Family of 20-year-old who died in frat hazing are awarded $3million

2023-01-24

Family of 20-year-old student who was ‘left to die’ on the couch after being blindfolded and forced to drink 40 shots in fraternity hazing ceremony are awarded $3million in university settlement

Stone Foltz, 20, died after taking 40 shots during a hazing ritual for a fraternity
His parents were awarded $3million by Bowling Green State University
Both the university and his parents said they are dedicated to ending hazing

The family of a student who died from alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity were awarded a nearly $3million settlement from Bowling Green State University.

Stone Foltz, 20, a sophomore business major at the Ohio university, died in a hospital in March 2020 – three days after he was allegedly blindfolded and forced to drink 40 shots while pledging Pi Kappa Alpha’s Delta Beta chapter.

Foltz was found unconscious by a roommate after members of the fraternity allegedly dropped him off at his apartment. He was put on life support and died after his family arranged for his organs to be donated.

His parents Cory and Shari have started a foundation and said during a joint announcement of the settlement on Monday that they will work with the university to eliminate hazing on college campuses.

The settlement with the university comes in addition to more than $7 million in payouts made to the family by the the frat and individuals involved, court documents show.

The family of Stone Foltz (pictured) who died from alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity were awarded a nearly $3million settlement from Bowling Green State University

Foltz’s parents Cory and Shari, pictured, have started a foundation and said during a joint announcement of the settlement on Monday that they will work with the university to eliminate hazing on college campuses

Foltz, from Delaware, Ohio, was found unconscious after members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity dropped him off at his apartment. He died after three days on life support.

Eight former fraternity members either pleaded guilty or were found guilty on various charges, including reckless homicide, hazing and giving alcohol to a minor.

Two of the eight were acquitted last year of more serious charges including involuntary manslaughter. Their defense attorneys had argued Foltz was not forced or required to finish an entire bottle of alcohol and made that decision on his own.

In their wrongful death lawsuit, Foltz’s parents accused the school of failing to stop hazing in fraternities and sororities despite being aware of it.

It stated they were seeking damages as the defendants’ conduct was ‘utterly intolerable in a civilized society’ and described how pledges were allegedly blindfolded and taken into a basement where they were encouraged to down an entire bottle of alcohol each.

The suit states that Stone was forced to drink the bottle, the equivalent of 40 shots, then dropped off at his apartment and left on the sofa unsupervised.

His roommate later found him still breathing and called Stone’s girlfriend, then 911. The 20-year-old was rushed to hospital where he died a few days later.

The settlement with the university is in addition to more than $7 million in payouts made to the family by the the frat, which has since been expelled, and individuals involved

In their wrongful death lawsuit, filed in 2021, Foltz’s parents accused the school of failing to stop hazing in fraternities and sororities despite being aware of it

Foltz’s parents Cory and Shari filed a lawsuit saying pledges were blindfolded and taken into a basement where they were encouraged to down an entire bottle of alcohol each

Both sides said in a joint statement issued on Monday that they will be forever impacted by his death. ‘We can continue our fight saving lives,’ said Shari Foltz, his mother.

‘This resolution keeps the Foltz family and BGSU community from reliving the tragedy for years to come in the courtroom and allows us to focus on furthering our shared mission of eradicating hazing in Ohio and across the nation. Leading these efforts in our communities is the real work that honors Stone,’ the statement said.

The family’s attorney, Rex Elliott, said on Monday that the university is making an effort to prevent another tragedy from happening and that colleges nationwide must play a role in reforming how fraternities and sororities bring in new members.

‘Greek organizations will not survive if hazing doesn’t come to an end,’ Elliott said. ‘Hazing and pledge programs are a relic of the past.’

After the hazing death, Bowling Green expelled Pi Kappa Alpha and said it would never again be recognized on campus.

The university also developed a plan to address anti-hazing efforts, including hiring a prevention coordinator and making it easier for students to tell the school about hazing.

Foltz’s death also spurred changes beyond Bowling Green, including a new state law that created tougher criminal penalties for hazing – a proposal first made after an Ohio University student died in 2018 after ingesting nitrous oxide at a fraternity house.

The parents of Stone Foltz allowed his organs to be donated following his death

‘I can’t describe the pain – there’s a piece of my heart that’s gone. It’s just unimaginable, I can’t even explain to you’: Shari is pictured with Stone at his high school graduation

TIMELINE OF STONE FOLTZ’S DEATH

As per the Foltz’s family’s lawsuit the events of March 4 allegedly unfolded as:

Between 8.15pm and 8.45pm, Stone Foltz exchanged text messages from several of his friends and a pledge brother.

Around 9pm., Stone Foltz went to 318 North Main Street in Bowling Green, which served as the off-campus fraternity house for Pi Kappa Alpha, Delta Beta Chapter. According to the Delta Beta Chapter’s New Member Handbook, two events were scheduled for March 4, 2021: ‘Pledge Ed, Round Robin Before Big/Little’ which was categorized as an ‘Education’ event; and ‘Big/Little’ which was categorized as a ‘Ritual Event.’ Defendants Daylen Dunson, Jacob Krinn, Jarett Prizel, Garrett Hord, Jamir Dodson, Canyon Caldwell, Benjamin L. Boyers, Niall R. Sweeney, and Aaron Lehane were present for the Big/Little Ritual Event.

While Defendant Troy Henricksen was not present for the Big/Little Event, he planned the event, paired the ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ together, and notified pledges and actives what the ‘Big/Little’ Event would entail. Defendant Troy Henricksen also instructed Stone Foltz and the other pledges that they would need to inform faculty members of their likely absence from class the following day.

It was only at the last minute that Defendant Troy Henricksen delegated responsibility for the party to Jarett Prizel. After Stone Foltz arrived at 318 North Main Street, he and the other pledges discussed the pledge process during the Round Robin event.

Afterwards, Stone Foltz and the other pledges were blindfolded by active members and led into a basement area while being yelled at and pushed in an effort to disorient them. Stone Foltz’s ‘Big Brother’ was Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Beta Chapter member Jacob Krinn. In the basement, Defendant Jacob Krinn provided a bottle of alcohol to Stone Foltz. Stone Foltz was then forced to consume the entire bottle of alcohol before he left 318 North Main Street. Stone Foltz consumed the bottle of alcohol in as little as 18 minutes.

Around 10pm, defendant Jacob Krinn and others left 318 North Main Street with Stone Foltz. Jacob Krinn and others dropped Stone Foltz off at his apartment. Jacob Krinn was supposed to spend the night with Stone Foltz to make sure he was safe and to take care of him. Jacob Krinn did not stay with Stone Foltz. Instead, Stone Foltz was taken from the car into his apartment and left alone on the couch to die.

Around 10.30pm, Stone Foltz’s roommate — Wade McKenzie — arrived home and found Stone face down on the couch in the living room. At the time, Stone was still breathing. Wade McKenzie sat with him and kept watch to try and make sure he was safe. Wade also called Stone’s girlfriend, Maddy Borja, to come over and watch Stone. Tragically, shortly after Maddy arrived, Stone Foltz stopped breathing and his face and ears turned purple and blue.

At 11.23pm, Maddy Borja called 911. During the 911 call and before EMTs arrived, Wade McKenzie performed CPR.

At 11.25pm, EMTs arrived and began efforts to save Stone’s life. Stone Foltz was taken to Wood County Hospital and then transported by helicopter to ProMedica Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Unfortunately, due to the lack of oxygen for an extended period, doctors were unable to bring Stone Foltz back. From March 5 until his death on March 7 doctors at ProMedica Hospital went through herculean efforts to prepare Stone’s body for organ donation.

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