NEWS

2 charged after SUNY Geneseo death

Bennett J. Loudon
@BennettLoudon
Alexander Davis.

Two SUNY Geneseo college students have been charged in connection with the drug-related death of fellow student Alexander Davis.

The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office found that Davis, a 20-year-old a sophomore, died accidentally from a combination of cocaine and fentanyl on May 4, 2014 — exactly one year ago Monday.

Davis, a 2012 graduate of Victor High School in Ontario County and a SUNY Geneseo lacrosse player, was found on a couch in a bedroom of the Phi Sigma Xi fraternity house in Livingston County.

Michael Green

Richard Rovner, 23, of Buffalo, and Michael Green, 20, of Brooklyn, were issued appearance tickets Monday on charges of tampering with physical evidence, a felony, and fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, said Geneseo Village Police Officer Jeffery Szczesniak.

The men are scheduled to be arraigned in Geneseo Village Court on June 9.

Rovner and Green "conspired together to take care of things that were at the scene and essentially not getting Mr. Davis the help that he needed immediately, which could have affected the end result of that day a year ago," Szczesniak said.

He said the accused men searched Davis, who was not responsive at the time, and removed contraband and physical evidence from him and the room where he was found.

Richard Rovner

"They were a little bit more worried about the perception of the fraternity as well as themselves," Szczesniak said.

"Seeing their friend in dire need, rather than picking up the phone and calling 911 and doing the right thing, they took part in cleaning the room up and the body up so that it didn't look bad for themselves," he said.

After they were done, Rovner did call 911, but Davis was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

He said the accused men also hindered the investigation by not providing any information about drugs Davis may have taken.

Davis was a member of Phi Sigma Xi but he lived in a dormitory on campus. The fraternity, whose members are known as Phigs, made headlines as a drug house in April 2011 when eight people were arrested there in a police raid that turned up cocaine and marijuana.

Davis' family issued a statement Monday and through a family friend declined a request for an interview.

"We continue to grieve the loss of our son Alex, and ask again for privacy," the statement reads.

"We pray that other college students learn from this tragedy so that their families avoid the overwhelming heartache we are experiencing. Our strength comes from loved ones, friends, family, and our continued faith in the beautiful gift that God loaned us.

"Despite these new developments, we remain dedicated to honoring Alex's legacy through the life lessons he's taught us."

The family has created the APD Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Victor-Farmington Food Cupboard and Santa's Hide-A-Way Hollow.

"Alex loved playing the game. We are committed to keeping the game alive in our hearts and in our community."

BLOUDON@DemocratandChronicle.com