My thoughts are with Chi Omega and the family of Samantha Spady. Such a tragedy....
Alcohol suspected in fraternity death
Woman identified as CSU sophomore from Nebraska
By STACY NICK
StacyNick@coloradoan.com
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Police believe the death of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found in a fraternity house near Colorado State University may have been alcohol-related and hope toxicology results due back later this week will shed light on the events leading up to the discovery of her body.
Police have identified the woman as Samantha Spady, a CSU sophomore from Beatrice, Neb., who was once a member of the Chi Omega sorority but resigned last year.
Spady was found dead Sunday evening inside the Sigma Pi fraternity house in an unoccupied second-story room, Fort Collins police spokeswoman Rita Davis said.
A fraternity member was showing the house to his mother when they discovered Spady's body, Sigma Pi member Darren Pettapiece said.
Spady, who was fully clothed, was lying down and showed no signs of trauma or sexual assault, Davis said. The room, outfitted with couches, is used as a gathering area for students, she added, declining to specify if Spady was lying on a couch or on the floor.
Toxicology tests will be conducted this week, said Dean Beers, Larimer County Coroner's Office deputy investigator. Results are expected within 10 days.
While it was estimated Spady died around 6 a.m., police declined to offer any information about where Spady was prior to her death or who she was with. On Saturday night, many CSU students were in Boulder or at sports bars and homes watching the CSU-University of Colorado football game.
This year, CSU's Greek community banned all parties involving alcohol at fraternity and sorority houses. Parties with alcohol are allowed only in third-party locations, such as bars or hotels, and guest lists must be submitted to the Greek Life office.
With their purple Sigma Pi flag at half-staff, fraternity members sat outside the house Monday afternoon, just west of the CSU campus, but declined to comment on Spady's death.
While police initially deemed the situation "suspicious," Davis said Monday there is no indication of foul play and there will be no criminal investigation.
Friends and family from Beatrice, Neb., arrived throughout the day but declined to comment. Calls to Spady's home in Beatrice were not returned. Flowers were delivered to Spady's former sorority house, Chi Omega, located just down the street from the Sigma Pi house.
Chi Omega members, wearing blue ribbons in remembrance, declined to comment, saying only that Spady had resigned from the organization last year but had maintained friendships with several of her Chi Omega sisters.
CSU Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Kuk said in a written statement that the university is assisting police and will take appropriate action pending results of the investigation. The university is providing counselors for university students and families affected by the tragedy.
Originally published Tuesday, September 7, 2004
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