WILMINGTON, Del. — Two fraternity members and a sorority member from Dartmouth College have been charged in relation to the death of a student whose body was discovered in the Connecticut River this past summer, following an off-campus party, according to police reports.

Won Jang, a 20-year-old student and member of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity, was present at an off-campus gathering hosted by the Alpha Phi sorority in July, as reported by the Hanover Police Department in New Hampshire on Friday. Most attendees at the party were under 21 and consumed alcohol provided by fraternity members who were of legal drinking age.

According to police, several partygoers decided to swim in the Connecticut River, but a sudden rainstorm caused them to leave the river in smaller groups.

“No one in these groups realized that Jang was missing,” police noted. “Confirmations from multiple sources, including Jang’s family, indicated that he could not swim.”

Subsequent examination by the New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that drowning was the cause of Jang’s death. The report also revealed that Jang’s blood alcohol concentration was .167, significantly exceeding New Hampshire’s legal limit for individuals 21 and older.

Police stated that their investigation found sufficient evidence to charge fraternity members Matthew Catrambone and Samuel Terry with providing alcohol to a minor. The Alpha Phi sorority was also charged for facilitating underage drinking at their residence.

All charges are classified as misdemeanors, and the involved individuals were given summonses to attend Lebanon District Court, according to police information.

Body Discovered in River

The Hanover police and fire departments responded on July 7 to reports of a missing man near the docks on the Connecticut River, located just west of the Dartmouth College campus. Jang was reported missing after he did not show for an appointment, as reported by WMUR-TV and WPTZ.

Initial investigations indicated that Jang was last seen on July 6 around 9:30 p.m., with items located near the dock suggesting he had not left the immediate river area.

A response team comprising various local and state agencies, including a diving unit from Hanover Fire Department and New Hampshire Marine Patrol, commenced a search. Authorities utilized underwater cameras to locate the body, as stated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Jang’s body was retrieved approximately 65 feet from the shore around 7:30 p.m. on July 7, officials reported.

Further inquiries revealed that Jang had attended the party at an off-campus residence rented by members of the Alpha Phi sorority. Authorities discovered evidence of alcohol at the scene and initially speculated potential involvement of college hazing.

Who Was Won Jang?

Jang hailed from Middletown, a town in northern Delaware, and was a member of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity, as indicated on the fraternity’s website. He was pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering at Dartmouth College.

Before his education at Dartmouth, Jang attended Middletown High School where he was involved in various academic organizations, including Science Olympiad, Math League, HOSA – Future Health Professionals, and Business Professionals of America, according to the Delaware Department of Education.

“I have always pushed myself to learn more about the world in various fields, and I appreciated how my exploration of interests and studies could benefit my community,” Jang stated in his nomination for the 2022 Delaware Secretary of Education Scholars.

“These self-driven endeavors molded me into an ongoing learner and, inspired by my parents, I learned to value the journey as much as the destination,” he shared. “I have discovered to pursue the meanings behind my studies and appreciate connections with others.”

Jang also contributed to the community through the National Honor Society, and at the request of his peers, he initiated a Korean club at Middletown High School to teach friends the language. Prior to his graduation, Jang aspired to become a research scientist in molecular and cellular biology, as noted by the Delaware Department of Education.

Jang graduated as the valedictorian of Middletown High School in 2022, as reported in a social media announcement from the school. Following his passing, Scott Brown, a former dean at Dartmouth College, expressed condolences to those affected by Jang’s death.

“We recognize that this news is incredibly difficult for our community, and we urge anyone in need of support to reach out for help, whether for a listening ear or guidance during this trying time,” Brown stated in July. “We have been in contact with Won’s fraternity brothers and other friends.”

“Won embraced every opportunity at Dartmouth to explore his academic and personal interests,” Brown added. “He actively engaged in the Dartmouth community.”

According to The Dartmouth, the college’s student newspaper, Jang was also a project manager at a campus software development lab

He is a research assistant at the Thayer School of Engineering. Additionally, he engaged in an entrepreneurship program and acted as a mentor for international students under the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, as reported by the newspaper.