LITTLE ROCK (KATV) The Batesville Police Department has identified a Lyon College student that was found dead in his dorm room over the weekend. All rights reserved. https://www.kait8.com/2021/02/05/report-family-lyon-college-student-suspects-foul-play-death/. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. of Little Rock, and Wilcox & Averitt, PLC of Jonesboro. 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. For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health,click here. 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. 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. The younger James Gilfedder, who was 19, died Jan. 30 after attending a party with the Lyon College baseball team. All rights reserved. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. 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. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. 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.. They are doing the code of silence. Pullman Police Chief Jenkins drops the ball in Big-Little death. When people finally see and hear about this evidence this town is going to be furious and disgusted, Gilfedder said. The move is a sort-of coming home for us, said Nuwer. An autopsy showed that Gilfedders blood alcohol content was .357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. Ive lost so much sleep. Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. Found deceased was 19-year-old James Gilfedder III of Yucaipa, Cal., a freshman on the Lyon College 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. 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. The filing 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. 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Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. Example video title will go here for this video. According to Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill, around 12:38 p.m. Saturday, the department was dispatched to the Lyon. 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. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Print Headline: Family sues in student's death, Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. 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. 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. were dropped at separate Los Angeles hospitals two hours apart. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. Somebody hurt him. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. A web design company. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. The family said that Rainwater Holt & Sexton to are set to represent them. Streaming Stations: Click to open player flyout to access more . Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Gilfedder went to a friend's house on Friday night, Jan. 29, and at some point in the night, consumed alcohol, according to police. 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. All rights reserved. A college degree doesn't need to drain your finances. The California kid was dubbed Big Country by all his friends for wearing a cowboy hat and driving a large truck. Click below for more info from White River Now. 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.. James Gilfedder, 19, of Lyon College in Arkansas was found dead in his dorm room from alcohol intoxication. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. His new book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedder's family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. 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. 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. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. 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." On January 30th, 2021, while attending Lyon College (Bastesville, Arkansas) we learned of his tragic death. James was raised in Yucaipa and graduated from Yucaipa High School in 2020. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. 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. I feel like I participated in his murder because I brought him here, James said. inside his dorm room on Saturday. 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. 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. Somebody reach out to us and tell us what happened, tell us what happened, Nikki said. Who can say no to quick money? James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. The Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. Oct. 1, 2021 - Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is enforcing strict health protocols to . Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. (877) WASH-DC-1, Free Phone Consultation The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. Free Phone Consultation All rights reserved. However, no proof of foul play has been confirmed as of now, since Batesville police and Lyon College have not released any new information. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Cabrales-Arzola allegedly responded Yes. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. 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 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. 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. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. KATV asked James if he believed it was a hazing event. 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. 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 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, KTLA reports. The family is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward. 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. The resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. Its a secret and these kids are being told to keep quiet. (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. Somebody killed him. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. Here's the list! BATESVILLE, Ark. Read his musings in his column "Golden Heart Tales" in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. An autopsy showed that Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was .357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. Somebody hurt him. James Aaron Gilfedder III, 19, of Batesville, Arkansas, formerly Yucaipa, California, passed away on January 30, 2021. Copyright 2021 TFNL Group. 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. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Lyon College Student Found Dead, Family Suspects Foul Play, A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "Somebody did something. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. We were hoping because it was a dry county, no alcohol, that things were going to be good, Nikki said. Now the family is left with just their memories, anger and so many questions. 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. Media said the house where he parties was owned by an assistant coach. I am deeply saddened to share that this morning, one of our students passed away. went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. 10 min away.. Police in Batesville have now released the name of the person found dead in a dorm room at Lyon College this weekend. Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse, U.S. Hazing Deaths Database Part 1: 1838-1999, Hank Nuwer Author Page; Hazing Deaths Database. Lyon College said Friday that the institution cannot comment on pending litigation. Due to an ongoing police investigation, an autopsy and pending toxicology report, there is not yet an official cause of death. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. The reality star, 42, cracked up as she joined departing . Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Cockrill said the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, Nikki said. The best part-time jobs for college students will beef up your resume (and, more importantly, your wallet) without sacrificing your grades. 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? KATV reached out to Batesville police and they said no new information would come out until the autopsy was complete. 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. 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. 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. The family believes that Gilfedders death is the result of a hazing event that went wrong. . After attending the party, where he consumed alcoholic beverages, he was found deceased, lying on the floor in his dorm room. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. The family got a call from Batesville police on Saturday that their son had died after going to a party with the baseball team. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. All rights reserved. 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. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. In These 19 States, Yes, 67 Top Side Hustles for College Students to Make Fast Cash, These Are the Cheapest Colleges in the US. Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. Somebody killed him, Nikki Gilfedder, James mother, said. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, she told KATV. 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. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. Its destroyed our whole family. I want my son back, Gilfedder said. 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.. Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? Investigators are waiting on autopsy results before submitting their evidence to the prosecutor for possible charges. An autopsy showed Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was 0.357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. These men did something to subdue and keep my daughter in their apartment for 10 to 12 hours, Dusty Giles said. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. (NWA Media). (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staton Breidenthal). Yes, I think it was an initiation that went out of control, James said. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. The court filing noted that the Gilfedder family is represented by two law firms: Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A. James Gilfedder, 19, of California was found unresponsive on Saturday around 12:38 p.m. according to Cockrill's statement. 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. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. Therefore, a person or entity can be held liable for providing alcohol to a minor for damages sustained by the intoxicated minor.. 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. The college reminded students about the colleges counseling center and chaplains office offering support following his death. "Gilly" was a kind and charismatic young man who was a team favorite and genuine friend to many. They dont have one person in jail right now. 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, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. 2023 Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse. 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. He died in a dorm. Im just sick to my stomach. The resident assistant claimed they found him very intoxicated and wandering the campus, so they brought him back to his room, the document states. "It means a lot to us that our daughter touched so many in her short, but yet wonderful, extraordinary life," she said. Free community college programs have become more and more popular. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on93 KZLE,Outlaw 106.5, andYour FM 99.5. The lawsuit said the 27-page filing was an action for injuries suffered, conscious pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of life, and wrongful death. Print Headline: Family sues in student's death. 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 autopsy is designed to determine the cause of death, properly document findings, and collect evidence. 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 college said it provided counseling to students after the death and would work to help people impacted by the death. 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. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. 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. Hot Springs police respond to shots fired, one injured, A look at what bills could become laws in Arkansas next week, Your Arkansas weather forecast from THV11, School bus crash causes traffic delays on I-630, Two arrested in connection to Lonoke County homicide, Man killed after shooting incident on Arkansas Highway 367, police say, Little Rock residents say 911 dispatch is too slow at answering emergency calls. 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. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on93 KZLE,Outlaw 106.5, andYour FM 99.5. Investigators say they have identified three persons of interest, but there were no signs of foul play at the scene. 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. My son went through a lot of trauma. 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. When reached for comment, Lyon College officials referred to its statement from January 2021 from then-President W. Joseph King about the situation. 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. The College Post is part of Globe Post Media, a US digital news organization publishing the worlds best targeted news sites. When the family arrived in Arkansas from California, they said the pieces didnt all match up. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the 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 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. Have a news tip or event to promote? These boys are out here playing baseball. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill told KATV that Gilfedder went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. For information from local physicians about COVID-19 vaccines,click here. 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. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. Students claim they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. The home is believed. Stone Foltz, 20, of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, died after drinking. Somebody had a lot of hate or something because from what we have seen no one should have ever went through that no one.. 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. There are plenty of cheap colleges in the US here are the most affordable public and private ones. 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. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. 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 KABC.