DA’s Office Reviewing Case of Erie Teen’s Death in State College

State College police have completed their investigation into the October death of an Erie teenager in State College and the case is now being reviewed by the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, DA Bernie Cantorna said on Tuesday.

The Centre County Coroner’s Office reported on Friday that an autopsy found 17-year-old John ‘Jack’ Schoenig died of chemical asphyxia due to nitrous oxide. The manner of death was ruled accidental.

Cantorna said he is now reviewing the case with police and the pathologist who performed the autopsy. No specific timeline is set for whether or not any charges will be filed in the case.

‘We won’t do anything until we review the case with the [Schoenig] family,’ Cantorna said.

State College police Lt. Greg Brauser said he expects more information to be released after Thanksgiving.

Police and Centre LifeLink EMS responded to 522 W. College Ave. on the night of Oct. 19 for a report of a medical emergency. Upon arrival, they found the 17-year-old Schoenig, a senior at Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, in cardiac arrest and resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, police said.

Schoenig had no signs of trauma and several witnesses were present when he lost consciousness, police said at the time. Brauser declined to say on Tuesday how many people were present.

The house was allegedly occupied by members of Chi Phi fraternity, according to Penn State, but is not the fraternity’s official house.

Chi Phi was placed on interim suspension while State College police and the university’s Office of Student Conduct conducted investigations.

The chapter is not included on a current Penn State list of suspended fraternities and The Daily Collegian reported on Tuesday that the interim suspension was lifted on Nov. 19. A Penn State spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment.