation that occurs when new members enter certain social groups, most often characterised by degrading, humiliating, or dangerous tasks and behaviours. Hazing is typically associated with student organisations such as university fraternities and sororities," according to Brittanica.

The University of Missouri has stated: "Hazing is opposed by all sororities and fraternities at UMKC and is not tolerated. UMKC and all national and international headquarters have strict anti-hazing policies that all chapters must adhere to."

Santulli's family has now issued a public warning about the dangers of hazing practices.

"It makes me sick to my stomach seeing the people involved that harmed Danny walking around campus, acting like they did nothing wrong," his sister Meredith told ABC News.

His mother, Mary Pat Santulli, expressed her dismay at the inaction of those present during the incident: "Just the fact that they knew he was in distress and his lips were blue, and nobody called 911. It's, like, I don't know. I mean a six-year-old calls 911."

"He'll need care for life. He's still not talking or walking. He's in a wheelchair. He lost his vision but he hears us, and he knows we're there and we'll just keep fighting, and we're not gonna give up hope."