UPDATE: Heartbroken parents of 18-year-old Sawyer Lee Updike are taking legal action against the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin following their son’s tragic suicide after enduring a brutal hazing ordeal. The couple claims the fraternity’s actions were “cruel, senseless, and preventable.”
On January 16, 2024, Updike died alone in a convenience store parking lot, just months after joining Sigma Chi’s Alpha Nu chapter. His parents, Sheryl Roberts-Updike and Lee J. Updike, allege that their son suffered extreme hazing, including being burned with cigarettes, beaten, and forced to snort cocaine. The lawsuit, filed almost two years after his death, seeks $10 million in damages.
The lawsuit details a harrowing timeline, revealing that Updike arrived at UT Austin in fall 2023 as a promising student. However, by mid-January, he was reportedly coerced into drug use and subjected to demeaning treatment that led to severe psychological distress. One shocking claim includes that fraternity members threatened to sexually assault his girlfriend if he did not comply with their demands.
The couple’s emotional plea highlights the devastating impact of hazing. “I live every day with the weight of his absence,” said Sheryl Roberts-Updike. “What happened to Sawyer was cruel, senseless, and preventable.”
Court documents describe a systematic pattern of violence and abuse that escalated during Updike’s final months. Following hazing events, including being “speared with a fishhook” and pierced with a staple gun, he spiraled into a psychological crisis. Just two weeks into the spring semester, fraternity members allegedly gave him cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, exacerbating his mental state.
The lawsuit underscores the fraternity’s negligence, as it contends that the hazing culture was well-known among its members. “No parent should ever lose a child, and certainly not because of hazing disguised as brotherhood,” Sheryl stated.
In response to the tragedy, Sigma Chi conducted an internal investigation, resulting in the closure of the UT Austin chapter and the expulsion of several members. Sigma Chi International Executive Director Michael J. Church expressed deep sorrow for Updike’s death and called for accountability among those responsible.
As this urgent case unfolds, the Updike family’s fight for justice continues, raising critical questions about hazing practices and accountability in Greek life. Sawyer’s parents are determined to ensure that no other family experiences the heartbreak they endure daily.
This developing story highlights the urgent need for reform in fraternity practices and the protection of students’ well-being in college environments. Authorities and the wider community are watching closely as the legal proceedings begin.
