Creepy Footage Shows 56 Blindfolded Pledges Covered in Food During Fraternity Hazing Ritual, Pledges Refuse To Move During Police Commands Due To Fear Of Rejection

Disturbing police body camera footage has emerged from a 2024 hazing incident at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house at the University of Iowa, capturing the moment authorities discovered dozens of pledges in a shocking scene.

The incident occurred on November 15, 2024, when Iowa City police, fire departments, and the University of Iowa police responded to a fire alarm at the fraternity house. When officers entered the basement, they found 56 blindfolded pledges, some shirtless and covered in various substances, including white, yellow, red, and brown food matter.

Edited footage of the raid, posted to YouTube by The CrimePiece, which has amassed over 340,000 views, shows officers repeatedly urging members to call the house dad or another person “in charge.” One young man, wearing a white hoodie and holding a beer, identifies himself as “Jose” and hands over what he admits may be a fake ID.

The footage reveals officers ordering some shirtless pledges out of the room for questioning, while others remain motionless and silent. At one point, an officer asks the room, “Does anyone want to be forthcoming on what’s going on? Anyone? Because you’ve got to see it from my perspective of, ‘What the f— did I just walk into?’” Silence follows before “Jose” responds, claiming the gathering was a “celebration of life.”

Outside the house, an officer tells a fraternity member that, given high-profile hazing deaths nationwide, “The university has a very, very strict policy on hazing.” The fraternity president admits the pledges were participating in a pre-initiation ritual.

Following an investigation by the University of Iowa, the fraternity was suspended for four years, until 2029, as part of disciplinary action for violating hazing policies.

The footage has sparked outrage online, with many calling attention to the ongoing dangers of hazing culture on college campuses. The images of blindfolded, shirtless young men covered in food have been described as “creepy” and “disturbing,” highlighting the risks associated with secretive fraternity rituals.

This incident adds to a growing national conversation about fraternity hazing practices and university oversight, underscoring the ongoing need for strict policies to protect students.