Dec 22, 2014 11:48 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

As many as nine college students could face charges in the theft of a Chilean flamingo from the Hattiesburg Zoo in Oct.

According to the Hattiesburg American, Forrest-Perry County District Attorney Patricia Burchell is recommending the indictment of nine students. Most of them would probably be charged with conspiracy and the cases are expected to reach the Grand Jury in early 2015.

Dean Nottis, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), was arrested Oct. 8 for kidnapping two flamingoes who died as a result of the incident. He was freed on $17,300 bond after being charged with grand larceny, two counts of animal cruelty and trespassing.

He was apparently pledging a fraternity and stole a female Chilean flamingo as part of a mischievous act required to join. Injured during the theft, the female flamingo had to be euthanized while the female's male mate died of apparent internal injuries.

Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, told the American the male flamingo was found the morning of Oct. 8 with scrapes and wounds on its body.

USM placed the Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, the fraternity Nottis was pledging, on indefinite suspension, as did the national chapter. Nottis was suspended as well and authorities have maintained all along that more than just one student could be responsible for the incident.

"We're waiting to see what the grand jury will do," Joe Paul, USM's vice president for student affairs, said in a statement of the suspensions, according to the Associated Press.

The two flamingoes that died in Oct. were among four who have died at the Hattiesburg Zoo since it opened in April 2013, lowering the total to 17. The zoo has received more than $5,000 in donations to aid the replacement of the flamingoes.

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