Family members of a 18-year-old Texas college freshman have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin, alleging that brutal hazing practices drove the young man to take his own life. The lawsuit, filed after the tragic incident in January 2024, highlights the alleged mistreatment and psychological trauma that led to the freshman’s suicide.
Sawyer Updike, an 18-year-old from Pearland, reportedly accepted a bid to pledge the Sigma Chi fraternity during the summer of 2023 through the Alpha Nu Chapter at the University of Texas at Austin. According to the lawsuit, Updike was subjected to months of severe hazing, which included extreme physical abuse and psychological coercion. The hazing allegedly involved spearings with a large fishhook, staple gun punctures, and being coerced into ingesting illegal substances such as cocaine.
Updike’s family has described him as a bright, promising student who had a promising future. His father, Ted Lyon, stated that he was a straight-A student in high school and had scored 1410 on the SATs. The family believes that the trauma from the hazing led to his mental health deterioration, eventually resulting in his self-harm. In a statement, Lyon expressed deep sorrow and anger over the incident, calling the fraternity’s actions ‘depraved.’
According to the lawsuit, Updike’s mental state began to deteriorate when he was provided with cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms on the first day of the second semester in January 2024. After being subjected to these substances and further abuse, he drove to a local gas station parking lot and took his own life. His mother, Sheryl Roberts-Updike, described the tragedy as ‘cruel, senseless, and preventable,’ emphasizing the pain of losing a son with so much potential.
The university has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and stated that it investigates all hazing reports thoroughly. The Sigma Chi chapter at UT had previously faced a suspension due to similar hazing allegations from the previous year. Following Updike’s tragic death, the university decided to close the Sigma Chi chapter, which had already been on a deferred suspension. The university has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent such incidents and protect students from harmful practices.
The lawsuit names numerous parties, including Sigma Chi International Fraternity, the Alpha Nu Chapter at UT, the Alpha Nu House Corporation, and five fraternity members. The family is seeking justice for the loss of their son and calls for stricter regulations and oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.