The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. BATESVILLE, Ark. Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from theFirst Community BankNewsroom onArkansas 103.3. James said his son hoped to bring the town of Batesville a championship. Here's the list! Print Headline: Family sues in student's 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 court Thursday. The move is a sort-of coming home for us, said Nuwer. of Little Rock, and Wilcox & Averitt, PLC of Jonesboro. Read his musings in his column "Golden Heart Tales" in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Police in Batesville have now released the name of the person found dead in a dorm room at Lyon College this weekend. As a journalist, hes written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. The family is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward. Looking for James Gilfedder online? James "Big Country Gilfedder" played for Yucaipa HS his senior year, 2020. 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. (877) WASH-DC-1, Free Phone Consultation Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. Lyon College Student Found Dead, Family Suspects Foul Play, A student at Lyon College in Arkansas, 19-year-old. The college said it provided counseling to students after the death and would work to help people impacted by the death. 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. Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse, U.S. Hazing Deaths Database Part 1: 1838-1999, Hank Nuwer Author Page; Hazing Deaths Database. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staton Breidenthal). 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. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. "He only drank a fifth of vodka; that would not kill my son." 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. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. The resident assistant claimed they found him very intoxicated and wandering the campus, so they brought him back to his room, the document states. 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. Gilfedder died in early 2021 after he was found dead in his dorm room. Somebody hurt him. Website design and development by Legendary Lion Creative Agency. Cockrill said the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. According to Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill, around 12:38 p.m. Saturday, the department was dispatched to the Lyon. Copyright 2022 KAIT. 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. An autopsy showed that Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was .357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. An hour and a half later, it was determined that Gilfedder was unresponsive and students notified the resident assistant, the documents state. Somebody did something. 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. A web design company. 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. 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. . Somebody killed him. 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 27-page lawsuit says this is an action for injuries, conscious pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of life and wrongful death.. There are plenty of cheap colleges in the US here are the most affordable public and private ones. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. (202) 351-0510 | Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his After Darke column in the Early Bird. More information has been released in the death of a Lyon College student found over the weekend on campus. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there. The younger James Gilfedder, who was 19, died Jan. 30 after attending a party with the Lyon College baseball team. The Batesville Police Department arrived on the scene around 12:38 pm and began an investigation. (877) WASH-DC-1. While still waiting for the autopsy results, Gilfedders family suspects his death is the result of a hazing event gone wrong. 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. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. 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. Police say three people of interest have been developed, after interviews were conducted by police on student athletes at Lyon College. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. 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 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. Have a news tip or event to promote? The documents say the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. 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. Free Phone Consultation 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. 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. Giles mother is planning to fly to California to attend her daughters memorial service. 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. Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill said an autopsy showed Gilfedder died of severe alcohol intoxication and that the death was ruled as accidental. Students claim they left Gilfedder passed out on the floor of his Lyon College dorm room around 2 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021. The autopsy results said Gilfedder died from alcohol intoxication an accidental death. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to People that the case is . All rights reserved. For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health,click here. James Aaron Gilfedder III, 19, of Batesville, Arkansas, formerly Yucaipa, California, passed away on January 30, 2021. 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. All rights reserved. The autopsy is designed to determine the cause of death, properly document findings, and collect evidence. Somebody killed him," Nikki Gilfedder told the Little Rock TV station. 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 person Gilfedder went to the party with said he fell asleep in the car on the way home from the party, court documents state. Who can say no to quick money? Batesville Police Chief Alan Cockrill told KATV that Gilfedder went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. 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. When reached for comment, Lyon College officials referred to its statement from January 2021 from then-President W. Joseph King about the situation. 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. Found deceased was 19-year-old James Gilfedder III of Yucaipa, Cal., a freshman on the Lyon College baseball team. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. 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. 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. went to a party with the schools baseball team prior to his death. The best part-time jobs for college students will beef up your resume (and, more importantly, your wallet) without sacrificing your grades. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Cabrales-Arzola allegedly responded Yes. My son went through a lot of trauma. Learn how your comment data is processed. All rights reserved. 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. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, Nikki said. Gilfedder was a freshman at the. The reality star, 42, cracked up as she joined departing . Due to an ongoing police investigation, an autopsy and pending toxicology report, there is not yet an official cause of death. 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." 2023 Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Clearinghouse. 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. He only drank a fifth of vodka that would not kill my son, she told KATV. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 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." These boys are out here playing baseball. The parents traveled to Arkansas from California this week to learn about. Police are Investigating the On-Campus Shooting Death of a UArizona Sophomore as a Homicide. LITTLE ROCK (KATV) The Batesville Police Department has identified a Lyon College student that was found dead in his dorm room over the weekend. 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. Gilfedder, a freshman student-athlete at Lyon College, was found dead in his dorm room earlier this year. Lyon College declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results before submitting their evidence to the prosecutor for possible charges. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He was born in Palm Springs, California on July 19, 2001 to parents James II and Nicole Gilfedder. Im just sick to my stomach. 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. We were hoping because it was a dry county, no alcohol, that things were going to be good, Nikki said. James was raised in Yucaipa and graduated from Yucaipa High School in 2020. Therefore, a person or entity can be held liable for providing alcohol to a minor for damages sustained by the intoxicated minor.. The resident assistant did not check on him again that night and found him dead the next day, according to the document. Click to open player flyout to access more features. Batesville police told KATVs content partner KAIT Region 8 News, that student-athletes were interviewed and there are three persons of interest. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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. He said the family is waiting on a death certificate before they can bring their sons remains home with them to California. 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. James Gilfedder, 19, of Lyon College in Arkansas was found dead in his dorm room from alcohol intoxication. Email White River Now atnews@whiterivernow.com. Chief Cockrill said the victim was identified as James Aaron Gilfedder. The resident assistant said Gilfedder was found "very intoxicated" and wandering the campus, so he was brought back to his room, the document states. 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 hurt him. 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. Somebody reach out to us and tell us what happened, tell us what happened, Nikki said. The house was being rented by other members of the baseball team. 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. Somebody hurt him. 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. Somebody killed him. Ive lost so much sleep. (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. 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. I mean he wasnt innocent, but that wouldnt have killed him. Somebody hurt him. 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. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staton Breidenthal). These men did something to subdue and keep my daughter in their apartment for 10 to 12 hours, Dusty Giles said. "It means a lot to us that our daughter touched so many in her short, but yet wonderful, extraordinary life," she said. He died in a dorm. The home is believed to have been partially owned by Lyon College's baseball coach Jacob Huffman, documents state. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. An autopsy showed Gilfedder's blood alcohol content was 0.357% and that the cause of his death was acute alcohol intoxication. The court filing noted that the Gilfedder family is represented by two law firms: Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A. "Gilly" was a kind and charismatic young man who was a team favorite and genuine friend to many. Cilliers said their iCloud account shows that no further messages were sent or checked from Giles phone. https://www.kait8.com/2021/02/05/report-family-lyon-college-student-suspects-foul-play-death/. Here are 67 side hustles perfect for hard-working college students with tight student budgets! Has your state launched one yet? "Somebody did something. And dont forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Batesville police say they have interviewed students, but will not have much information until the toxicology report comes back. To find out more about the aforementioned records, call the California Department of Public health at 916-445-2684. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Mystery continues to surround the model and aspiring actress death after the 24-year-old and her designer friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. A 19-year-old Lyon College student was found dead in his dorm on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to police. Autopsy results released for Lyon baseball player. 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. Lyon College has not responded for comment yet. After attending the party, where he consumed alcoholic beverages, he was found deceased, lying on the floor in his dorm room. Lyon College said Friday that the institution cannot comment on pending litigation. Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. At the time of Gilfedder's death, the president of the. 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. I havent been able to sleep. 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. Click below for more info from White River Now. I feel like I participated in his murder because I brought him here, James said. 10 min away.. 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 bruised body of James Gilfedder is undergoing an autopsy at this time while his teammates continue to play. Somebody killed him," Nikki Gilfedder, James' mother, 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. (202) 351-0510 | 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. Officers and emergency medical services arrived on scene and pronounced 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California dead at the scene, according to Cockrill. Choosing a college major is always tricky so which of the most expensive college majors are actually worth the investment? The Gilfedders were especially saddened to learn the circumstances surrounding their son's death. The family said that Rainwater Holt & Sexton to are set to represent them. 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. 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 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. 19-year-old James Gilfedder of California. Ill call an Uber. 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 documents allege the college and the coach were aware of the hazing of new teammates, including Gilfedder. Batesville police say he had last attended an off-campus party at a home rented by a few of his teammates. Somebody did something. KATV reached out to Batesville police and they said no new information would come out until the autopsy was complete. The home is believed. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Get the latest news about higher education in the US straight to your inbox. 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. Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/103.0.5060.114 Safari/537.36, Cedar Ridge to face Earle after win over Ozark Mountain; Pink Out tonight, Flood warning issued until late Monday for Independence County. Gilfedder had attended a pre-season party at a house on Boles Street in east Batesville, near the Lyon College campus. The suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. Just after 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon, he was found unresponsive in his dorm room and later pronounced dead. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. 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. Another way to request for California Death Records is through online public databases. 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 suit does not cite a specific monetary figure. Have a news tip or event to promote? Spice up your get-togethers with these top 27 fresh college party themes full of dancing, fun activities, and stunning photos for Instagram.