A Boulder fraternity confirmed Tuesday that Jesse Gomez, the 18-year-old University of Colorado student found dead in his dorm room Sunday, attended a party at its house the night before he died.
But neither fraternity members, event monitors nor Student Emergency Medical Services personnel on hand noticed anything abnormal, national Theta Xi executive director James Vredenburgh said. “He did not look as if he required intervention or medical treatment,” Vredenburgh said.
Boulder Theta Xi members offered condolences to Gomez’s family in a prepared statement.
Boulder County Coroner Tom Faure and CU police Lt. Tim McGraw said Tuesday that they are no closer to figuring out how Gomez died. The cause of death, McGraw said, will be determined by toxicology tests, which could take several weeks.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Rivera, Gomez’s mother, worried that media reports about her son were overshadowing the good life he led. “The 18 years of his achievements, awards, athletics, academic awards, that’s what defines my son,” she said.
Gomez was a star tennis player, wrestler and National Honor Society member at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood. At CU, he was studying engineering and was a member of a leadership program.
In September, Boulder police arrested Gomez after he and a friend were turned away from a restaurant because they were suspected of being intoxicated. After Gomez refused to take a Breathalyzer test, an officer took him to the Boulder County Jail, where officials placed him in a solitary cell because he was drunk, according to the report.
Gomez pleaded guilty to underage possession of alcohol and received a deferred judgment, according to records.
The night before he died, Gomez and his brother attended the Theta Xi fraternity party. Gomez arrived at about midnight, Vredenburgh said, and left at about 1:30 a.m.
About 12 hours later, Gomez’s roommate in Willard Hall found him dead.
A rosary service will be held for Gomez at 5 p.m. Sunday at Horan & McConaty funeral home, 3101 S. Wads worth Boulevard, and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 S. Sheridan Blvd.
