Caleb Wilson‘s family described him as extraordinary and talented who had “a promising future.” The late-Southern University student, nicknamed “Cheese” by friends, was pledging Omega Psi Phi, Inc. earlier this year when he died during an alleged hazing ritual. Now, months later, the circle of those facing charges in Wilson’s death has officially expanded in a huge new development.
Suggested Reading
The Root previously reported how Wilson, a 20-year-old junior who was studying mechanical engineering, died on Feb. 27 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The HBCU’s Chancellor John K. Pierre said on Facebook that an “off-campus incident” is believed to have led to Wilson’s death, which authorities investigated as a possible act of hazing. Two more fraternity members were just indicted by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury, bringing the number of suspects to five.
Winston Craig Sanders, 22, and Jaydn Landrum, 24, were indicted for principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice. The latter charge is because they allegedly tried to cover up the cause of Wilson’s collapse. According to investigators, the pair allegedly told police and medical staff that Wilson had collapsed while playing basketball in a park.
They allegedly changed Wilson’s clothes after he became unresponsive and waited to take him to the hospital instead of calling 911 immediately.
Warrants have been issued for their arrests, but neither has been taken into custody, The Advocate reported.
Fraternity members Kyle Thurman, 25, and Isaiah Smith, 28 — who was identified as the “Dean of Pledges” and whose his father allegedly leased the warehouse where Wilson reportedly collapsed — were charged with criminal hazing in March, according to CBS News.
Caleb McCray, 24, was charged with manslaughter and felony criminal hazing. An affidavit alleged McCray, 23, was wearing boxing gloves when he punched Wilson in the chest four times. Wilson “collapsed to the floor, becoming unresponsive,” lost “control of his bodily function” and “appeared to suffer a seizure.” McCray turned himself in on March 6 and was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He was later released on bond.
All five defendants were also charged with multiple misdemeanor hazing counts: seven for McCray and nine each for Smith, Thurman, Sanders and Landrum. Those charges stem from other alleged hazing incidents to the remaining pledges present that night.
Wilson’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Omega Psi Phi, the Beta Sigma chapter at Southern, certain fraternity members and the Southern University Board of Supervisors in September, according to local news station WBRZ 2. The lawsuit not only alleges fraternity members delayed medical treatment and lied about what happened that night, the family cited decades of hazing cases involving Omega Psi Phi, despite the organizations’s 1990 vote to adopt a non-hazing membership process, the outlet reported.
The Wilson family argued the frat’s hazing is ingrained in the organization’s culture and continued “underground.”
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.