Man in hazing death of Roswell teen accused of deleting files before search

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A former college student charged in the hazing death of a metro Atlanta teenager is accused of deleting hundreds of files from his cellphone just before authorities could search it.

Prosecutors have charged Matthew Naquin with negligent homicide in the 2017 death of Roswell, Georgia native Max Gruver. According to prosecutors, Gruver died after he was forced to drink excessive amounts of liquor at Louisiana State University's Phi Delta fraternity house.

MORE: Plea deal made in Louisiana State University student's death

As part of the trial, investigators wanted to look through Naquin's phone data between August 2017 and December 2017.

But the same night authorities got the rights to search his phone, they say Naquin deleted all the relevant content.

Authorities say the 21-year-old Texas native refused to provide the password. The FBI unlocked it in March.

RELATED: Parents of LSU fraternity pledge sue after son's death

Google generally complies with court-approved search warrants in criminal cases.

FOX 5 reported this story from Atlanta. The Associated Press contributed to this report.