Cal Poly Student Enters Plea in Hazing Death Case

A Fresno man connected to the hazing death of a Cal Poly freshman has entered his plea. 22-year-old Russell Martin Taylor pleaded not guilty in a San Luis Obispo courtroom yesterday. Three others are also being charged with Carson Starkey’s death including 20-year-old Haithem Muthana Ibrahim, 22-year-old Zacary Westen Ellis and 21-year-old Adam Edward Marszal. They are all facing a variety of charges including hazing causing death and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Starkey was a pledge for Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was at a fraternity related party when he died. According to The Tribune, Starkey’s fraternity brothers, who are being charged with the hazing death, tried to take him to the hospital after he became unresponsive, then they took him back to the house on Highland Drive after he started throwing up. Taylor is set to be back in court for a pretrial hearing on August 3.