“Alternatively, there is insufficient evidence to prove that the suspect acted with criminal negligence.”Ĭriminal negligence requires that a person act in a reckless way that creates a high risk of death or great bodily injury and that a reasonable person would have known that acting in that way would create such a risk, prosecutors said. There is no evidence in this case that the suspect committed a crime or an unlawful act,” Rizzo stated in the document. “The facts of this case (choosing to hike on a hot day with inadequate water supplies) do not present the necessary elements to prove a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Medical help was obtained “as quickly as possible,” she said. He was later discovered face down in a culvert, unconscious and unresponsive. The other hikers did not realize that he was disoriented or suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration to the extent that he was, Rizzo stated. Toward the end of the hike, Villa ran off without telling anyone where he was going. That probe also found that these two hikers had “particular trouble” on the hike because of their shoe sizes. That probe also found that Villa and another unnamed hiker were given shoes that were too small for their feet since that was all that was left after the shoes were purchased at a discount store. The investigation commissioned by the university, however, found that the pledges were instructed to dress similarly in black-and-white clothing. “The suspect brought a significant amount of water on the hike and there is no evidence that this victim or any other person on the hike was denied water.”Īccording to the DA’s office, Villa was allowed to choose his own clothing, shoes and other additional items he wanted to take with him. “The suspect told the investigating officer that he had done the hike at least four times previously but not in the heat of summer,” Rizzo stated. However, all of the hikers complained that they ran out of water before the hike had ended. Terzibachian, who could not be reached Monday, provided pledges with individual supplies of water and brought additional water “which he thought would be adequate based upon his prior hikes and consideration of the heat on this day,” Rizzo stated. Villa, whose temperature rose to 108.8 degrees before he was pronounced dead at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, died of hyperthermia and dehydration, according to coroner’s officials.Īlex Terzibachian, the fraternity president who organized and led the hike for pledges and a few other fraternity members, was named as the only suspect in the case. They were not allowed to bring their keys or cellphones. The group was hiking near Big Tujunga Canyon Road in sweltering heat and ran out of water, and some were wearing slip-on shoes that were too small for their feet, according to the university report.