A University of Nevada, Reno investigation found there was underage drinking, marijuana and topless dancers at a fraternity pledging event at Sigma Nu in the hours before a freshman student was injured, dying 12 days later from a head injury.

The investigation started in October after reports that around 6 a.m. Oct. 16 Ryan Abele, 18, fell on a staircase leading to the basement of the fraternity house on Ralston Street, a few blocks from campus. UNR officials announced on Tuesday it had suspended the fraternity for 15 years. Sigma Nu has until 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29 to appeal the decision. A university police investigation is ongoing, according to the university announcement.

According to documents from UNR’s Office of Student Conduct obtained by the Reno Gazette-Journal through a public records request, the Sigma Nu Fraternity held an event that started around 9 p.m. on Oct. 15. Students, who were under 21, became official members of the fraternity in a ritual that involved pledges being given a fifth of liquor to drink and share.

According to the report, students were smoking marijuana and had gathered for a show performed by two topless dancers named Angel and Sparkle. The University also found that students were “so intoxicated that they vomited inside and outside” of the fraternity house.

The report said candidates intentionally poured alcohol out of their bottles outside of the fraternity house so that "other members would believe they drank the alcoholic beverages."

“The pledges were at some point told ‘the two rules of Sigma Nu’: 1. No hazing and 2. It’s super secret,” the report said.

Interviews conducted by the University indicated that pledges cleaned the fraternity house on Sundays and met in the basement the morning of the incident. The report said some students were still drunk from the party that had started the night before when they were told to stand in formation facing stairs in the house.

UNR freshman dies 12 days after fall at Sigma Nu

UNR suspends Sigma Nu Fraternity for 15 years

“When the candidates entered the basement, the lights in the basement were off. After one of the students fell down the stairs, the lights were turned on.”

The report does not identify Abele or indicate whether he was drinking.

According to the report, the fraternity did not immediately contact UNR officials or university police. The report does not address emergency medical services.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life was contacted “approximately 12 hours from the time the student injury occurred.” According to Sigma Nu's Chapter Crisis Management Plan, the fraternity must notify the university's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life within one hour of an incident.

The report said that alumni members advised students not to talk to UNR officials or the fraternity’s national office.

“The Fraternity has reviewed the findings of the University’s investigation and is deeply concerned by those findings, which indicate activities in direct violation of the Fraternity’s law, policies and principles,” said Sigma Nu Executive Director Brad Beachman in a written statement. He said the national organization based in Virginia is still investigating.

UNR’s Office of Student Conduct found that the Sigma Nu Fraternity violated an alcohol policy, student codes of conduct and the 2016 Relationship Agreement for the Recognition for Social Fraternities and Sororities.

Some of the violations include: