Officials cite alcohol overconsumption as cause of student death
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The Ingham County medical examiner ruled MSU student Brian McMillen’s death accidental, with the cause of death being overconsumption of alcohol.
McMillen was found dead in the early morning of Nov. 21 at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, 432 Evergreen Ave. A roommate found McMillen unresponsive on a couch in his room and called the police. Police said he was not breathing when they arrived.
In a statement from police, Ingham County Medical Examiner Dean Sienko said McMillen’s blood alcohol content was .35 at the time of death. The investigation now is closed.
McMillen was a chemistry and an environmental soil science senior and a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, where he also lived.

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The Best Way to Die
(01/07/10 4:52pm)Report
Dying of a heroin overdose might be a good way to go. At least you know you’re on the stairway to heaven.
Christopher J Moon
(01/07/10 5:13pm)Report
Wow you guys are terrible, even
by state news standards.
Darko
(01/07/10 10:28pm)Report
Remember when I TOLD EVERYONE that alcohol was clearly the cause of death?
And you all jumped all over me.
The kid was on a BAR CRAWL. And died in the middle of the night after passing out.
Yet I was crazy and insensitive for saying alcohol was clearly the cause of death.
The guy killed himself. It is sad for the family. No question. But the kid really doesn’t know how to control his alcohol intake after four years of college?
Frats strike again. What an awful group if insecure losers.
Darko
(01/07/10 10:30pm)Report
Wow. Poor grammatical showing from me there on that last post.
Better lay off the alcohol. Unlike the frats who killed two of their “brothers” last semester, I value life.
Ben
(01/08/10 9:09am)Report
“Better lay off the alcohol. Unlike the frats who killed two of their “brothers” last semester, I value life”
Maybe thats a little harsh but I do agree that this death was self inflicted.
Anon
(01/08/10 9:26am)Report
So, are the greek defenders going to play their “it wasn’t a greek event / could have been any student” card on this one?
And for reference, .40 is generally considered instant death, .35 is ridiculously high.
RIP Brian, hopefully your “brothers” will stop embarassing the university and stop thinking death drinking = normal
How many more deaths does it take greeks?
Sigh
(01/08/10 1:14pm)Report
WTF State News – we’ve been through this on literally every death of a student over the past 2 years. LOCK THE Fing COMMENTS SECTION!
I dont need to read the vile crap posted about SOMEONE WHO DIED. The internet will always have people who are insecure and sad and will hide behind the “warm blanket of a anonymity” writing things that no respectable human being would write if they had to sign their true names.
Why have you yet to learn when this happens every time. This is terribly hurtful to the loved ones.
Were his actions stupid – of course. Do we need other people to villify and mock him after he already paid the highest price? Do we?
Grow Up.
Dangling Participle
(01/08/10 1:58pm)Report
“A roommate found McMillen unresponsive on a couch in his room and called the police. Police said he was not breathing when they arrived.”
What happened to the roommate who wasn’t breathing? Did he get medical help?
Darko
(01/08/10 3:57pm)Report
Why would anyone join a frat?
Can’t make friends?
Darko
(01/08/10 4:04pm)Report
I think we should all get together tonight and watch Old School.
And try to figure out which of us will be most like Frank the Tank someday.
That will be a real riot.
LOSERS
D
(01/08/10 4:06pm)Report
I feel bad for the guy, but did you really need to waste 2 minutes of my life state news? Its pretty obvious what happend.
Chris
(01/08/10 11:10pm)Report
Too bad, so sad, see ya. Sorry but I don’t feel bad for people who don’t know or care to figure out their own limits.
Cheese
(01/12/10 2:04pm)Report
Alpha Gammma Rho is a professional fraternity. Brian joined to network and have a good time with people that had similar interests in agriculture and outdoor recreation. I can’t believe the way people are talking about him after his death. It’s unreal to hear people honest-to-God judge him for consuming alcohol. Glass houses, people. You honestly state that you’ve never had “too much to drink.” When you’re drinking with another 20 people that you call your good friends – you have some expectations that those people will give a damn enough to notice if you’ve gone over the edge – even if that wasn’t your intentions. Mistakes happen.
Please just remember karma when you’re judging my friend. He was a wonderful person who had so much going for him. A dual major in some of the hardest curriculum at MSU, a semester in Spain under his belt, a beautiful girl, and big plans for after college.
Darko is a STUPID F**K
(01/20/10 7:04pm)Report
He didn’t go on the bar crawl you stupid piece of shit