The family of Sawyer Updike, an 18-year-old college freshman who died by suicide in January 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sigma Chi fraternity chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, accusing the organization of fostering a culture of ‘depraved activity’ that led to his tragic death. The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Ted Lyon and Bill Johnston, outlines months of alleged brutal hazing practices that the family claims pushed Updike toward his mental breakdown and eventual demise.
According to the legal documents, Updike, an outstanding high school student who scored 1410 on his SATs and was a straight-A student, was initiated into the Sigma Chi fraternity’s Alpha Nu Chapter at the University of Texas in August 2023. The family claims that as part of his hazing, Updike was subjected to physical abuse, including being speared with a large fishhook through his leg, having a staple gun puncture his hip, and being pressured to ingest cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. The lawsuit also alleges that he was repeatedly burned with lit cigarettes, physically whipped and beaten, and endured other forms of psychological torture by fraternity members.
The family’s attorneys described the suffering of Updike, who was a former member of the university’s skeet shooting team and had ‘the whole world ahead of him,’ as ‘horrific.’ The emotional toll of the hazing was evident to his parents when he returned home for a holiday break earlier in 2023. His mother and father noted that he had lost weight, looked emaciated, and was visibly distressed, yet they did not know the extent of the abuse at that time. The family’s legal team argued that the fraternity members were ‘proud’ of their actions and even filmed the events, further indicating a dangerous and toxic environment.
Updike’s mental state reportedly deteriorated after being subjected to these abuses, with the situation worsening after he was allegedly given a combination of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms on January 16, 2024, the first day of the second semester. The family states that this led to his eventual decision to take his own life. His mother, Sheryl Roberts-Updike, expressed deep sorrow, stating, ‘No parent should ever lose a child, and certainly not because of hazing disguised as ‘brotherhood.’’
Following Updike’s death, the University of Texas at Austin has taken swift action, closing the Sigma Chi chapter in the wake of multiple allegations of hazing. The chapter had already been placed on deferred suspension after a separate incident the previous year. The university emphasized its commitment to providing a safe educational environment and stated that all hazing allegations are taken seriously. However, the family’s legal team argued that the culture of the fraternity still persisted, highlighting the need for stronger measures to protect students from such abuse.
The case has sparked a broader conversation about the prevalence of hazing practices in collegiate fraternities and the mental health impacts they can have on students. Updike’s tragic story has been described by his father, Ted Lyon, as a ‘wake-up call’ for universities and parents alike. The lawsuit now faces the challenge of proving that the fraternity’s actions directly caused his death, but the family remains determined to hold those responsible accountable for their role in his tragedy.