19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. 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. Ive lost so much sleep. On January 30th, 2021, while attending Lyon College (Bastesville, Arkansas) we learned of his tragic death. BATESVILLE, Ark. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. According to Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill, around 12:38 p.m. Saturday, the department was dispatched to the Lyon. "Gilly" was a kind and charismatic young man who was a team favorite and genuine friend to many. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The resident assistant claimed they found him very intoxicated and wandering the campus, so they brought him back to his room, the document states. 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. 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. Cockrill said the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. There are plenty of cheap colleges in the US here are the most affordable public and private ones. 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. Gilfedder said his son had nearly 60 offers to go play baseball in college, but he fell in love with Arkansas and Lyon College. (The) kids got alcohol, they got drugs at that house. Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? And the witnesses that havent spoke up, I suggest you speak because I dont want to see you guys in prison, Gilfedder said. According to the documents, James Gilfedder III was 19 years old when he was invited to a party off-campus on Jan. 29, 2021, at a home in Batesville that was being rented by another baseball player. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. (202) 351-0510 | James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. Found deceased was 19-year-old James Gilfedder III of Yucaipa, Cal., a freshman on the Lyon College baseball team. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. 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? The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. 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 resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. 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. Media said the house where he parties was owned by an assistant coach. Police say three people of interest have been developed, after interviews were conducted by police on student athletes at Lyon College. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. 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 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. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. 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. Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. 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. Has your state launched one yet? They dont have one person in jail right now. The Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. 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. (202) 351-0510 | Region 8 News reached out to Lyon College for comment about the lawsuit. 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 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. The College Post is part of Globe Post Media, a US digital news organization publishing the worlds best targeted news sites. 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 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 autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. They have a game tomorrow and I have to go bury my son, James said. 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." 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 family believes that Gilfedders death is the result of a hazing event that went wrong. The home is believed. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The Gilfedder family is also asking Lyon, Huffman and Huffmania Ventures to respond to the lawsuit within 30 days. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. Now the family is left with just their memories, anger and so many questions. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. (877) WASH-DC-1, Free Phone Consultation 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. 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. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. 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. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, Nikki said. The family said they havent received many answers. Lyon College Student Found Dead, Family Suspects Foul Play, A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old. The reality star, 42, cracked up as she joined departing . 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. 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. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill told White River Now the results from the Arkansas State Crime Labs autopsy on James Gilfedder were recently received. The family said that Rainwater Holt & Sexton to are set to represent them. Somebody hurt him. 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. 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. To find out more about the aforementioned records, call the California Department of Public health at 916-445-2684. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. 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 . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said the. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. Due to an ongoing police investigation, an autopsy and pending toxicology report, there is not yet an official cause of death. All rights reserved. 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. Looking for James Gilfedder online? 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. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. 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. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. When the family arrived in Arkansas from California, they said the pieces didnt all match up. 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. 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. Students claim they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. 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. 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. 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. At the time of Gilfedder's death, the president of the. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. 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. The family is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward. Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from theFirst Community BankNewsroom onArkansas 103.3. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the death was ruled as accidental. Batesville police say they have interviewed students, but will not have much information until the toxicology report comes back. Found deceased was 19-year-old James Gilfedder III of Yucaipa, Cal., a freshman on the Lyon College baseball team. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Sunday's cornhole tournament was all about celebrating his life and raising funds for the family. inside his dorm room on Saturday. 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.