Pullman Police Chief Jenkins drops the ball in Big-Little death. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. James Gilfedder, 19, of Lyon College in Arkansas was found dead in his dorm room from alcohol intoxication. Free Phone Consultation Batesville police told KATVs content partner KAIT Region 8 News, that student-athletes were interviewed and there are three persons of interest. Due to an ongoing police investigation, an autopsy and pending toxicology report, there is not yet an official cause of 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. 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. Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse, U.S. Hazing Deaths Database Part 1: 1838-1999, Hank Nuwer Author Page; Hazing Deaths Database. Somebody killed 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. According to Cockrill, multiple interviews with Lyon College athletes have been conducted so far in the course of the investigation inside his dorm room on Saturday. Now the family is left with just their memories, anger and so many questions. Website design and development by Legendary Lion Creative Agency. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. (202) 351-0510 | 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. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Students said they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill told White River Now the results from the Arkansas State Crime Labs autopsy on James Gilfedder were recently received. James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! James said his son hoped to bring the town of Batesville a championship. Somebody did something. A web design company. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. BATESVILLE, Ark. 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. 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 resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. TCU Fraternity on Probation After Investigation Into Car Crash. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The Gilfedder family is also asking Lyon, Huffman and Huffmania Ventures to respond to the lawsuit within 30 days. 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. All rights reserved. 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. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. He wanted to be a doctor or (a) professional baseball player, Nikki said. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the. 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 autopsy is designed to determine the cause of death, properly document findings, and collect evidence. 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. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. 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. They are doing the code of silence. 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. All rights reserved. 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. (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. 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. Somebody killed him," Nikki Gilfedder told the Little Rock TV station. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. Yes, I think it was an initiation that went out of control, James said. Who can say no to quick money? "Somebody did something. (The) kids got alcohol, they got drugs at that house. More information has been released in the death of a Lyon College student found over the weekend on campus. Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from theFirst Community BankNewsroom onArkansas 103.3. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. As a journalist, hes written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. . 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 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 and Nikki Gilfedder, the parents of the victim, spoke in an interview with KATV that aired on Thursday night. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Mystery continues to surround the model and aspiring actress death after the 24-year-old and her designer friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. The California kid was dubbed Big Country by all his friends for wearing a cowboy hat and driving a large truck. 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 Police Chief Alan Cockrill said the. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedder's family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. Have a news tip or event to promote? 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California was attending Lyon College to play first base on the men's baseball team. Have a news tip or event to promote? Giles mother is planning to fly to California to attend her daughters memorial service. The move is a sort-of coming home for us, said Nuwer. https://www.kait8.com/2021/02/05/report-family-lyon-college-student-suspects-foul-play-death/. 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 College Post is part of Globe Post Media, a US digital news organization publishing the worlds best targeted news sites. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Its destroyed our whole family. The parents traveled to Arkansas from California this week to learn about. And the witnesses that havent spoke up, I suggest you speak because I dont want to see you guys in prison, Gilfedder said. Example video title will go here for this video. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. 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. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. Region 8 News will have more details as they become available. A college degree doesn't need to drain your finances. 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 did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Spice up your get-togethers with these top 27 fresh college party themes full of dancing, fun activities, and stunning photos for Instagram. 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. . My son went through a lot of trauma. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. Somebody hurt him. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. Somebody hurt him. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. Gilfedder went to a friend's house on Friday night, Jan. 29, and at some point in the night, consumed alcohol, according to police. Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. James was raised in Yucaipa and graduated from Yucaipa High School in 2020. Has your state launched one yet? Here are 67 side hustles perfect for hard-working college students with tight student budgets! For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health,click here. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Here's the list! Another way to request for California Death Records is through online public databases. 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.. Looking for James Gilfedder online? Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. Read his musings in his column "Golden Heart Tales" in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 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 lawsuit said the autopsy revealed the blood alcohol content of Gilfedder was .357% and the cause of death was acute alcohol intoxication.. However, no proof of foul play has been confirmed as of now, since Batesville police and Lyon College have not released any new information. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. 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. Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning and afternoon from theFirst Community BankNewsroom onArkansas 103.3. "Somebody did something. 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. "Gilly" was a kind and charismatic young man who was a team favorite and genuine friend to many. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. Streaming Stations: Click to open player flyout to access more . Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. 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. 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." LITTLE ROCK (KATV) The Batesville Police Department has identified a Lyon College student that was found dead in his dorm room over the weekend. The resident assistant claimed they found him very intoxicated and wandering the campus, so they brought him back to his room, the document states. The documents do not specify a quantity or a time frame of the incident in question. 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 Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. 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. 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.. There are plenty of cheap colleges in the US here are the most affordable public and private ones. 10 min away.. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. James Gilfedder, 19, of California was found unresponsive on Saturday around 12:38 p.m. according to Cockrill's statement. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. 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. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. The bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. He was born in Palm Springs, California on July 19, 2001 to parents James II and Nicole Gilfedder. The documents allege the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. 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. 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. KATV reached out to Batesville police and they said no new information would come out until the autopsy was complete. Cilliers said their iCloud account shows that no further messages were sent or checked from Giles phone. Cabrales-Arzola allegedly responded Yes. James Aaron Gilfedder III, 19, of Batesville, Arkansas, formerly Yucaipa, California, passed away on January 30, 2021. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Lyon College said Friday that the institution cannot comment on pending litigation. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Sunday's cornhole tournament was all about celebrating his life and raising funds for the family. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. (877) WASH-DC-1. 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. Im just sick to my stomach. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. The college reminded students about the colleges counseling center and chaplains office offering support following his death. 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.. The college said it provided counseling to students after the death and would work to help people impacted by the death. 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 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. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old James Gilfedder, was found dead inside his dorm room on Saturday. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. An autopsy showed Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was 0.357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. 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 documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. Oct. 1, 2021 - Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is enforcing strict health protocols to . Gilfedder was a freshman at the. 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. An autopsy showed that Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was .357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. "Somebody did something.. 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. They have a game tomorrow and I have to go bury my son, James 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. 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. Model Christy Giles Is Dead And Family Suspects Foul Play, A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to. The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. BATESVILLE, Ark. 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. 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. We were hoping because it was a dry county, no alcohol, that things were going to be good, Nikki said. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. 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. At the time of Gilfedder's death, the president of the. Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. Copyright 2022 KAIT. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results before submitting their evidence to the prosecutor for possible charges. 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. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on93 KZLE,Outlaw 106.5, andYour FM 99.5. His new book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. 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. Click below for more info from White River Now. The younger James Gilfedder, who was 19, died Jan. 30 after attending a party with the Lyon College baseball team. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Batesville police confirmed the party was held at a home partially owned by a baseball coach at Lyon College and all the renters are baseball players there.