Case dismissed for fraternity member accused in Santulli hazing case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former University of Missouri fraternity member accused in the hazing of Danny Santulli has had his case dismissed by the state, according to defense attorney Daniel Hunt.

Former Fiji "House Dad" John James O'Neill was charged with hazing causing life endangerment. Court documents accused O'Neill of participating in the Pledge Dad Reveal event by assisting in providing bulk amounts of alcohol to minors.

Santulli became unresponsive at that event after drinking large quantities of alcohol.

Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Nick Komoroski said O'Neill's case was dropped because he cooperated with the state, like defendants Benjamin Parres and Samuel Lane.

Ryan Delanty, who was the "pledge dad" of Santulli, pleaded guilty in May to two misdemeanors in the hazing incident. He was sentenced to six months in the Boone County Jail and six months on house arrest.

Parres, of Chesterfield, had his charges of felony hazing dismissed without prejudice, according to an email from Boone County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Komoroski.

Komoroski stated that Parres entered a deferral agreement, which includes performing community service and completing a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel. Parres entered the agreement after he was a “cooperating witness” in the state’s case against Delanty.