The family of a University of Texas freshman, Sawyer Updike, who died by suicide in 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sigma Chi fraternity, alleging that brutal hazing practices led to his tragic end. The lawsuit claims that Updike, an 18-year-old from Pearland, was subjected to months of horrific hazing at the Alpha Nu Chapter’s fraternity house in Austin. The alleged hazing included spearing a large fishhook through Updike’s leg, puncturing his hip with a staple gun, and pressuring him to ingest illegal substances like cocaine. His mental health deteriorated significantly after returning home for the 2023 holiday, as his family noticed he had turned emaciated and his demeanor had changed. Updike eventually took his own life in January 2024, following alleged drug use on the first day of the second semester. The university closed the Sigma Chi chapter following the incident, and the National Sigma Chi Chapter and UT Austin have not responded to comment requests. The lawsuit names the fraternity and several members, seeking justice for a young man whose potential was cut short by what his family calls ‘cruel, senseless, and preventable’ actions.