MUPD offers reward for information on Feb. 14 assault

The assault took place on Feb. 14 near Crowder Hall.

By Stephanie Clark

Published Feb. 27, 2009

Police have turned to the community for help in solving a Feb. 14 assault on the MU campus.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who can provide information regarding the assault.

"We're sure someone knows," Weimer said. "We're sure there are people talking."

Weimer said this is the opportunity for students to do the right thing and help the police. He also said all tips will go through Crime Stoppers and will be anonymous.

Around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 14, two students began yelling to people on the porch of the FarmHouse fraternity, MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said.

The argument began when two students were walking down Kentucky Boulevard past FarmHouse. When one of the students yelled to a friend, two members standing on the porch of the fraternity thought the guys were yelling at them, said freshman William Wilson, one of the students.

Wilson contacted The Maneater by e-mail. Police declined to confirm that Wilson was one of the victims.

Wilson said someone on the porch yelled that FarmHouse was the No. 1 fraternity. Wilson said he responded that his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi was the No. 1 fraternity.

Wilson and his friend, whom Wilson declined to name, left after the exchange.

As they were walking east of Crowder Hall, the other two men who were involved in the exchange came up behind them and began to assault them, Wilson said.

"We were walking through Crowder Hall when the guys came up behind us," he said. "I got blindsided, but my friend got knocked out cold right away."

Wilson said he was put into a headlock and his head was smashed into the ground. Wilson said the suspects continued to talk about their fraternity during the altercation.

The victims believe the suspects were the same people from FarmHouse's porch, according to a news release from the MUPD. Representatives of FarmHouse fraternity declined to comment.

Wilson was taken to the hospital and spent the night in the emergency room. He suffered from a skull fracture right above the eye, which shattered his sinus cavity. He also had a concussion, an injured jaw and severely bruised eyes.

MUPD has not identified any suspects in the case, but the suspects are described as men who are taller than 5-foot-9-inches and wearing dark clothing on the night of the assault.

According to a police news release, statements made by the assailants have led investigators to believe they are members of FarmHouse.

The Office of Greek Life declined to comment until after press time.

Police said they believe the men returned to the fraternity after the incident, where FarmHouse was having a "stop light party," the news release stated.