A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin, alleging that brutal hazing practices led to the suicide of a freshman, Sawyer Updike, in 2024. The family of Updike, an 18-year-old from Pearland, claims that the fraternity’s actions during his pledge period exacerbated a mental health crisis, resulting in his tragic death.
According to the lawsuit, Updike was allegedly subjected to months of ‘horrific hazing’ at the Alpha Nu fraternity house, including physical abuse with tools like fishhooks and staple guns, and the administration of dangerous substances such as cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. The family’s attorney, Ted Lyon, described Updike as a high-achieving student with a promising future, emphasizing that the fraternity’s actions were not only cruel but also preventable.
The lawsuit also highlights that Updike’s mental state deteriorated significantly during his time with the fraternity, leading to his suicide in January 2024. Despite the family’s concerns, the university took action by closing the Sigma Chi chapter following the incident, which had already been on deferred suspension due to prior hazing allegations. The university stated its commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all students, but the family argues that the system failed to protect Updike.
Additional resources from the network include stories on the dangers of hazing in college fraternities, with a focus on the broader implications for student safety. These cases underscore the urgent need for increased awareness and stricter oversight to prevent similar tragedies. The family’s legal team continues to seek justice for Updike, emphasizing that his death was a direct consequence of the fraternity’s actions, which they describe as a violation of basic human dignity.