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BERKELEY'S NEWS • MAY 26, 2023

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Former UC Berkeley student found dead at fraternity house Saturday morning

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Senior staff reporter

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Update 12/21/15: This story has been updated to reflect new information from a Berkeley Police Department press release.

Pi Kappa Phi member Jeffrey Thomas Engler was found dead near the fraternity Saturday morning, according to Berkeley Police Department spokesperson Officer Jennifer Coats.

The police and Berkeley Fire Department were dispatched to a report of an unresponsive male just before 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house located at 2908 Channing Way, according to a BPD crime alert. Engler, a 22-year-old from San Leandro, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the alert.

BPD is currently investigating the “suspicious death” that occurred at the 2900 block of Channing Way, Coats said in an email. People present at the fraternity Friday night confirmed the man was Engler on Saturday.

Engler was enrolled at Laney College and previously attended UC Berkeley, according to a BPD press release. He was a current member of Pi Kappa Phi, but did not reside at the fraternity, according to the statement.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the BPD press release stated Engler may have fallen from a significant height prior to his death. There are no indications of foul play, and alcohol appears to have allegedly played a factor in his death. The cause of death will be determined by the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau, according to the statement.  

According to the BPD statement, Engler was at the house attending a small holiday party.

Those with information regarding the incident are asked to call BPD’s homicide detail at 510-981-5741.  

Check back for updates.

Senior staff writer Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks contributed to this reporting. 

Suhauna Hussain is the university news editor. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @suhaunah.
LAST UPDATED

DECEMBER 21, 2015


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