At the time of Gilfedders death, the president of the college shared a news release confirming the death, and confirmed the college was cooperating with the police department. Increase the Penalties for Hazing and End the Culture That Took My Sons Life, Six Years After Hazing Death of Timothy Piazza, Penn State Plans to Drop the Greek Life Oversight It Championed, WSU Students Death Ruled Suicide as Family Says Hazing Left Him At His Breaking Point, Hazing Injury and Death Attorneys in Michigan, Legal Advice For Hazing in Intermediate and High Schools, School and Workplace Shooting Victim Lawyer. The home is believed. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Ive lost so much sleep. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Therefore, a person or entity can be held liable for providing alcohol to a minor for damages sustained by the intoxicated minor.. The family is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward. Various underage baseball and softball players were present and drinking alcohol at the party, and Gilfedder became visibly intoxicated after being supplied with alcohol, which the coach witnessed, the filing states. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. When the family arrived in Arkansas from California, they said the pieces didnt all match up. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. Various underage baseball and softball players were present and drinking alcohol at the party, and Gilfedder became visibly intoxicated after being supplied with alcohol, which the coach witnessed, the filing states. Sunday's cornhole tournament was all about celebrating his life and raising funds for the family. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. They have a game tomorrow and I have to go bury my son, James said. Nuwer, former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird, finished a stint as managing editor of the Celina Daily Standard to accept a new position as managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska. When reached for comment, Lyon College officials referred to its statement from January 2021 from then-President W. Joseph King about the situation. The lawsuit was filed by the family of Gilfedder naming as defendants: Lyon College; the property owner where the party was held, Huffmania Ventures, LLC; the baseball pitching coach at Lyon College and alleged part-owner of the company who owned the house where the party was held, Jacob Huffman; five John Doe insurance companies; and 10 John Does in the case. With no formal autopsy result to determine what happened, , the victims mother, is suggesting that something more sinister is at play because the information presented to them didnt all match up., Somebody did something. For information from local physicians about COVID-19 vaccines,click here. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. His new book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. The lawsuit requests compensation for the loss of life, conscious pain and suffering of the deceased prior to death, funeral expenses, and the mental anguish and pecuniary damage of the surviving estate and to recover damages and judgment against the defendants. The best part-time jobs for college students will beef up your resume (and, more importantly, your wallet) without sacrificing your grades. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The police have notified the family of the incident and are waiting for the results of the autopsy before handing over their evidence to the prosecutor. The suit alleges Gilfedders death could have been part of a hazing on the night in question (Jan. 30, 2021), causing him to drink a massive amount of alcohol in a very short period of time, the suit said. According to documents, James Gilfedder III, 19, was invited to an off-campus party Jan. 29, 2021, at a home in Batesville that was being rented by another baseball player. Gilfedder's parents told Arkansas media that their son's body was battered, and he consumed a fifth of alcohol at a team "hazing party." Police are waiting for autopsy results before commenting. (202) 351-0510 | A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner saidadditional information and/or testing is needed before authorities can determine a cause or manner of death for Christy Giles. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. According to documents, James Gilfedder III, 19, was invited to an off-campus party Jan. 29, 2021, at a home in Batesville that was being rented by another baseball player. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. "Somebody did something.. All rights reserved. Get the latest news about higher education in the US straight to your inbox. The college reminded students about the colleges counseling center and chaplains office offering support following his death. of Little Rock, and Wilcox & Averitt, PLC of Jonesboro. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Ill call an Uber. Learn how your comment data is processed. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. The family of James Gilfedder III filed suit Thursday, Jan. 27 in Independence County Circuit Court against Lyon College, Huffmania Ventures, LLC, Jacob Huffman (a pitching coach at Lyon College), five John Doe Insurance Companies and 10 John Does in the case. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, Nikki said. As a journalist, hes written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. My son went through a lot of trauma. (The) kids got alcohol, they got drugs at that house. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Im just sick to my stomach. The California kid was dubbed Big Country by all his friends for wearing a cowboy hat and driving a large truck. All rights reserved. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and he was blue and purple in color, so students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Its a secret and these kids are being told to keep quiet. The person Gilfedder went to the party with said he fell asleep in the car on the way home from the party, court documents state. Streaming Stations: Click to open player flyout to access more . Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Gilfedder went to a friend's house on Friday night, Jan. 29, and at some point in the night, consumed alcohol, according to police. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. The autopsy for model Christy Giles is complete, but authorities are waiting for further testing to determine a cause and manner of death for the California model, whose lifeless body was dropped outside a Los Angeles hospital Saturday. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Another way to request for California Death Records is through online public databases. The family of a Lyon College freshman who died in January 2021 after what was believed to be a hazing incident involving large consumption of alcohol filed a negligence and wrongful-death suit in court Thursday. Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_6) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.5 Safari/605.1.15, Cedar Ridge to face Earle after win over Ozark Mountain; Pink Out tonight, Flood warning issued until late Monday for Independence County. The third death, unconfirmed as a hazing but under review as toxicology reports are underway, involves the alcohol-related death of James Gilfedder, a baseball player at Lyon College in. The reality star, 42, cracked up as she joined departing . The Gilfedder family is also asking Lyon, Huffman and Huffmania Ventures to respond to the lawsuit within 30 days. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. This is a difficult time with an enormous disruption and I promise you that we will come together as a community to appropriately mourn this loss, the statement noted. Have a news tip or event to promote? "He only drank a fifth of vodka; that would not kill my son." With no formal autopsy result to determine what happened, Nikki Gilfedder, the victims mother, is suggesting that something more sinister is at play because the information presented to them didnt all match up.. Model Christy Giles Is Dead And Family Suspects Foul Play, A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Somebody reach out to us and tell us what happened, tell us what happened, Nikki said. At the party, various underage baseball and softball players were present and drinking alcohol, and Gilfedder was supplied with alcohol and quickly became visibly intoxicated, which the coach witnessed, the filing alleges. Students said they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. To find out more about the aforementioned records, call the California Department of Public health at 916-445-2684. Stone Foltz, 20, of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, died after drinking. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to People that the case is . Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse, U.S. Hazing Deaths Database Part 1: 1838-1999, Hank Nuwer Author Page; Hazing Deaths Database. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. Students reportedly checked on Gilfedder twice the next morning, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and said they observed him on the floor and believed he was asleep, according to the court filing. According to Cockrill, multiple interviews with Lyon College athletes have been conducted so far in the course of the investigation Spice up your get-togethers with these top 27 fresh college party themes full of dancing, fun activities, and stunning photos for Instagram. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the death was ruled as accidental. (877) WASH-DC-1, Free Phone Consultation While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. The home is believed. Cabrales-Arzola allegedly responded Yes. James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. The family got a call from Batesville police on Saturday that their son had died after going to a party with the baseball team. According to Cilliers, Cabrales-Arzola toxicology reports revealed that she had heroin in her system but he told KABC that was nothing that either of those girls would ever do, not voluntarily.. Students reportedly checked on Gilfedder twice the next morning, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and said they observed him on the floor and believed he was asleep, according to the court filing. Family of Lyon College student who died of alcohol poisoning files suit, Lawsuit filed against Summit Utilities over price gouging, NWS: EF-2 tornado confirmed in Arkansas storms, 2023 4A State Tournament: Blytheville boys beat Farmington, advance to state title game, Razorback signee Jenna Lawrence leads Farmington girls to 4A state title game, 2023 3A State Tournament: Manila boys beat Dumas, advance to state title game, 2023 6A State Tournament: Jonesboro boys beat Cabot, advance to state title game. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California. A primary objective is to try to reconstruct the circumstances and events that led to the death so that a mode (natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined) can be established. They dont have one person in jail right now. James said his son hoped to bring the town of Batesville a championship. We were hoping because it was a dry county, no alcohol, that things were going to be good, Nikki said. According to Chief Alan Cockrill with the Batesville Police Department, a 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30. An autopsy showed that Gilfedders blood alcohol content was .357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. According to Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill, around 12:38 p.m. Saturday, the department was dispatched to the Lyon. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. "It means a lot to us that our daughter touched so many in her short, but yet wonderful, extraordinary life," she said. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Batesville police say they have interviewed students, but will not have much information until the toxicology report comes back. Somebody hurt him. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. The lawsuit said the autopsy revealed the blood alcohol content of Gilfedder was .357% and the cause of death was acute alcohol intoxication.. Lyon College, coach accused of negligence in 21 incident, The Lyon Building on the Lyon College campus in Batesville is shown in this December 2005 file photo. James and Nikki Gilfedder had no idea when they dropped their 19-year-old son off in Batesville two weeks ago that it would be the last time they saw him alive. On Saturday, around 12:30 p.m., a friend went to check on Gilfedder, but found him dead in the same spot he was left. Its destroyed our whole family. Police in Batesville have now released the name of the person found dead in a dorm room at Lyon College this weekend. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Region 8 News reached out to Lyon College for comment about the lawsuit. The court filing noted that the Gilfedder family is represented by two law firms: Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A. Giles mother is planning to fly to California to attend her daughters memorial service. The College is fully cooperating with the Batesville Police Department and for privacy reasons, we are unable to share any further information at this time, King said. 10 min away.. I am deeply saddened to share that this morning, one of our students passed away. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Website design and development by Legendary Lion Creative Agency. The parents traveled to Arkansas from California this week to learn about. Somebody hurt him. The autopsy for model Christy Giles is complete, but authorities are waiting for further testing to determine a cause and manner of death for the California model, whose lifeless body was dropped outside a Los Angeles hospital Saturday. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Mystery continues to surround the model and aspiring actress death after the 24-year-old and her designer friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26. An autopsy showed Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was 0.357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. Gilfedder went . Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. According to the documents, the hazing included, but was not limited to, causing the student to drink "massive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time." Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. Here are 67 side hustles perfect for hard-working college students with tight student budgets! KATV asked James if he believed it was a hazing event. When people finally see and hear about this evidence this town is going to be furious and disgusted, Gilfedder said. If you have yet to be immunized against COVID-19, White River Now urges you to talk to your trusted local physician or pharmacist about the COVID-19 vaccine. Gilfedders parents told Arkansas media that their sons body was battered, and he consumed a fifth of alcohol at a team hazing party. Police are waiting for autopsy results before commenting. Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. After attending the party, where he consumed alcoholic beverages, he was found deceased, lying on the floor in his dorm room. Kim Kardashian looked delighted as she joined James Corden to film a skit for his Carpool Karaoke segment on The Late Late Show this week.. . According to documents, James Gilfedder III, 19, was invited to an off-campus party Jan. 29, 2021, at a home in Batesville that was being rented by another baseball player. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. Police are Investigating the On-Campus Shooting Death of a UArizona Sophomore as a Homicide. "Gilly" was a kind and charismatic young man who was a team favorite and genuine friend to many. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. LITTLE ROCK (KATV) James Gilfedder was supposed to be at Lyon College to play baseball, but instead, his life ended in tragedy after attending a party last weekend. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. The move is a sort-of coming home for us, said Nuwer. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. . He wanted to be a doctor or (a) professional baseball player, Nikki said. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Has your state launched one yet? James Aaron Gilfedder III, 19, of Batesville, Arkansas, formerly Yucaipa, California, passed away on January 30, 2021. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. March 15, 2022 - The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will be hosting a table at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology's (USCAP) annual conference to promote it's Forensic Pathology Fellowship. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. Investigators noted that the social gathering took place at a residence on Boles Street owned by Huffmania Ventures, LLC which was co-owned by one of the baseball coaches. Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results before submitting their evidence to the prosecutor for possible charges. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. But Giles mother, Dusty Giles, told KABC from her home in Alabama that the Uber driver waited, but no one ever came out of the apartment. Copyright 2022 KAIT. Police said Gilfedder had attended an off-campus party at a residence partially owned by a baseball coach and where several members of the baseball team lived. A web design company. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. In These 19 States, Yes, 67 Top Side Hustles for College Students to Make Fast Cash, These Are the Cheapest Colleges in the US. However, no proof of foul play has been confirmed as of now, since Batesville police and Lyon College have not released any new information. Lyon College said Friday that the institution cannot comment on pending litigation. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. The lawsuit requests compensation for the loss of life, conscious pain and suffering of the deceased prior to death, funeral expenses, and the mental anguish and pecuniary damage of the surviving estate and to recover damages and judgment against the defendants. Somebody killed him," Nikki Gilfedder told the Little Rock TV station. KATV reached out to Batesville police and they said no new information would come out until the autopsy was complete. The autopsy is designed to determine the cause of death, properly document findings, and collect evidence. (KAIT) - The family of a California teenager who died of alcohol poisoning while a student at Lyon College has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the college, according to court records. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedder's family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. (877) WASH-DC-1. BATESVILLE, Ark. Who can say no to quick money? Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. The Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. I want my son back, Gilfedder said. The College Post is part of Globe Post Media, a US digital news organization publishing the worlds best targeted news sites. BATESVILLE, Ark. Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, she told KATV. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. These men did something to subdue and keep my daughter in their apartment for 10 to 12 hours, Dusty Giles said. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. The family of a Lyon College freshman who died in January 2021 after what was believed to be a hazing incident involving large consumption of alcohol filed a negligence and wrongful death suit in . (NWA Media). Gilfedder (pictured below) was a freshman baseball player at Lyon College. Authorities say they conducted multiple interviews with student-athletes at Lyon College, it was determined the victim had attended an off-campus party where drinking was involved the evening before he was found deceased. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. Investigators say they have identified three persons of interest, but there were no signs of foul play at the scene. Have a news tip or event to promote? Students claim they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. Somebody hurt him. Oct. 1, 2021 - Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is enforcing strict health protocols to . The resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. I havent been able to sleep. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. Cilliers said their iCloud account shows that no further messages were sent or checked from Giles phone. The family of a Lyon College freshman who died in January 2021 after what was believed to be a hazing incident involving large consumption of alcohol filed a negligence and wrongful death suit in court Thursday. Print Headline: Family sues in student's death. For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health,click here. Batesville police told KATVs content partner KAIT Region 8 News, that student-athletes were interviewed and there are three persons of interest. Region 8 News will have more details as they become available. According to documents, James Gilfedder III, 19, was invited to an off-campus party Jan. 29, 2021, at a home in Batesville that was being rented by another baseball player. The resident assistant claimed they found him very intoxicated and wandering the campus, so they brought him back to his room, the document states.