Four men including two Virginia State University (VSU) students have been charged for allegedly hazing VSU students and making them walk into the Appomattox River that resulted in the death of two students due to drowning in the early morning hours of Saturday.
Search and rescue teams have discovered the remains of Marvell Edmonson and Jauwan M. Holmes, both 19-year-old freshmen, from the river, Monday and Wednesday respectively.
Rescue personnel could easily recover Holmes' body (100-150 yards away from where Edmondson was found) Wednesday, because of the river's low water, which increased their visibility.
Chesterfield County Fire Lt. Jason Elmore said that although positive identification had not been made of Holmes, VSU police, who assisted them in the recovery effort, felt confident the body was indeed that of Holmes.
"We're suspending operations due to the high probability that it is him," Elmore said.
The university officials will hold a 'service of remembrance,' Friday, in their honor.
Al together seven VSU students were made to cross through the rushing Appomattox River as part of an initiation ritual for the fraternity 'Men of Honor', a social club that is not approved by the university. The university refused to recognize the fraternity last year.
The river crossing was their final task to become members. Around 1:30 a.m., Saturday, when the water level rose to their chests, Holmes and Edmonson were carried downstream by the strong river current, while the remaining students were pulled to safety.
Police have charged James Mackey Sr., 35, Eriq Benson (VSU), 19, Cory Baytop (VSU), 26, and Charles Zollicoffer II, 29, with five counts of hazing. These men are reportedly mentors of the fraternity.
Police have arrested all the members, except for Zollicoffer, who has not yet been caught.
