Probe into student's death intensifies

The investigation into the death of freshman Seth Korona intensified Tuesday, when a preliminary report from the coroner indicated he might not have died of natural causes. Police said the investigation is ongoing.\nKorona died Sunday after several days in a coma. He was transported Jan. 29 by ambulance from his Foster Quad room to Bloomington Hospital.\nIndications of blunt force trauma to the brain were revealed during a preliminary autopsy, said Monroe County Coroner David Toumey. Toumey said he has not determined the cause of death and he won't conclude the report until he has more information, including the results of the investigation.\nToumey said he needs an explanation of what caused the trauma before he can issue an opinion on the cause of death.\nThe trauma could have been caused in any number of ways, Toumey said. He said blunt force trauma can result from a fall or from being hit on the head, among other possibilities.\nA student living on Korona's floor told police Korona hadn't been feeling well since returning from a Jan. 27 party at Theta Chi fraternity, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger.\nKorona was fine at the party, said freshman Chris Vargo, a friend and floormate. Vargo left the party at 2 a.m., but Korona stayed later, he said.\nWhen Vargo saw Korona the next morning, he said Korona seemed tired and complained of a headache.\nKorona had bruises under his arms and was holding the back of his head, Vargo said. And Korona told Vargo he didn't know where he got the bruises.\nVargo said he wasn't too concerned -- Korona was not a morning person, and he said he thought Korona was just hungover.\nThe next day, Vargo knew something was wrong. Vargo said Korona was clearly sick.\nWhen Korona's condition failed to improve, Vargo said he called for an ambulance.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he believes Korona was injured at Theta Chi. He said those who were at the party would be interviewed in the investigation.\nThe fraternity will be suspended, pending the completion of the investigation, McKaig said. He said he plans to announce the suspension today.\nTheta Chi national headquarters is also investigating the incident. The chapter was put under an order of suspension Feb. 1 by Theta Chi's national president, said David Westol, executive director of Theta Chi Fraternity.\n"Until we know what happened, we will not release more information," Westol said.\nWestol would not say why the chapter was suspended or exactly what was being investigated.\nTheta Chi President Dave Friedmann, a sophomore, declined to comment.\nIUPD responded to Theta Chi at 1:43 a.m. Jan. 28 on a complaint of a "loud party," Minger said. A house member promised to keep the party quiet, and police didn't return, Minger said.\nThe fraternity is only a part of the growing investigation, Minger said.\n"We're trying to determine what activities (Korona) was involved in prior to going to the hospital," Minger said. "We'll set up a timeline and interview people who had contact with him."\nIUPD will focus its investigation on finding out how the trauma occurred, McKaig said.\nMinger said he expects interviews to last until the middle of next week.\nAfter being transported to Bloomington Hospital, Korona did not wake up from a coma, said Rabbi Sue Shifron, executive director of the Helen G. Simon Hillel Center and a religious guide for Korona's family.\nShifron joined family and friends in prayer at Korona's bedside, she said.\n"Even though he was only at IU for three and a half weeks, he met hundreds of friends -- it speaks to how vibrant and full of life he was," Shifron said. "There was just something very special about him."\nKorona will be buried Thursday in New Jersey.