By Mary Lett

American Staff Writer

Nine other college students are being investigated in connection with the early Tuesday morning theft of a Chilean flamingo from the Hattiesburg Zoo.

So far, only Devin Nottis, a University of Southern Mississippi freshman, was arrested late Wednesday on charges of grand larceny, two counts of animal cruelty and trespassing in the case.

On Thursday, Southern Miss placed the Pascagoula resident on interim suspension, and the fraternity he was pledging — the Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha — was indefinitely suspended, said Joe Paul, vice president for Student Affairs. The chapter also was placed on administrative suspension by the national organization.

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, also known as "Pike," was founded in March 1, 1868, and the Delta Mu chapter was established at Southern Miss on Dec. 10, 1949. The national office did not return a phone call requesting comment.

During the suspension, Nottis, 19, is prohibited from entering the Southern Miss campus for any reason other than judicial proceedings with the Dean of Students office, and is subject to arrest if found in violation of the order. Bond had not been set, and remained in the Forrest County jail Thursday. His first appearance is scheduled for today.

Hattiesburg police and Southern Miss are continuing to investigate the incident.

"When the case is finished, it will be presented to the grand jury to determine if any indictments will be handed down," said Lt. Jon Traxler, Hattiesburg Police Department spokesman. "I have been told that if indicted, the suspects would be charged with conspiracy."

Paul said multiple members of the Delta Mu pledge class were involved in the incident. He declined to identify the other students, but said more action may be taken.

"We are not taking this situation lightly. ... The university is taking swift and appropriate action in response to this incident," he said. "This is a terrible and heinous act that has occurred, and inconsistent with the values of our institution."

The Delta Mu chapter's suspension requires the fraternity to cease and desist all activities until further notice by the university. The national office's suspension also requires the chapter to cease operations for 30 days while executive officers determine its future.

The female Chilean flamingo was taken from the zoo about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, and found injured about 8:30 a.m. on the Longleaf Trace. The bird had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.

"It is our belief that the flamingo injured itself trying to escape its captors," said Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which oversees zoo operations, in an earlier interview. "Even at the zoo, when the keepers handle the flamingos, it must be done in a very precise manner so the animals won't hurt themselves."

A second flamingo — the male mate of the stolen female — also died, Taylor said. It was found dead in the holding area Wednesday morning with scrapes on its body. A necropsy was performed and gross internal injuries were discovered.

"We think the male attempted to defend his mate and was injured," Taylor said.

The animals were two of 19 remaining birds in the Chilean flamingo exhibit that opened at the zoo in April 2013. The exhibit had 21 flamingos when it opened, but two died of natural causes. The zoo paid $1,700 for each flamingo, Taylor said. The animals were not insured.

Taylor said video footage revealed the suspects climbed one fence to enter the zoo and exited over another fence with the bird where they were seen by an eyewitness.

Law officers learned the students were on a scavenger hunt, but one of the students, Nottis, decided to take the flamingo instead of taking a picture of the animal, Traxler said in a prepared release.

Paul said during the investigation, university officials and administrators learned the flamingo was brought on campus.

"The young man took it upon himself to bring the flamingo back to the fraternity house for a short period of time," he said, adding the student later took the bird to Longleaf Trace.