ITHACA, N.Y. –– A friend of the deceased Cornell University freshman Antonio Tsialas has come forward with new information to aid in the Tsialas family’s investigation into their son’s death in October, according to an attorney for the family.
Tsialas was last seen at an unsanctioned Phi Kappa Psi fraternity party on Oct. 24. He was reported missing the following afternoon by his parents, who were visiting him in Ithaca at the time of his disappearance. Tsialas’ body was found Saturday, Oct. 26, in Fall Creek Gorge.
Cornell University Police are investigating the incident, but the Tsialas family has also hired private investigators to look into Antonio’s death. On Tuesday, David Bianchi, the attorney representing the family, said a friend of Tsialas’ came forward with new information.
“We met with a Cornell student who was a good friend of Antonio’s who told us that on the Friday he was missing, this friend of Antonio’s received a phone call from an officer of the fraternity who told him that if he is contacted by anyone about Antonio he should not tell anyone that he went to the fraternity party the night before,” said Bianchi.
The tipster also said, according to Bianchi, that the place where Antonio’s body was found in Fall Creek Gorge, was “not a place he would have gone to alone.”
“This friend told us that the only way he would have been there that night is if he went with other people,” Bianchi said.
In response to Tsialas’ death, Cornell University’s Interfraternity Council banned fraternity social events for the rest of the fall semester. The IFC cited “inherent safety hazards,” for the ban.
In a message to students on Nov. 8, President Martha Pollack acknowledged Tsialas had attended an unsanctioned fraternity event.
“These events, still under investigation, regrettably follow a pattern of misconduct in the Greek-letter system, a pattern that is emblematic of enduring problems that we, as a community, must recommit ourselves to solving,” said Pollack. “Despite substantially enhanced Greek Life outreach, training and policy development over the last two years, numerous fraternities have been found to have engaged in misconduct over that time sufficient to merit suspension of their recognition by the university.”
Cornell University Police and the Cornell Media Relations Office has not responded to a request for additional comment.
The Tsialas family is still offering a $10,000 reward for information that could uncover Antonio’s cause of death. There is a special tip line set up. Anyone with information is being asked to call (607)-280-5102 or contact CUPD at 607-255-1111.
You can also email Cornell Police investigators at cup-inv@cornell.edu or reach out through the Silent Witness Program.