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. "Somebody did something. After attending the party, where he consumed alcoholic beverages, he was found deceased, lying on the floor in his dorm room. According to Cockrill, multiple interviews with Lyon College athletes have been conducted so far in the course of the investigation Somebody killed him," Nikki Gilfedder, James' mother, said. Somebody hurt him. Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from theFirst Community BankNewsroom onArkansas 103.3. Family of Lyon College student suspects foul play in death While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. For information from local physicians about COVID-19 vaccines,click here. James Gilfedder's Instagram, Twitter & Facebook on IDCrawl Stone Foltz, 20, of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, died after drinking. 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. In Arkansas, it is the public policy to protect minors as a special class of citizens from the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption, the lawsuit says. (877) WASH-DC-1. Ill call an Uber. He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. Police identify student found dead in Lyon College dorm | KATV Kim Kardashian joins James Corden to film Carpool Karaoke 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. A Kentucky student is likely the latest binge drinking death. Colleges The family said they havent received many answers. 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. The documents allege the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. Somebody hurt him. The family got a call from Batesville police on Saturday that their son had died after going to a party with the baseball team. (877) WASH-DC-1, Free Phone Consultation To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. 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. inside his dorm room on Saturday. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to People that the case is pending additional information and/or testing which has delayed Giles official cause and manner of death. An outpouring of love at James Gilfedder's Cornhole Tournament On January 30th, 2021, while attending Lyon College (Bastesville, Arkansas) we learned of his tragic death. A web design company. Its destroyed our whole family. Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. James said his son hoped to bring the town of Batesville a championship. (The) kids got alcohol, they got drugs at that house. (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. Mystery continues to surround the model and aspiring actress death after the 24-year-old and her designer friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26. All rights reserved. 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. 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. More information released on death of Lyon College student Yes, I think it was an initiation that went out of control, James said. The reality star, 42, cracked up as she joined departing . 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. James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. Copyright 2021 TFNL Group. 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. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on93 KZLE,Outlaw 106.5, andYour FM 99.5. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. Found deceased was 19-year-old James Gilfedder III of Yucaipa, Cal., a freshman on the Lyon College baseball team. The family said that Rainwater Holt & Sexton to are set to represent them. 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 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. Police are Investigating the On-Campus Shooting Death of a UArizona Sophomore as a Homicide. The resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. Police identify Lyon College student found dead in dorm room Investigators say they have identified three persons of interest, but there were no signs of foul play at the scene. Ive got all the messages that she exchanged with anybody else that night and she was texting Marcela, the girl that she was with, at 5:30 saying lets get out of here with a wide eye emoji, Cilliers said. These men did something to subdue and keep my daughter in their apartment for 10 to 12 hours, Dusty Giles said. James Aaron Gilfedder III, 19, of Batesville, Arkansas, formerly Yucaipa, California, passed away on January 30, 2021. Copyright 2022 KAIT. Between 2 - 2:30 a.m., freshmen friends took Gilfedder back to his dorm and set him up on a pallet located on the floor because Gilfedder didn't want to sleep in his bed, reports say. Family files suit in death of Lyon College freshman who died with blood The College Post is part of Globe Post Media, a US digital news organization publishing the worlds best targeted news sites. Here's the list! Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player To find out more about the aforementioned records, call the California Department of Public health at 916-445-2684. Somebody killed him. Students claim they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. BPD Chief gives update on death investigation | News | guardonline.com KATV reached out to Batesville police and they said no new information would come out until the autopsy was complete. Somebody killed him. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Its a secret and these kids are being told to keep quiet. He died in a dorm. 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." Gilfedder went to a friend's house on Friday night, Jan. 29, and at some point in the night, consumed alcohol, according to police. Somebody did something. Have a news tip or event to promote? Oct. 1, 2021 - Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is enforcing strict health protocols to . White River Now - Autopsy results released for Lyon | Facebook They have a game tomorrow and I have to go bury my son, James said. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. 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. Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. . Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. They are doing the code of silence. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, she told KATV. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, Nikki said. 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. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Police release name of student found dead at Lyon College - Arkansas Online This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. "Somebody did something. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. The family is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward. Free community college programs have become more and more popular. The Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. 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. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. 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. Police Have Released The Identity Of Person Found Dead At Lyon College Print Headline: Family sues in student's death. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to People that the case is . Students reportedly checked on him twice the next morning, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., saying they observed him on the floor and believed he was asleep. Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. My son went through a lot of trauma. 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. Click to open player flyout to access more features. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. 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 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. Batesville police told KATVs content partner KAIT Region 8 News, that student-athletes were interviewed and there are three persons of interest. BATESVILLE, Ark. Cilliers said their iCloud account shows that no further messages were sent or checked from Giles phone. The court filing noted that the Gilfedder family is represented by two law firms: Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A. There are plenty of cheap colleges in the US here are the most affordable public and private ones. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. Somebody reach out to us and tell us what happened, tell us what happened, Nikki said. The college said it provided counseling to students after the death and would work to help people impacted by the death. Cabrales-Arzola was left two hours later at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in West Los Angeles, where she was in critical condition, according to KABC. His new book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. 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. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, she, Virginia House Bill to Offer Scholarships to Descendants of Enslaved Workers, United Steelworkers Call Out University of Pittsburgh Anti-Union Efforts, 26 Best Part-Time Jobs for College Students to Earn Extra Cash, 15 Most Expensive College Majors (And If Theyre Worth It), Top 27 College Party Themes for a Night to Remember, Is Community College Free? Family files suit in death of Lyon College freshman who died with blood The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Somebody hurt him. "It means a lot to us that our daughter touched so many in her short, but yet wonderful, extraordinary life," she said. I feel like I participated in his murder because I brought him here, James said. I havent been able to sleep. Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. 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. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. (202) 351-0510 | We were hoping because it was a dry county, no alcohol, that things were going to be good, Nikki said. Model Christy Giles Is Dead And Family Suspects Foul Play, A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to. 10 min away.. Lyon College Student Found Dead, Family Suspects Foul Play And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. He had a lot of trauma on his face and all over his body and we knew that there was a different story, James said. 2023 Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse. 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. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedder's family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. 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. For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health,click here. He wanted to be a doctor or (a) professional baseball player, Nikki said. Due to an ongoing police investigation, an autopsy and pending toxicology report, there is not yet an official cause of death. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. However, no proof of foul play has been confirmed as of now, since Batesville police and Lyon College have not released any new information. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his After Darke column in the Early Bird. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. And the witnesses that havent spoke up, I suggest you speak because I dont want to see you guys in prison, Gilfedder said. At the time of Gilfedder's death, the president of the. Has your state launched one yet? Cabrales-Arzola allegedly responded Yes. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Mystery continues to surround the model and aspiring actress death after the 24-year-old and her designer friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, were dropped at separate Los Angeles hospitals two hours apart after a night out with friends. 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. Here are 67 side hustles perfect for hard-working college students with tight student budgets! Police in Batesville have now released the name of the person found dead in a dorm room at Lyon College this weekend. Students said they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. Journalist Hank Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. KATV asked James if he believed it was a hazing event. Sunday's cornhole tournament was all about celebrating his life and raising funds for the family. Unresponsive student identified | News | guardonline.com 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. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. Students said they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. These boys are out here playing baseball. The California kid was dubbed Big Country by all his friends for wearing a cowboy hat and driving a large truck. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the death was ruled as accidental. I want my son back, Gilfedder said. The move is a sort-of coming home for us, said Nuwer. Gilfedder said his son had nearly 60 offers to go play baseball in college, but he fell in love with Arkansas and Lyon College. Somebody did something. When the family arrived in Arkansas from California, they said the pieces didnt all match up. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Ive lost so much sleep. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staton Breidenthal). The Gilfedder family is also asking Lyon, Huffman and Huffmania Ventures to respond to the lawsuit within 30 days. TCU Fraternity on Probation After Investigation Into Car Crash. The family believes that Gilfedders death is the result of a hazing event that went wrong. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. "He only drank a fifth of vodka; that would not kill my son." went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. The two friends had reportedly gone to a warehouse party in Los Angeles on Friday night when Cabrales-Arzola met a guy, who invited her to an after party in the Hollywood Hills, Giles husband Jan Cilliers believes the two women may have meet with foul play after looking through his wifes final text messages and finding the last text she sent was to Cabrales-Arzola around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, suggesting that they leave, according to, While local media outlets have suggested that police believe Giles may have died from a possible overdose, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Police Department would not confirm that to. BATESVILLE, Ark. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. According to the family, Giles lifeless body was dropped at a Southern California Hospital nearly 12 hours later by men seen in a video concealing their identities and driving a vehicle with no license plate. While local media outlets have suggested that police believe Giles may have died from a possible overdose, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Police Department would not confirm that to Oxygen.com and said the investigation was ongoing. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. As a journalist, hes written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on93 KZLE,Outlaw 106.5, andYour FM 99.5. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. 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. James Gilfedder, 19, of California was found unresponsive on Saturday around 12:38 p.m. according to Cockrill's statement. 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. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. Family of Lyon College student who died of alcohol poisoning - KAIT Get the latest news about higher education in the US straight to your inbox. 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. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staton Breidenthal). 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 . . Region 8 News will have more details as they become available. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill told KATV that Gilfedder went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. The attorney for the Gilfedder family, Denise Reid Hoggard of Little Rock and Tony L. Wilcox and Chris A. Averitt of Jonesboro, allege that Lyon College and Huffman knew the baseball team was engaged in hazing new players like Gilfedder and had a right to protect those college students. Have a news tip or event to promote? The home is believed. 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.. The home is believed. Autopsy Done For Christy Giles, But Cause Of Death Still Pending Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? (NWA Media). Batesville police say they have interviewed students, but will not have much information until the toxicology report comes back. 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. Giles mother is planning to fly to California to attend her daughters memorial service. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. All rights reserved. When reached for comment, Lyon College officials referred to its statement from January 2021 from then-President W. Joseph King about the situation. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in Independence County Circuit Court in connection with the January 2021 death of a Lyon College student-athlete found deceased in his dorm room. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results before submitting their evidence to the prosecutor for possible charges. 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.