Details of Adam Oakes' death emerge as 10 members of Delta Chi appear in Richmond court From the Coverage of the hazing death of former VCU student Adam Oakes series By ERIC KOLENICH Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 27, 2021 Sep 27, 2021 Updated Feb 27, 2026 0 VCU freshman Adam Oakes attended a party for the Delta Chi fraternity on the evening of Feb. 26. The fraternity’s house is on West Cary Street. SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By ERIC KOLENICH Richmond Times-Dispatch Editors note: In August 2022 prosecutors dropped charges against five former members of Delta Chi: Riley McDaniel, Robert Fritz, Alexander Bradley, Alessandro Medina-Villanueva and Quinn Kuby.kAmp52> ~2<6D H2D?’E 2AAC@G65 E@ ;@:? E96 s6=E2 r9: 7C2E6C?:EJ 2E ':C8:?:2 r@>>@?H62=E9 &?:G6CD:EJ[ 3FE :ED >6>36CD 2==@H65 9:> E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 2D 2? “F?56C8C@F?5 A=6586[” AC@D64FE@CD D2:5 |@?52J :? #:49>@?5 r:C4F:E r@FCE[ E9C66 52JD 27E6C `` 7@C>6C 7C2E6C?:EJ >6>36CD H6C6 :?5:4E65 :? 4@??64E:@? H:E9 ~2<6D’ 562E9 :? u63CF2CJ]k^Am kAm%6? @7 E96 `` 7C2E6C?:EJ >6>36CD 2AA62C65 367@C6 ;F586D 7@C 3@?5 962C:?8D 2?5 2CC2:8?>6?E @? >:D56>62?@C 492C86D @7 F?=2H7F==J 92K:?8 2 DEF56?E 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 2=4@9@= E@ 2? F?56C286 A6CD@?] %96J C646:G65 3@?5D 36EH66? Sd__ 2?5 Sd[___[ 2?5 ?@?6 >256 2 A=62]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County leaned overwhelmingly against redistricting as vote passed statewide Franklin County man sentenced in fatal Henry County crash Products at 3 Rocky Mount vape shops seized for possibly illegal THC amounts Franklin County residents push back on proposed tax increases, zoning changes Judge reinstates Martinsville's mayor, delays hearing Virginia voters narrowly pass redistricting referendum Why Franklin County increased its real estate tax by 4 cents Rocky Mount keeps tax rates level, but service rates will increase Osprey races, Earth Day cleanup set for Smith Mountain Lake State Park Virginia budget leaders look for $1.6 billion from data centers Rocky Mount mayor wins ‘Kiss the Pig’ at Spencer-Penn fundraiser Pentagon fired US Navy Secretary John Phelan, source says Richmond judge dismisses Republican bid to block new maps General Assembly dismisses Spanberger's changes on major bills State grant to boost manufacturing workforce in Franklin County, Southside kAm%96 ``E9 5676?52?E[ H9@ H2D 2CC6DE65 :? !C:?46 (:==:2> r@F?EJ @? uC:52J[ H2D C6=62D65 @? 3@?5 E96 D2>6 52J]k^AmkAmpE |@?52J’D 962C:?8D[ AC@D64FE@CD D92C65 ?6G6C\367@C6\962C5 56E2:=D 23@FE ~2<6D’ 562E9[ H9:49 @44FCC65 2E 2? 2=4@9@=\:?7FD65 @77\42>AFD A2CEJ 2EE6?565 3J c_\A=FD A6@A=6 2E H9:49 ~2<6D’ 3=@@5 2=4@9@= 4@?E6?E DA:<65 E@ _]c_T[ 7:G6 E:>6D E96 =682= 5C:G:?8 =:>:E]k^Am kAm“x’> C6=:G:?8 E96 H9@=6 6G6?:?8 282:?[” tC:4 ~2<6D[ p52>’D 72E96C[ D2:5 27E6C E96 962C:?8D]k^Am kAmr@FCE?6J (9:E6[ p52>’D 4@FD:?[ D2:5 D96 9@A6D 6249 5676?52?E :D AF?:D965 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D =6G6= @7 :?G@=G6>6?E] !C@D64FE@CD D:?8=65 @FE p?5C6H (9:E6[ ~2<6D’ “3:8 3C@E96C[” 2D @?6 H9@ >256 “49@:46 27E6C 49@:46 :?4@CC64E=J]” Wr@FCE?6J (9:E6 2?5 p?5C6H (9:E6 2C6 ?@E C6=2E65]Xk^Am kAms6=E2 r9:’D ?2E:@?2= 9625BF2CE6CD 5:5?’E 2AAC@G6 p52> ~2<6D 2D 2 ?6H >6>36C[ 3642FD6 9:D 8C256\A@:?E 2G6C286 5:5?’E >66E E96 >:?:>F> a]d C6BF:C6>6?E[ r@FCE?6J (9:E6 D2:5] qFE 492AE6C >6>36CD 2==@H65 9:> 2?5 EH@ @E96CD E@ ;@:? 2?JH2J 2D F?@77:4:2= A=6586D]k^Am kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 244@F?E :D 32D65 @? 2 A@=:46 :?G6DE:82E:@? E92E pDD:DE2?E r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J p=:D@? |2CE:? D92C65 H:E9 E96 4@FCE |@?52Jik^AmkAm~? E96 ?:89E @7 u63] ae[ s6=E2 r9: :?G:E65 ~2<6D E@ 2 A2CEJ @? (6DE r=2J $EC66E H96C6 96 >6E 9:D “3:8 3C@E96C[” p?5C6H (9:E6]k^AmkAmt2C=:6C :? E96 6G6?:?8[ s6=E2 r9: 96=5 2? 6G6?E 7@C D6G6? @77:4:2= ?6H >6>36CD] %96C6 H2D ?@ 2=4@9@=[ 2?5 492AE6C 25G:D6C p2C@? v:=36CE 2EE6?565] qFE ~2<6D 2?5 E96 @E96C EH@ F?56C8C@F?5 A=6586D 5:5 ?@E]k^Am kAmq642FD6 ~2<6D H2D?’E 2? @77:4:2= A=6586[ 96 5:5 ?@E A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 F?:G6CD:EJ’D 2?E:\92K:?8 EC2:?:?8 E92E H66<]k^AmkAm%96 s6=E2 r9: DEF56?ED 2E6 5:??6C 2E EH@ C6DE2FC2?ED 367@C6 A:4<:?8 FA ~2<6D 2?5 E96 @E96C EH@] %96 @=56C >6>36CD E@=5 E96 A=6586D E@ AFE E96:C 9625D 5@H? 2D E96J C@56 :? E96 42C]k^Am kAmp== `_ A=6586D 2CC:G65 2E E96 9@FD6 @? (6DE r=2J 2?5 H6C6 D6?E E@ 2? FADE2:CD 365C@@>] ~?6 3J @?6[ E96J H6C6 42==65 5@H? 2?5 :?EC@5F465 E@ E96:C 3:8 3C@E96CD] %96 @=56C >6>36CD >256 “72>:=J 5C:?<D[” 82G6 E96> E@ E96 J@F?86C >6>36CD :? a_\@F?46 $@=@ 4FAD[ 2?5 :?DECF4E65 E96> E@ 49F8] %96 5C:?< p?5C6H (9:E6 >256 7@C ~2<6D — y24< s2?:6=D >:I65 H:E9 2 5C@A @7 r@42\r@=2[ r@FCE?6J (9:E6 D2:5 — H2D 6I4665:?8=J DEC@?8]k^Am kAm%96? 6249 A=6586 H2D 8:G6? 2 92?5=6 @7 =:BF@C[ H9:49 4@?E2:?D 23@FE c_ D9@ED] xE H2D 492AE6C EC25:E:@? 7@C 6249 3:8 3C@E96C 2?5 =:EE=6 3C@E96C 5F@ E@ 7:?:D9 E96:C 3@EE=6 E@86E96C]k^AmkAmp H:E?6DD E@=5 2FE9@C:E:6D E92E @?6 DEF56?E 2E E96 A2CEJ 2??@F?465 E92E FDF2==J s6=E2 r9: 5@6D?’E 92K6[ 3FE E92E ?:89E[ E96J H6C6 8@:?8 E@ “86E 7\\\65 FA]” r@FCE?6J (9:E6 D2:5 A=6586D E@=5 96C E92E DEF56?E H2D s6=E2 r9: !C6D:56?E y2D@? |F=8C6H[ @?6 @7 E96 `` :?5:4E65]k^AmkAm%96C6’D 6G:56?46 ~2<6D E9C6H FA 2?5 A2DD65 @FE[ E9@F89 A2CEJ8@6CD 82G6 4@?7=:4E:?8 C6A@CED] pE D@>6 A@:?E :? E96 ?:89E[ 96 H2D =67E @? E96 7=@@C]k^Am kAm~?6 H:E?6DD D2:5 E92E (9:E6 DE2J65 H:E9 ~2<6D :?E@ E96 ?:89E[ 82G6 9:> 2 3=2?<6E 2?5 A:==@H[ 2?5 C6>2C<65 E92E ~2<6D H2D D=66A:?8 2?5 D?@C:?8 H96? p?5C6H (9:E6 u246E:>65 2?@E96C 7C2E6C?:EJ >6>36C 2E b 2]>] xE’D F?4=62C 9@H =@?8 (9:E6 DE2J65 H:E9 ~2<6D]k^Am kAm%96 ?6IE >@C?:?8[ ~2<6D H2D 7@F?5 F?C6DA@?D:G6 @? E96 5:?:?8 C@@> 7=@@C 3J C6D:56?ED @7 E96 9@FD6] %96J 42==65 h``[ 2?5 2FE9@C:E:6D 2CC:G65 2E hi`d] ~2<6D’ 3@5J H2D DE:77[ :?5:42E:?8 96 925 5:65] %6DE:?8 D9@H65 9:D 3=@@5 2=4@9@= 4@?E6?E H2D _]c_T]k^Am kAmYYYk^Am kAmkDEC@?8m~? uC:52J[k^DEC@?8m 'r& A@=:46 2CC6DE65 D6G6? 7@C>6C >6>36CD @7 E96 7C2E6C?:EJ[ H9:49 'r& 5:D32?565 =2DE DAC:?8i q6?;2>:? r@C25@[ "F:?? zF3J[ #:=6J |4s2?:6=[ p=6DD2?5C@ |65:?2\':==2?F6G2[ y2D@? |F=8C6H[ r9C:DE:2? #@9C3249 2?5 r@=:? %C2?] !@=:46 :? !C:?46 (:==:2> r@F?EJ 2CC6DE65 2? 6:89E9[ t?2J2E $96:<9K25]k^AmkAm%9C66 @E96C 7@C>6C s6=E2 r9: >6>36CD H6C6 :?5:4E65 :? E96 42D6[ 2?5 E96J 2AA62C65 :? 4@FCE |@?52J >@C?:?8i p?5C6H (9:E6[ p=6I2?56C qC25=6J 2?5 #@36CE uC:EK]k^Am kAmp?5C6H (9:E6[ a`[ ~2<6DUCDBF@j 3:8 3C@E96C[ :D?UCDBF@jE 6?C@==65 E9:D D6>6DE6C[ 2 'r& DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5] w6 =:G6D 2?5 H@C<D :? $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ 9:D =2HJ6C E@=5 E96 4@FCE] w6 HC:E6D DE@C:6D 7@C E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >65:2 @FE=6E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^}2E:@?2=u:=6]4@>Qm}2E:@?2=u:=6]4@>k^2m E92E 4@?E2:? >:D:?7@C>2E:@? C682C5:?8 E@A:4D @7 6=64E:@? 7C2F5[ r~'xs\`h 562E9 4@F?ED 2?5 E96 67764E:G6?6DD @7 9J5C@IJ49=@C@BF:?6] w6 :D 492C865 H:E9 F?=2H7F= 92K:?8 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 2=4@9@= E@ 2? F?56C286 A6CD@?] p ;F586 @C56C65 9:> E@ C6>2:? :? ':C8:?:2]k^Am kAmqC25=6J[ a`[ =:G6D :? #:49>@?5 2?5 2EE6?5D 'r& 2D 2 D6?:@C 3FD:?6DD :?7@C>2E:@? DJDE6>D >2;@C[ 9:D =2HJ6C D2:5] qC25=6J 2EE6?565 E96 A2CEJ 3FE =67E 2E `_ib_ A]>][ E96 =2HJ6C 25565] w6 :D 492C865 H:E9 F?=2H7F= 92K:?8 2?5 D6CG:?8 2=4@9@= E@ 2 >:?@C]k^Am kAm|4s2?:6=[ a`[ :D 2 'r& DEF56?E H9@ =:G6D :? #:49>@?5 2?5 92D ?@ 4C:>:?2= C64@C5[ 9:D =2HJ6C E@=5 E96 4@FCE] w6 :D 492C865 H:E9 F?=2H7F= 92K:?8]k^Am kAm$6G6C2= =2HJ6CD E@=5 E96 4@FCE E96:C 4=:6?ED 925 366? DFDA6?565 3J 'r& @? uC:52J] ~?6 =2HJ6C D2:5 2== E96 5676?52?ED H9@ H6C6 4FCC6?E DEF56?ED 925 366? DFDA6?565[ 3FE 2 'r& DA@<6DA6CD@? 564=:?65 E@ 4@?7:C> E92E] 'r&’D DEF56?E 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E 2==@HD 7@C 2 DFDA6?D:@? @7 DEF56?ED H9@ 2C6 492C865 H:E9 4C:>6D 2?5 566>65 F?7:E E@ C6>2:? @? 42>AFD 2D =682= AC@4665:?8D 4@?E:?F6]k^Am kAm!C@D64FE@CD 92G6 492C865 E96 `` 5676?52?ED H:E9 >:D56>62?@CD] &?=2H7F= 92K:?8 2?5 D6CG:?8 2=4@9@= E@ 2 >:?@C 2C6 r=2DD ` >:D56>62?@CD[ AF?:D923=6 3J FA E@ @?6 J62C :? AC:D@? 2?5 2 7:?6 @7 Sa[d__]k^Am kAm%96 `_ H9@ 2AA62C65 367@C6 #:49>@?5 ;F586D |@?52J C646:G65 3@?5D @7 2D =:EE=6 2D Sd__ E@ 2D 9:89 2D Sd[___] (9:=6 D6G6? @7 E96> DA6?E E96 H66<6?5 :? A@=:46 4FDE@5J[ $96:<9K25 H2D C6=62D65 @? 3@?5 uC:52J[ 2?5 E9C66 EFC?65 E96>D6=G6D :? E@ 2FE9@C:E:6D 3J |@?52J >@C?:?8]k^AmkAmp== `_ H6C6 5:C64E65 E@ 92G6 C2?5@> 5CF8 2?5 2=4@9@= D4C66?:?8D[ 2?5 D6G6C2= H6C6 @C56C65 E@ =:G6 H:E9 E96:C A2C6?ED]k^Am kAmr@FCE?6J (9:E6 D2:5 27E6C E96 962C:?8D E92E D96 925 ?6G6C 962C5 @7 p?5C6H (9:E6 >2<:?8 2 A9@?6 42== 2E b 2]>][ 2?5 D96 BF6DE:@?65 E96 2FE96?E:4:EJ @7 E96 4=2:> 3642FD6 ~2<6D 2=>@DE 46CE2:?=J H@F=5 92G6 5:DA=2J65 DJ>AE@>D @7 2=4@9@= A@:D@?:?8 3J E96?[ D96 D2:5] r@FCE?6J (9:E6 2?5 96C 72>:=J DA@<6 H:E9 D:I A=6586D D9@CE=J 27E6C 96C 4@FD:?’D 562E9 :? 2? 677@CE E@ C64@?DECF4E E96 6G6?ED @7 E96 ?:89E] p A=6586 2=D@ E@=5 96C E92E ~2<6D H2D ?6G6C 8:G6? 2 A:==@H 2?5 3=2?<6E 2?5 E92E 96 H2D 7@F?5 7246 5@H? @? 2 DE:4<J[ 4@=5 7=@@C]k^Am kAm|2CE:?[ E96 2DD:DE2?E 4@>>@?H62=E9’D 2EE@C?6J[ 564=:?65 E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 27E6C E96 962C:?8D]k^Am kAm(9:E6 D2:5 D96’D 6?4@FC2865 E92E >6>36CD @7 s6=E2 r9: 2C6 7:?2==J 724:?8 D@>6 4@?D6BF6?46D 7@C E96:C 24E:@?D] }6HD @7 E96:C 2CC6DED 92D 82:?65 ?2E:@?2= 2EE6?E:@?]k^AmkAm“%96 H9@=6 4@F?ECJ’D H2E49:?8[” tC:4 ~2<6D D2:5]k^Am +1 Adam Oakes died after drinking at a fraternity party in 2021. He was a freshman. FAMILY PHOTO ekolenich@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6109Twitter: @EricKolenich In this Series Coverage of the hazing death of former VCU student Adam Oakes Updated Feb 27, 2026 'Pound these kids with alcohol.' New details emerge in 2021 death of VCU pledge Updated Feb 27, 2026 Va. lawmakers pass bill requiring hazing training in high schools Updated Feb 27, 2026 Since Adam Oakes' death, VCU revised fraternity rules but declined to overhaul the system 15 updates Previous Next 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Adam's Law, requiring hazing prevention training in college, is signed into law Named for Adam Oakes, "Adam's Law" passed unanimously in the Senate and received 98 of 100 votes in the House.
Adam's Law, requiring hazing prevention training in college, is signed into law Named for Adam Oakes, "Adam's Law" passed unanimously in the Senate and received 98 of 100 votes in the House.
