Frat president Brayden Klein and vice president arrested after 30 half-naked pledges found trapped in sweltering basement

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026 · last updated 27 September 2026.

Police found 30 partially clothed teenagers in a sweltering basement at the University of Wisconsin's banned Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, their bodies smeared with food, condiments and other liquids, the room held at 81 degrees. Klein and Vane, both 20, were booked into Dane County Jail on disorderly conduct charges after officers responded to an anonymous tip. Most of the victims were 18 years old, and several showed visible injuries consistent with physical assault. The Madison Police Department says the investigation is continuing.

Alpha Epsilon Pi had already been barred from the university campus years before Wednesday night's raid.

Police Captain Kipp Hartman said that in two years commanding the district, he had NEVER seen anything like it.

Klein and Vane currently face only disorderly conduct charges, with no additional charges yet announced by police.