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Parents plead for arrest in FAMU hazing death

ATLANTA — The parents of the Florida A&M University drum major who died during a hazing incident are pleading with Florida authorities to either charge someone or close the case.

Robert Champion Sr. and his wife Pam held a news conference at their attorney's downtown Atlanta office to talk about the delay in charging anyone in the death of their son, Robert.

They said it's been five months since he was killed.

"I think we've been patient enough. And we need to hear something because it's no real mystery. We know who were there," Pam Champion said.

Champion and her husband say it's been painful waiting for justice.

"It's hard to have to live every day knowing that someone out there is walking around, getting up every day doing whatever they do and my son lying dead," Robert Champion said.

Florida authorities say the 26-year-old Champion, a Southwest DeKalb High graduate, was killed during a hazing incident after a football game last November. Five months later no one faces charges.

The Champions and their attorney wonder why?

"We know what happened. I mean we have the big picture. Robert was on the bus, he was beaten to death, he's no longer with us," attorney Christopher Chestnut explained.

Chestnut said his investigation revealed at least 17 people engaged in hazing activity on the bus when Champion was attacked. He said authorities should file charges in the case or move on.

"This family deserves to know one way or the other," Chestnut said.

The Champions said the waiting is painstaking.

"It hurts that we haven't heard anything," Pam Champion said.

"We need some answers and we need to get them now," Robert Champion said.

Orange County detectives have said the investigation is ongoing, according to the Champions.

They said detectives also say they've had to send the case back and forth to the State Attorney's Office because of the need for additional information.

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