May 23, 2012 -- by Lanetra Bennett
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Defendant_FAMU_Drum_Major_Wanted_to_be_Hazed_153058265.html
Newly released documents say Robert Champion wanted to be hazed. The information released today paints the clearest picture yet of what happened the night the FAMU drum major was hazed to death.
Eyewitness News Reporter Lanetra Bennett has been going through the documents all day and has more.
In his deposition, defendant Jonathan Boyce told investigators that Robert Champion had been asking to take part in what's known as the "Bus C crossing over" hazing ritual all season.
Boyce, who was the head drum major, says he finally gave Champion the okay, but says he tried to save him on the night Champion was beaten to death
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FAMU Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion died after a hazing ritual on a charter bus parked in an Orlando hotel parking lot. During an interview released Wednesday, the head drum major, Jonathan Boyce told investigators he tried to "save" Champion from "crossing over" the night of November 19th...
Crossing over is when a band member walks from the front of the bus to the back of the bus while other band members hit and kick them.
Once the person touches the back wall, it's over.
Boyce says when he made it to the bus, Champion was already about a foot or two away from the back.
"I grab him to try to keep everybody off him. I grab him and I'm pulling him. I see people kicking him. So I stop them from kicking him and I put my body around his body and I'm just pulling."
Boyce says Champion said he was okay at the end, but moments later, he says Champion couldn't breathe or see, and he eventually passed out.
"Did anybody try to talk him into it or talk him out of it. He was wanting to do it all season."
Pam Champion, Robert Champion's mother, says, "They know that this is not something that my son would agree to do. So, you have to consider the source of the information that you're getting."
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Defendant_FAMU_Drum_Major_Wanted_to_be_Hazed_153058265.html
About 1500 pages of documents were released today. Those can be viewed by clicking on the icon titled Hazing Death Case Files which can be found above.
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May 23, 2012 - Noon
Prosecutors have released more than 1,500 documents in the Robert Champion hazing investigation. One defendant in the case says Champion had asked all season to go through the hazing ritual; a claim Champions' parents deny.
To view documents, click on the PDF file named 'Hazing Death Case Files' GO TO "LINK"
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Defendant_FAMU_Drum_Major_Wanted_to_be_Hazed_153058265.html
The documents say one of the defendants in Robert Champion's death says Champion got on the bus
where band members were being hazed because it was a sign of respect to make it through the beatings.
The deposition says Jonathan Boyce told investigators that Robert Champion had been asking all season to to through the hazing ritual. Champion died November 19th after the Florida Classic Football game in Orlando.
In one deposition, a band member said Champion did not ride on what's called Bus C that night, but says it was not uncommon for people to come on the bus to participate in the beating ritual. They call the ritual "crossing over." The band member said participants would wait until all staff members cleared out before doing the hazing.
When asked if the bus driver, Wendy Millette, ever knew about what was going on the band member said, "probably."
Robert Champion's parents are expected to hold a press conference in Atlanta and we'll bring you those details and any other developments tonight on Eyewitness News.
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Tallahassee, FL -- May 22, 2012
WCTV now has a copy of a lawsuit filed against the charter bus company at the center of a deadly FAMU hazing scandal. Drum major Robert Champion was beaten aboard one of those buses and later died. The negligence suit names the driver of the bus, and claims she's partly responsible for Champion's death.
The lawsuit names Wendy Millette as the driver of the bus on which Robert Champion died. The documents say Millette stood guard while Champion was being beaten inside the bus and says not only did she know and allow hazing on previous trips, but Millette told others that she was a part of the "Bus C" posse.
Earlier this month thirteen people were charged for the hazing death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion. The Champion Family attorney however, says the bus company and the driver of the bus Champion died on, are also responsible.
FAMU Student, Kai Blake says, "Since they were on the bus, I guess they kind of assume liability over that kind of situation. So, they kind of just take that responsibility just by letting them on the bus." Champion died November 19th in Orlando after a hazing ritual on board a Fabulous Coach Lines charter bus.
The lawsuit against the company and driver Wendy Millette says at one point Champion came to the doorway of the bus and started vomiting in the parking lot. It goes on to say Millette was standing guard at the door and told Champion he would be alright and forced him back onto the bus, where he was beaten some more.
FAMU Student Bakiva Thomas says, "I can't assume what thoughts that she may have had, but maybe in her mind she was thinking it would be best for him to get back on the bus where it's cooler; and maybe she had in mind to try to get some help for him." The lawsuit says Millette frequently participated or allowed hazing on her bus, even while driving down the highway. In fact, the documents say she bragged that she was a part of the "Bus C" posse.
WCTV contacted the owner of Fabulous Coach Lines, Ray Land, and we have not heard back from him. Our calls to Millette's attorney were also not returned.
Public records in the pending criminal cases related to the Robert Champion investigation will be released tomorrow. We're told the documents are hundreds of pages long. We will have that information for you once it is released.
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New from Orange County. 05/23/2012
The hazing took place after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando, after most members of FAMU's famed Marching 100 had vacated their buses and returned to the hotel.
In the suit, Champion's family is contending that Millette contributed to the drum major's death by either participating in the hazing or allowing it to happen.
"This was a (hazing) culture embraced by this bus company," said attorney Christopher Chestnut after filing the lawsuit in Orange circuit court.
The charter bus company, Fabulous Coach Lines of Branford, FL, could not be reached for comment. The Orlando law firm representing the bus company and Millette also was unavailable.
But Ray Land, the company's president, said last month that he was disappointed the Champion family is targeting his company.
He stressed that Fabulous is not responsible for the conduct of individuals riding the charter buses. He also said Millette did not see any hazing aboard the bus on which Champion collapsed.
"If she would have seen that, we definitely would have stopped it," Land said.
According to the suit, however, the driver of another Fabulous Coach Lines bus saw Millette's bus rocking from side to side on the night of Nov. 19 and asked her what was happening. Millette then told him "to ignore the activity and move on," the suit alleges.
Champion, 26, died as a result of blunt force trauma from the hazing, according to a medical examiner's report.
Chestnut said the allegations against Fabulous Coach Lines were based on eyewitness accounts and other information from about 30 people, including several former bus drivers and about 20 students. He also interviewed two students who went through the hazing ritual that night on Bus C.
According to the suit, Champion underwent two different types of hazing. One was called the "hot seat," in which the person being hazed is told to sit down. Then hazers place a pillow case — or some other object that restricts breathing — over the victim's head. Hazers then ask a series of questions. If they are answered correctly, the person being hazed is allowed to take a breath. If not, the person is hit and kicked and asked another question.
The other type of hazing forces the victim to move as quickly as possible from the front of the bus to the back while being pummeled by other band members. If the victim falls to the floor, he may be stomped and then dragged to the front of the bus to start over.
It's still unclear whether Champion willingly boarded the bus to be hazed or if he was somehow forced or coerced, said Ryan Julison, a spokesman for Chestnut
Replies
I saw it also. I think the parent don't understand that there son wasn't force to be haze. It was something he chose to do. Sorry Robert lost his life out of it, But they clearly do not have knowledge on what hazing is. "Hazing is Voluntary." It was something he wanted to do. This is not the Bus Company fault nor problem. They did there job, which was to drive not looking after some young adults.
He wasn't forced to be hazed nor did he think he would die so that goes both ways. Does that give someone the right to beat someone to "Death"? No. The Bus Company wasn't at fault but they are a culprit. I'm sure most bus companies divers are supposed to be on the bus. That's where the problem is. The family will win, guaranteed. Now if the bus driver was on the bus when it was happening that just opinions another can of worms.
True. but i dnt think anyone expected for him to die. im sure many students have done Bus C in the past. it is sad but none of those students knew that would be the out come of there actions.
RJ1919 said:
That's a damn lie. I was in the band and the hazing was mandatory period.
D_ Brad FAM 100 said:
Maybe back in the 80's, but not really nowadays. Your only subjected to whatever you let yourself get put through, you know this since, I'm pretty sure you do.
Mathias said:
Hmmm lol. Glad you cleared that up Mathias.
Wait until they find out Robert Champion was forced on the bus... *kanye shurg*
You do realize he goes to SU back in the 80's lol.
RJ1919 said:
People know each other in bands, i know many FAMU peeps that are frat and they have told me some things. I have a colleague that teaches at the same school that i do, that is from Florida and marched in FAMU's band and he has told me some things. Hazing has always been a major problem at FAMU.
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