Keith Cholette, 20, Dies after Frat House Party

January 27, 2005:  The purpose of these posts are to track the number of people under the age of 25 or so who die of alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning, particularly in settings where they are in the company of their peers, who could call 911 or transport the stuporous victim to an emergency room. (2004 roster;  2005 roster

Keith Cholette dies in Ypsilanti January 1, 2004.

  My sincere condolences to his family.

Updated January 5, 2004
It is possible that Mr. Cholette might have survived the party if his fraternity brothers had known to call 911 when he was in distress.

EMU officials plant organize a campus forum next week to teach students how to recognize the signs of alcohol abuse and intervene quickly.  "We need to teach students how to recognize the first symptoms of trouble -- changes in breathing, body temperature and motor control," Ellen Gold, director of EMU's health services, said.

More Update: As this esteemed medical professional  has said,

One thing the pamphlet does not tackle is the mixture of Ecstasy (the drug) and alcohol. Ecstasy and other stimulants can interfere with the bodies antidiuretic hormone. This hormone governs the desire for thirst, and water retention. Alcohol causes one to become dehydrated, ecstasy accelerates this problem. When you mix ecstasy and alcohol you become dehydrated, sometimes fatally, because you lose the desire to drink fluids coupled with an actual loss of fluid. As the body continues to lose fluids and the persons temperature rises. The person sometimes experiences brain death secondary to extreme internal temperatures. One patient I cared for had a rectal temperature of 107, and died the following day.

Just something to think about before dropping that next ecstasy tab and washing it down with a beer.

Keith Cholette was at the Eastern Michigan University  chapter of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity  in Yspilanti  on December 31, 2004, celebrating New Year's Eve.   Although Mr. Cholette was underage (20), he reportedly consumed "a large quality of alcohol".  Fellow partiers called Emergency Services when Mr. Cholette went into convulsions.  He was taken to the local hospital, where he later died. 

Mr. Cholette's home town was Taylor; HIs parents were at the hospital when he died.  News reports also mentioned that Mr. Cholette may have ingested "Ecstasy"*

There's not much on EMU's Greek Life page.  It is not clear if the Sigma Tau Gamma house is on or off campus. 

We start the Keith Cholette's death, on New Year's Day.

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*Ecstasy, also known as 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine or "MDMA" for short, is a stimulant related to the drugs mescaline and amphetamine. Other names for MDMA are "Adam," "XTC," "Doves" or just "E."  MDMA was first synthesized and patented in 1914 by Merck.

"Many people now combine ecstasy with alcohol at the beginning of the evening to get a greater high, then use drugs like cocaine or amphetamines to prolong the effect, before taking opiates or high doses of alcohol to calm themselves down at the end of the evening," says Schifano, "and it's a potentially lethal cocktail."

Researchers say death from ecstasy isn't quick. They say it takes several hours for the hyperthermia (rise in body temperature) and brain swelling caused by the drug to take effect.

Ecstacy seems to have permeated all corners of the land.  A comprensive medical review of Ecstasy is available from Emedicine.com.

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More on Cholette's death: Binge drinking blamed in EMU case School hopes death is sobering reminder January 3, 2005

BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI and LORI HIGGINS FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITERS

A 20-year-old Eastern Michigan University student died over the weekend, following what was described as hours of drinking at a fraternity party.

Witnesses told police that Keith Cholette of Taylor began drinking in the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity house about 3 p.m. Friday, and also consumed some pills thought to be ecstasy, said Sgt. John Minzey of the Ypsilanti Police Department.  Cholette collapsed and went into convulsions around 6 a.m. Saturday, Minzey said, and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Superior Township.

"Through witnesses' statements, we know that was his activity prior to his death," Minzey said. "Until we have the toxicology report, we won't know the exact cause of death." That should be in about seven to 10 days.

Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs at Eastern Michigan, said Cholette's death is "sad, traumatic and devastating" for his family and his fraternity, but he hopes it serves as a reminder to students about the dangers of misusing alcohol and drugs.  "Keith was a well-liked young man," Vick said. "I hope it makes people a little more aware of what can happen."

The university will conduct its own investigation into the death, Vick said. On Saturday, counselors met with about 35 people at the fraternity house, where between 12 and 14 men live. The fraternity has about 35 members, Vick said.  "For many of them, it's the first time they've dealt with a death of a young person. It's particularly traumatic for them," Vick said, adding Cholette's death likely will lead university officials to review what they do to educate students about alcohol and drug use.

Despite education efforts, drinking is blamed for dozens of deaths on college campuses each year. Add the number of physical and sexual assaults linked to heavy drinking, and it's easy to understand why alcohol-related problems are considered among the major problems on U.S. campuses today.

A widely quoted 1999 survey by the Harvard University School of Public Health found 44 percent of college students admitted to binge drinking within the two weeks of the survey. Each year, 12 million undergraduate students drink four billion cans of beer, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Younger, white students who were members of Greek organizations were the most likely to binge drink.

"I think it probably occurs in the under-21 crowd because they really don't know how to limit themselves," said Erica Moise, 22, an EMU senior from St. Clair Shores, adding that heavy drinking is more likely to occur at private parties than at bars. "People just get crazy."

Ellen Gold, director of university health services for EMU, said much already is being done to change the bingeing culture on campus. "Do we capture every single student? That would be almost impossible," she said. "What we try to do is target populations of students, present information and have that ripple effect, where one student is able to influence the next student."

EMU's theater troupe, CloseUp, puts on plays that deal with issues such as drinking and eating disorders. Every freshman sees this performance during mandatory fall orientation. Students also hear about alcohol use when they take a required life skills education class. Another program trains upper-class students to mentor incoming first-year students and help steer them toward alcohol-free activities.

And this fall, the university held a Greek alcohol meeting with representatives of each of the Greek organizations to talk about socializing without drinking. "There were some naysayers. But by the time we left and we circled around and each person had to make a minimal commitment, I was amazed and proud of the camaraderie I saw and their desire to make a positive difference on campus," Gold said.

But despite the university's efforts, Moise and other students said they hear little or nothing about alcohol education. "You get a lot of drug education. But I don't think people think about dying from alcohol. It's kind of socially acceptable to drink," Moise said. "It's not really that talked about."

Megan Meisenhelter, 21, a graduate student at EMU from Massillon, Ohio, said coaches and other athletics officials talked to her crew team about drinking as a student athlete. But she does not remember alcohol education aimed at the general student population.

"I was never talked to about that," Meisenhelter said. "I was a lot in high school, but never in college. "It's so sad. He was so young."

Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI at 586-469-4681 or [email protected].

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Cholette OD'd, Fraternity Brothers Didn't Notice  January 5, 2005

BY MARYANNE GEORGE--FREE PRESS ANN ARBOR BUREAU
By 5 a.m. on New Year's Day, Keith Cholette had downed 24 beers, taken three doses of ecstasy and smoked marijuana before falling to the floor in convulsions at the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity house at Eastern Michigan University, according to police.

The 20-year-old sophomore from Taylor contorted on the floor for about 30 minutes before his fraternity brothers realized he was in trouble and put him in a cold shower, according to Ypsilanti Police Sgt. Craig Annas. When the cold water failed to revive him they called 911.

"They didn't look at it as a medical emergency at first," Annas said of the fraternity's reaction.  By 6:52 a.m. Cholette was dead.

As Cholette's family, friends and fraternity brothers gathered at the Voran Funeral Home in Taylor on Tuesday, police and university officials tried to sort out what happened at the fraternity house on Cross Street in Ypsilanti to prevent another tragedy.  One of his fraternity brothers, Charles DeGryse, struggled to maintain his composure at a news conference Tuesday as he talked about the impact of Cholette's death.

"I think my shock was similar to the feelings my friends, neighbors and brothers had as we all looked for answers to how something so awful could happen to someone we loved so much," DeGryse, a former president of the fraternity, said.  "Keith was the kind of guy who would have given the shirt off his back to a stranger. His generosity and his sympathy for others was something that defined Keith, and I'll never forget the courage he always gave me when I had a bad day."

Police are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine the exact cause of Cholette's death, Annas said.  Cholette drank and consumed the ecstasy and marijuana voluntarily and there was no evidence of foul play, he said. Cholette died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township, where he was taken by the Huron Valley Ambulance service.

Investigators will also try to determine who supplied Cholette with the drugs and alcohol, Annas said.  It was unclear Tuesday whether any criminal charges would be filed in the case. One witness told police that Cholette had sought treatment in the past for a drinking problem.

Members of the fraternity's national organization, based in Warrensburg, Mo., are awaiting the results of the police investigation and their own review before taking any action, said Sigma Tau Gamma executive vice president Bill Bernier.  EMU officials will also conduct an investigation before deciding whether to take any action against the fraternity. Sanctions could range from mandatory educational activities to loss of recognition as a student organization, which would prevent the group from recruiting new members.

Family members declined to comment or release any biographical information about Cholette on Tuesday.  Nelson MacNicol, Cholette's guidance counselor for four years at Harry S. Truman High School in Taylor, remembered Cholette as a nice young man who always challenged himself academically. Cholette graduated in 2003.  "He took AP calculus, physics, chemistry and biochemistry," MacNicol said. "He was not afraid to challenge himself. When I read about his death it was a real shock."

Ellen Gold, director of EMU's health services, which offers numerous alcohol education programs, said some members of the fraternity had just attended a Greek Alcohol Summit in November to discuss reducing alcohol consumption at social gatherings.

EMU officials hope to organize a campus forum next week to teach students how to recognize the signs of alcohol abuse and intervene quickly.  "We need to teach students how to recognize the first symptoms of trouble -- changes in breathing, body temperature and motor control," Gold said. "People need to understand that there may be repercussions for underage drinking, but the goal is to help the person first and worry about enforcement issues later. They need to say 'call 911.' "

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In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation Mission: to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing. 

Kimberly Ostien's memorial foundation: "With binge drinking on the rise, we feel it necessary to get the message out on the danger of alcohol, especially excessive alcohol consumed in a short period of time.  Students are educated on drugs and alcohol but they will continue to experiment no matter what.  We want to educate on what to do when a friend falls down or passes out from drinking.  Often we want to put that person to bed to sleep it off and that is when the trouble can begin."  The card lists the information, above.

Comments

[lisa hall]

i just want everyone to know that keith was a very special person and the way the media and the press are making him seem is not keith, and i know this because ive known keith for 7 years im his brother stevens girlfriend, but i was more then that to keith he was my little brother and he is not what everyone is trying to make him out to be, so im asking for his familys sake to stop, if you dont know keith then stop running your mouths about him, and if you did know him then keep his memory alive but saying good things and rember why he died the next time you think about making the wrong decision. because thats what keith did he made the wrong decision the day he died, i know for sure he didnt mean for this to happen, im also sure he knew the risk he was taking but you people that are trying to make him out to be this horrible person and you dont even know him, take along look in the mirror and think to yourself if this was going on in your family how you would feel if you had to read things that you knew were not true, so please i will ask you again for his familys sake STOP!!!! thank you all for showing your respects to keith for those of you who attened the furneral keith. he will always live for ever in all of our hearts as long as we keep his memory alive and dont let this all go done in vain. keith we love you and we will never forget all the time we shared with you and will see you when we get our day to go home.

[lisa]

i also want to know how you know what keith had in his system when we the family dont even know! i suggest that all of you that are talking shit to STOP right now because you dont know what in the hell you are all talking about the newspaper writes a story for people to read but yet its all wrong if the news printed a true story they would be afraid that it would not get read. so untill you kinow the facts keep your mouths shut!!!!!!!!!!!!! lisa hall

[Rob Lehmann]

Let me just clear this up for all you folks who like to speculate as to what happened. I cannot believe the amount of news that has been fabricated to make this situation seem to be something that it is not. Keith was not convulsing on the floor for thirty minutes before we called 911, he was not forced to drink any alcohol, there was NOT a party at our house that evening, and we did not know about his taking of MDMA. I was sober at the time, just returning from work at about 6am, within seconds of seeing his condition the ambulance was called. I was THERE ok? I am not some reporter telling the story, some person that has no idea what is going on but is just trying to get 'the next big story' in order to boost their own career. There was no party whatsoever, our fraternity decided against a party that night and the brothers all went elsewhere. When I came home from work there were 4 people even awake in the entire house. You newspeople want to make it sound like a gross situation of neglect or an 'animal house' type fraternity throwing massive parties and killing people. You people make me sick.

[Johnny Basile]

I knew Keith, pretty much since I can remember. I remember the times we would play with them transformers all day in his middle room, and have Steve and Chad chase us and tickles us till I would say "I have to peeeeee!", lol the forts in his room and his parents yelling at us "go to sleep!". I remember all them good times we've had. Even though Keith didn't make the best choices, that doesn't change who he is; a wonderful, funny, caring man. Heh... I thought about talking with him in December, just to catch up on them 4 years we were "apart". Now, he's gone. I have this void in me, this craving, as I'm sure the same for many others. It's funny how people, can talk so much nonsense about other people not in any way related to them. That's america for ya. I love and miss Keith...

------Johnny Angelo Basile

[free movies]

Oh no !! Howz he died ? did he suicides or murdered by anyone. I quite interested in it and would like to know the whole story from the starting..

[Donald S]

What I can state coming from a Law Enforcement perspective is this, if you indeed did have a party and which I find to be highly probably for a frat house on a Friday night. The fact that there was underage drinking would be the least of your concerns, the article above stated that several of you put him in a cold shower to wake him up if that is found to be true after the investigation has concluded I would and hope that every last one of you will be charged with Criminally negligent manslaughter. When there is any questionable emergency in hand 911 and the proper authorities need to be called immediately. A small charge and some school probation is a small price to pay for saving ones life especially if he is your "brother". However I am not involved in the investigation and was not there I hope justice is served and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of this young man.