County coroner rules on WSU death

Whitman County Coroner Annie Pillers Dec. 24 reported the death of Samuel Martinez, 19, WSU student, was caused by acute alcohol poisoning. Martinez was determined to be dead after Pullman medics responded to a call Nov. 12 at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity on Linden Street in Pullman. He was a WSU freshman from Bellevue.

Pullman police initially ruled out hazing as a possible factor in the student's death, but later noted it could have been a factor after conducting interviews with members of the fraternity.

The first report by Pillers in November said she determined Martinez had died about 4...