The parents of a Bowling Green State University student in Ohio, who lost his life during a hazing incident, are pushing for justice and criminal charges.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Stone Foltz, 20, died on March 7 after a reported hazing incident at the school. The family’s lawyer, Rex Elliott, said that Stone was dropped off at his apartment at around 11 or 11:30 p.m. on the night in question, after he attended the off-campus Pi Kappa Alpha event.
While speaking with Good Morning America, Stone’s mother, Shari Foltz, said she began worrying a few weeks prior, after her son’s fraternity wouldn’t let him leave campus until 2 a.m. to drive home for the weekend.
A few weeks later, Shari spoke to Stone on March 4, and he told her he had to participate in a drinking ritual that evening at around 9 p.m.
“I’m like, ‘How’s it going?’ He’s like, ‘Well, hasn’t started yet. It doesn’t start till nine,'” she recalled. “I said, ‘Well, then I’ll call you at 10 to check up on it.’ I never made that call.”
Shari said she never heard from her son again. Law enforcement later told the parents that Stone became unresponsive after a night of drinking.
“He was found not breathing,” Stone’s father, Cory, said. “They had to revive him and he [was] on a ventilator, keeping him alive.”
Sean was admitted to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he remained on life support for four days. He eventually passed away after a doctor declared him brain dead.
Stone’s parents claim their son was forced to drink excessively as part of a hazing incident, which ultimately cost him his life.
“Shut everything down and make the fraternity show that they have a zero-tolerance and there’s guidelines you need to follow,” Cory said. “Every day that goes by, there’s a chance there could be another Stone Foltz out there.”
Elliott told GMA that the family will now push for criminal charges. The parents are also pushing for the suspension for all fraternities and sororities until stricter measures are placed on hazing rules, with harsher punishments.
Meanwhile, the school placed the fraternity on interim suspension while police continue to investigate the incident. All on- and off-campus social events of all fraternity and sorority chapters are currently suspended.
“There is a piece of my heart that’s gone. It’s just unimaginable, I can’t even explain to you,” Shari said. “The outcome is he was murdered.”
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[Feature Photo: Stone Foltz/Facebook]
