Lead prosecutor Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller noted that additional charges would be filed as a result of this finding. For the first time, the public may see surveillance video showing what happened inside a Penn State fraternity house before a student died. A detective testified today that Piazza "looked like a corpse" at that point. Most serious charges dismissed in Timothy Piazza hazing . Before emergency assistance arrived, the brothers wiped blood from his face and attempted to dress him in an effort to warm him. There is no justice in a fine and maybe probation for the death of a 19 year old who will never graduate from college; never marry; never serve as his brothers best man; never introduce his parents to their grandchildren, the report said. The camera caught him trying several times to struggle to his feet, falling over into the fetal position and eventually getting up and then stumbling head-first into a wall or door. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017, after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. Craig Heimer, 21, of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania: Reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. Luke Visser, one of 18 defendants in the death of Timothy Piazza, arrived for his preliminary hearing at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., on Monday. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial and the surveillance video played in court today is a key part of that evidence. Sixteen of them appeared before a judge on Monday with their lawyers, filling the courtroom for a hearing lasting nearly 11 hours. Its the same system, she said. Neuman threw someone against a wall, Gilmartin labeled witnesses crazy and insane, whilst Kenyon downplayed the concerns of witnesses in group chats. The report released by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller on Friday condemned hazing within the Greek community at Penn State as rampant and pervasive, and accused Penn State of demonstrating apathy to drinking culture and turning a blind eye to problems within fraternities. Eight members of the fraternity face involuntary manslaughter charges in Piazzas February 4 death. The video included him stumbling through the house before he was found, hours later, in the basement. Twenty-six men are facing various charges in connection with Piazza's death, including involuntary manslaughter, hazing and conspiracy, though aggravated assault charges were recently withdrawn. ABC News' Stephanie Gomulka contributed to this report. Photo: Patrick Carns via AP. In addition to the fraternity brothers, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity itself was also charged. Braxton Becker, 20, of Niskayuna, New York: Evidence tampering. [49], Kordel Davis led a Hazing Prevention tour in the Fall of 2019 entitled "One Night a Pledge". Luke Visser, 19, of Encinitas, California: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. There's 300 other people in that house and a dozen that spent some time with him. Penn State banned the fraternity after concluding it had engaged in a persistent pattern of excess drinking, drug use and hazing. Michael Schiavone, 21, of Yardley, Pennsylvania: Reckless endangerment, hazing and alcohol-related charges. (AP Photo/Chris Knight), Gary Dibileo, left. About 40 minutes later, a 911 call is finally made, Scicchitano testified. [41], Legal scholars continually point to the Piazza case as a grounds for change in Hazing Prevention legislation. Burke admitted his role in the hazing of Piazza, which included being present for and actively encouraging a gauntlet of drinking games and an obstacle course involving Piazza and other pledges. Shortly after, Piazza apparently fell head-first down the basement stairs. Defense attorneys representing fraternity members have argued that Piazzas death was a tragic accident and have fought for the dismissal of the most serious charges. According to the grand jury presentment, around 9 p.m., the videos show Piazza and other pledges in a ritual called "the gauntlet," consuming large amounts of beer, vodka and wine in a matter of minutes. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Around 7 a.m., a fraternity pledge was sitting on a couch watching Piazza, and took either a photo or video of Piazza in that condition, a detective said in court. The grand jury report also called for a stronger state hazing law. The Piazza family is planning on filing a lawsuit against the fraternity members and the university. He died a day later of traumatic brain injuries. One former fraternity member allegedly texted his girlfriend "drink hazing can send me to jail," and "I don't want to go to jail for this, prosecutors said. Only one witness, a detective, testified during about 10 hours of a preliminary hearing that will decide whether there's enough evidence . But Theyre Still Finding Joy at Christmas, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Yet, instead of calling 911, they talked among themselves and searched their phones for information, Scicchitano said. Penn State strongly disagrees with many characterizations of the University and our record of action as presented by the District Attorney, but we remain deeply committed to turning the pain and anguish of this tragedy into reforms that continue to improve the safety and well-being of our students, Penn State President Eric Barron said in a statement on Friday. Thomas R. Kline, the lawyer for the Piazza family, was featured on talk shows extensively. At 10:48 a.m., a fraternity member called 911. By that time, he had lost all color, and some of the fraternity members thought he may have died, Scicchitano said. He looked like a corpse, Scicchitano said. We have a lot more to go.. The fraternity was supposed to be alcohol-free after a suspension in 2009.[2]. He posted it to Snapchat and later deleted it, Scicchitano testified. The. The fraternity members were "not being careful with his head at all," a detective testified. He tries to get on his feet and falls back on the floor. Still, it would take nearly 40 minutes for Beta Theta Pi brothers to call 911 after finding 19-year-old Timothy Piazza unconscious. Piazza was hospitalized and pronounced dead in the early hours of Feb. 4, according to a grand jury investigation report. All night long, Piazza is either holding his stomach, lying down in a fetal position, or holding his head. These measures augment a series of actions taken earlier this year, which are being made permanent. Updated on: June 12, 2017 / 8:52 AM There are new developments in connection with the case of the fraternity hazing ritual at Penn State that allegedly caused the tragic death of 19-year-old student Tim Piazza. When one pledge tried to intervene, insisting they get Piazza some help, he was shoved into a wall and told the brothers had it under control, the grand jury report says. . "The hardest part of the video for me to watch was to see Tim Piazza on the floor with no shirt on struggling for life alone, left alone in the middle of the night," Kline said. Next he gets up again and walks into the side of the stairs railing, and falls down onto the stone floor, the video appears to show. Video of Penn State fraternity pledge Tim Piazza chugging vodka, beer and wine at a pledge ceremony inside the Beta Theta Pi house the night he fatally fell down the frats stairs was shown in court today. [27] The Atlantic article pointed out the ties between Beta Theta Pi and Joe Paterno. Civil lawsuit filed by the Piazza family; 25 of 47 defendants settling civilly. But sadly, just because someone passes away doesn't mean that everybody in the room is responsible.". The next few hours of video show him in and out of consciousness, rolling on the floor, struggling to stand and repeatedly falling and hitting his head before he disappears again the morning of February 3. Nicholas Kubera, 19, Downingtown, Pennsylvania: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing, alcohol-related charges. Video deleted from Penn State fraternity camera in Timothy Piazza case, police say. Video surveillance taken from the fraternity that played during the hearing last month showed that between the falls, Piazza spent much of the night in . As a result of this evidence, the Grand Jury released a scathing 236-page report regarding hazing and excessive alcohol consumption at Penn State fraternities. The video appears to show fraternity members pouring beer on him; Piazza appeared unconscious at one point but was later seen moving. A hearing is underway today to determine if there's enough evidence to go to trial for several of those men. The videos were recorded by security cameras inside the Beta Theta Pi house on February 2, and have never been seen publicly. The Piazza case resulted in one of the largest hazing prosecutions in US history. Piazza at one point is seen stumbling and staggering. Police and EMTs then arrived at the house. Thankfully the judge quickly brought them in order, Jim Piazza said after court. Another adjusts a blanket on him. [citation needed], The law is sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader and 34th Senatorial District Rep. Jake Corman, who worked with Tim Piazza's family to create the bill. Fraternity brothers and pledges hovered around Piazza, at one point strapping a bag filled with books to keep him from turning over and choking on his own vomit, and at another stage bringing in a bucket to clean up when he did vomit. He sustained traumatic injuries in a head-first fall down a set of stairs, and fraternity members waited hours before seeking medical help, prosecutors say. The fraternity brothers didn't find him for another three hours -- and then waited 42 minutes to call 911. Soon emergency services arrived and Piazza was brought to Mount Nittany Medical Center, but was quickly transported to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center because of the severity of his injuries. That went on for an excruciating amount of time to watch without any action being taken.. Daniel Casey, 19, of Ronkonkoma, New York: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, evidence tampering, hazing, alcohol-related charges. A fraternity brother starts to drag him, the video appears to show, and then leaves him on the floor, throwing a blanket over him. It looked to me like voluntary drinking among people that you would expect to see at any fraternity party or sorority party or most college parties probably. Joseph Sala, 19, of Erie, Pennsylvania: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, hazing and alcohol-related charges. Personal Injury Practice", "Dr. Oz jumps the gun, declares himself 'presumptive' GOP Senate nominee", "Penn State frat boys in court for hazing death - Crime Stories with Nancy Grace", "How a Fatal Frat Hazing Became Penn State's Latest Campus Crisis", "18 Penn State Students Charged in Fraternity Death", "Prosecutors Taking Tougher Stance in Fraternity Hazing Deaths", "Penn State Student's Dying Hours Play Out in Courtroom Video", "Penn State is still keeping secrets on frat row", "Robert Greenblatt to Develop 'Death at Penn State' Limited Series at Hulu", Penn State ex-frat brother makes first guilty plea in hazing death of 19-year-old pledge, "Ex-Penn State Fraternity Member Sentenced to House Arrest in Hazing Death", "[Document] Full Grand Jury Report In Penn State Greek Life Investigation", Tim Piazza anti-hazing law unanimously approved by Pa. Senate committee, Pennsylvania Senate passes anti-hazing law, "Office of the Governor | Governor Murphy Signs "Timothy J. Piazza's Law", "Case Study: Antihazing Legislation in Pennsylvania", "What's Different About Recent Hazing Deaths", "Penn State Hazing Allegations: Hollow or a Sign of History Repeating Itself? Piazza suffered a traumatic brain injury from several falls, including one down a set of basement stairs, according to a grand jury investigation. The pledges were threatened if they told anyone of the activities, there would be consequences. Passage of the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law signed by, Daniel Casey (age 19): 201 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Brendan Young (age 21): 200 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Jonah Neuman (age 19): 79 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless endangerment, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Lars Kenyon (age 19): 52 counts, including reckless endangerment; charges reduced to furnishing alcohol to a minor, Michelangelo Schiavone (age 21): 52 counts, including reckless endangerment; charges reduced to hazing and furnishing alcohol, Nick Kubera (age 19): more than 50 counts, including involuntary manslaughter; charges reduced to hazing and furnishing alcohol, Ryan Foster (age 21): one count of tampering with evidence, Edward Gilmartin (age 20): one count of tampering with evidence, Joshua Kurczewski (age 19): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Ryan Burke (age 21): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor; pleaded guilty on June 13, 2018, Jonathan Kanzler (age 19): eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Aiden O'Brien: eight counts; including involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, Brian Gelb: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Patrick Jackson: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Reggie Goeke: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Mike Fernandez: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, Donald Prior: three counts; including hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unlawful acts relative to liquor, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 17:02. Its Penn State fraternity branch was closed after its president ordered it banned from campus indefinitely. All Rights Reserved. STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania - Newly uncovered surveillance video from the basement of Beta Theta Pi shows that on the night of Timothy J. Piazza's hazing death, fraternity brothers gave the . The bill would also establish "organizational" and "institutional" hazing categories. BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) Security camera footage played Monday at a hearing for Penn State fraternity members shows a pledge in apparent agony in the hours after falling down basement steps and members of the fraternity he had just joined trying to physically restrain him. [10], In September 2016, a pledge named Kordel Davis was driven to a clinic after a night of hazing that left a gash on his head. [46], On September 1, 2017, defendant Joseph G. Ems appeared on ABC News with his lawyer. Dave Scicchitano testified. [33], On October 10, 2022, it was reported that Robert Greenblatt is developing a Hulu miniseries entitled Death at Penn State based on the Caitlin Flanagan article in The Atlantic magazine based on the events surrounding the Piazza case. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity -- which has since been barred from Penn State -- is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and hazing. The attorney general's office has new evidence: surveillance video from the basement of that frat house on Penn State's main campus. "Its something that you just cant think could be possible, anywhere, let alone in a fraternity house on a campus of an American university. More than two hours later, the video shows several members carrying him to a couch. About an hour later, while the video is in black and white in night-vision mode, it appears to show Piazza moving into the fetal position many times, also cradling his head a few times. The surveillance videos, which allegedly show Piazza's agonizing final hours at the frat house, are a key part of the prosecution's case. All the while, fraternity brothers did little to help him. We have tried to remain committed to being an active part of the solution within our community. [56], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 17:02, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, List of hazing deaths in the United States, "Recovered video leads to new charges in Penn State fraternity death", "Most serious charges in the Penn State hazing case were dismissed", "Prosecutor: Charges likely in deadly fall at Penn State frat", "Parents: 'Criminal' inaction by Penn State, frat members led to son's death", "A 19-year-old's death became a 'turning point' for America's fraternities", "Abbey's $3.5 million gift boosts Beta house restoration and Greek pride initiative | Penn State University", "READ: Stunning grand jury report on Penn State University fraternity culture", "Students charged with manslaughter in Penn State frat death", "Fraternity And Members Face Hundreds Of Charges In Timothy Piazza Hazing Death", "Former Beta Theta Pi social chairman pleads guilty", "List of 18 defendants, charges in Penn State hazing death", "Former Penn State frat member no longer charged in hazing case: 'No winners here', "18 drinks in 82 minutes: Prosecutor outlines new charges in Penn State frat hazing death", "Ex-fraternity house manager sentenced to 2 years' probation", "Video of Penn State Beta Theta Pi incident was deleted, officer testifies", "PSU hazing judge orders trainer Bream to court", "Former DA Parks Miller's law license suspended", "Castor Splits With Longtime Firm, Joining Phila. [19] As of November14, 2017[update], at least 26 members face charges. [13], In October 2018, Michael Angelo Schiavone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit furnishing alcohol to minors. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania are set to announce, May 5, 2017, the results of a grand jury investigation into the death of the Penn State student, Timothy Piazza, who fell down steps Feb. 4, during an alcohol-fueled pledge ceremony. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Eighteen students have been charged with a variety of offenses, from involuntary manslaughter to alcohol-related offenses more than 1,000 counts in all. Penn State Hazing Death: Frat Brothers Texted That Pledge Looked 'Dead'. "I think we are f-----," he added. Those eight and another 10 fraternity members were charged with counts including hazing, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, and alcohol-related offenses. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Piazza died at a hospital Feb. 4 from traumatic brain injury and had suffered severe abdominal bleeding as well as a skull fracture and other injuries. [11] A fraternity brother nicknamed "Pajamas" saw Davis in a desperate state, and Davis asked "Pajamas" to drive him back to his dorm room. The video included him stumbling through the house before he was found, hours later, in the basement. On their lawyers advice, the couple left for the hourslong viewing of the video. Piazza's parents left the room before the video was played. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "The want to remember their son as the young, bright, handsome, full of life person who he was. The video shows Piazza staggering through the house the night of February 2 before disappearing near basement stairs where police say he fell 15 steps and lost consciousness. It directed Penn State to strengthen their hazing policies. He reportedly drank a large amount of alcohol during a hazing ritual that night. A pathologist said he had severe head trauma and a ruptured spleen. Another captures Piazza on his phone as he rolls around. They also are charged with involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison. Prosecutors fired back saying "maybe [police and EMTs] had medical reasons" not to do that. Lucas Rockwell, 21, of Washington, D.C.: Evidence tampering. The hearing was prolonged by arguments from defense lawyers on a range of issues, including a motion to sever the cases, which was denied. The Grand Jury received testimony regarding the prior Penn State fraternity hazing related death of Joe Dado and a suicide linked to hazing pressures at the Altoona branch of Penn State. [35], On July 31, 2018, Burke was sentenced to three months of house arrest for his role in the hazing death of Piazza. The fraternity brother apparently leaves him on the ground. Individuals poured liquid on him, slapped him and even threw his own shoes on him, Scicchitano told the judge. As the evening wears on the video jumps to Piazza lying in a fetal position on the ground, rolling around. He also was seen falling and hitting his head on the stone floor, and grabbing his head and midsection in apparent agony. Adobe Premiere Pro 2023 is an impressive application which allows you to easily and quickly create high-quality content for film, broadcast, web, and more. Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com. He was a pledge of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at the university. "No parent wants to see what is apparently on this videotape," Kline said. Forty-two minutes after finding Piazza in the basement and first realizing he was cold and stiff, a fraternity member called 911 and other fraternity members cleaned up "evidence of beer and alcohol," the detective said. If it matters to you, it matters to us. At least not today. As the minutes tick by, without calling for help, prosecutors said "it appears they are cleaning him.". Discovery Company. He pleaded guilty to nine misdemeanor charges, including four counts of hazing and five counts involving unlawful acts related to alcoholic beverages. He later tried once more to ascend the basement stairs and was missing until several of the fraternity brothers discovered him several hours later behind the bar in the basement, cold and breathing rapidly. This Oct. 31, 2014 photo shows Timothy Piazza, center, with his parents Evelyn Piazza, left, and James Piazza, right, during Hunterdon Central Regional High School football's "Senior Night" at the high school's stadium in Flemington, N.J. [12] On May 5, 2017, following a comprehensive grand jury investigation conducted by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, eighteen members of the fraternity were charged in connection with Piazza's death: eight were charged with involuntary manslaughter and the rest with other offenses, including hazing. Scicchitano said Piazza was clearly injured after his first serious fall, at 11:22 p.m. He is unconscious, his eyes are closed, he is limp. Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4 after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. "He probably looked like just another frat kid. Piazza's fall down the stairs the night of Feb. 2 is not seen on video, but after the fall, four fraternity members were seen carrying him upstairs, and a large bruise was visible on his body, which prosecutors say was a spleen injury. It did not go unnoticed by me, and more importantly, by the family, he said. ", Piazza was a 19-year-old sophomore engineering student at Pennsylvania State University. [2], On August 11, 2017, on the fifth day of the preliminary hearing, it was announced by lead investigators that basement footage from the bid acceptance on February 2, 2017, had in fact been deleted by a defendant already charged in the case. Piazza's death "was the direct result of traumatic brain injuries," according to the forensic pathologist. When young men recklessly leverage someones desire for friendship against him and direct him to guzzle enough alcohol to endanger his life so he can aspire to be one of them, and it results in his death or seriously (sic) bodily injury, the crime they face in court should reflect the seriousness of the offense and not the lowest grade misdemeanor Pennsylvania has in its crimes code.. He continued to stand up only to repeatedly fall back down. Please enter valid email address to continue. Pledges are seen on video playing beer pong, and every time a pledge misses a shot, he is handed a beer to chug. [20], That same day, defense attorneys for a number of the defendants started to put blame on Tim Bream, the Penn State Nittany Lions football head athletic trainer and Beta Theta Pi live-in advisor. On the night of February 2, 2017, while undergoing hazing activities for the fraternity, Piazza, on an essentially empty stomach, drank large amounts of alcohol in a short time as part of an obstacle course called "The Gauntlet", which required each pledge to drink from a bottle of vodka, drink a beer, and finally drink from a bag of wine. Timothy John Piazza (September 25, 1997[1] February 4, 2017) died as the result of hazing at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pennsylvania. Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore and pledge at Beta Theta Pi, died on Feb. 4, 2017 after he fell down the stairs during a pledge ceremony at the house on the night of Feb. 2. Members of the fraternity, in the courtroom well with their lawyers, watched the footage with rapt attention. Attorney Rocco Cipparone Jr., who represents Michael Bonatucci (who faces eight charges in Piazza's death), said, "I know the Bonatucci family and Michael in particular, certainly feel empathy and sympathy for the Piazza family. By the time help was called the next day, a police official said he had the look of a. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, Pandemic-era food benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise, Prosecutors may reveal key video in Penn State fraternity death. Confrontations among defense lawyers and Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller grew increasingly contentious as the day went on, leading District Judge Allen Sinclair to admonish the parties. A few brothers appear to touch him or shake him, the detective testified the video shows. "The videotape is horrible, and it is gruesome," said Piazza family attorney Tom Kline. [36], The Grand Jury that recommended charges against the brothers also directed Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller to investigate Penn State University and their role and response to hazing. Piazza's family left the courtroom when surveillance video was played. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP, File). Pollutants were released into San Jose rivers from construction firm, lawsuit claims, Jury finds Bay Area man guilty of annoying or molesting a child, Convicted murderer charged in 1980 cold case slaying of woman found in rural Solano County, Teacher at California high school arrested after recording devices found in restroom. When he reappears on camera, carried by fraternity brothers, his body is limp and his abdomen clearly bruised. ", Penn State's Interfraternity Council said, "We agree that added social restrictions, education, transparency and professional staff support are critical. All Rights Reserved. As it relates to my client we didnt hear a lot. [17][18] On November 1, 2017, Lars Kenyon claimed "the judge got it right" and Kenyon has to "[figure] some stuff out". After unsuccessful attempts by attorneys to have Bream subpoenaed, the judge in the case ordered that Bream have his own hearing on possible contempt of court and avoiding his subpoena.[21]. As the night went on, Piazza tried over and over to stand on his own, falling each time. The defendants, and their charges, according to court documents: Brendan Young, 21, of Malvern, Pennsylvania: Aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, reckless endangerment, evidence tampering, hazing, alcohol-related charges. The house was once banned for having a front yard littered with used condoms along with hot sauce covering the entire Great Hall. Around 5 a.m., the cameras captured Piazza falling head-first into an iron railing. Lawyers for some of the defendants said the video only told part of the story. 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