Drugs may have contributed to MSU student's death

EAST LANSING – Drugs may have been a factor in the death of a Michigan State University student Thursday night, police said.

Anthony John Hawley, 21, of Bloomfield Hills was dead by the time he arrived at a local hospital after he was found not breathing by a roommate around 10 p.m. in a house in the 500 block of North Hagadorn Road, East Lansing police Lt. Steve Gonzalez said. The roommate began CPR before paramedics arrived but was unable to resuscitate Hawley, Gonzalez said.

Officers found both prescription and illicit drugs in the course of the investigation, Gonzalez said. Police did not identify the drugs in question. There was no indication of cause of death on Friday, but foul play was not suspected, police said.

Hawley was a senior at MSU and an applied engineering sciences major. The MSU chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi, which Hawley was a member of, posted this tweet on Friday: "We love and miss you Tony." Hawley was a graduate of Brother Rice High School, a Catholic school in Bloomfield Hills, according to his Facebook page.

"Anytime a young man's life is cut short it is sad and tragic. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Anthony's family and friends, as well as all members of our chapter," said Daniel Miller, the director of undergraduate engagement for Alpha Sigma Phi's national office, in a statement. "All of us at fraternity headquarters are here to support the chapter members during this difficult and sad time as they experience the loss of their friend and brother."

Efforts to reach Hawley's friends and family on Friday were unsuccessful. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known. His fraternity is planning a vigil for him at 10 p.m. tonight night at the Rock on MSU's campus.

He is at least the sixth MSU student to die this academic year.

Earlier this month, Carolena Elowsky and Maura Brandi, both 20 from Charlevoix, were killed when their car crossed the center line of U.S. 131 and struck a car headed in the opposite direction near the Manistee River.

Navanjeet Singh Sahi, a Novi resident, died of natural causes in October. Sahi, 21, was found unresponsive and not breathing at an apartment in the 200 block of Cedar Street and died at Sparrow Hospital.

Morgan McGregor, 20, died in September of natural causes. McGregor had a heart condition and used a pacemaker.

Jiayi Dai, a 19-year-old student from China, died in August. Police said alcohol was a likely factor in her death.