After reading a list of indictments on Thursday, Prosecutor Paul Dobson of Wood County charged eight men, who were sophomore students at Bowling Green State University, with the death of Stone Foltz in a hazing incident.
“During the Thursday afternoon conference at County Wood Courthouse, Dobson expressed with utmost seriousness, ‘Let it be known that the United States is prosecuting this case, God willing, just like the last time it was prosecuted in Wood County. My hope is that this time will be as successful as the last.'”
Shari and Cory Foltz, along with his aunt, DJ Williams, were standing behind Dobson.
The charges are as listed:
Convictions for first-degree manslaughter can result in a maximum sentence of 11 years behind bars.
At the time of the tragic hazing incident, seven of the eight men accused were currently enrolled at Bowling Green State University.
Foltz, 20, a 2019 graduate of Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware County’s Troy Township, consumed a substantial quantity of alcohol, as reported by his family’s attorney, which led to his hospitalization on March 5.
Foltz passed away on March 7 due to lethal alcohol poisoning.
“Big Brother Night,” a common event in fraternities around this time of year, involves the introduction of active fraternity members being introduced to pledges who will serve as their big brother or mentor. This tradition is held by Alpha Kappa Pi, the chapter of BGSU, and was mentioned by Dobson during the press conference held on the night of March.
As part of the initiation into the fraternity, other pledges and Foltz were compelled to consume approximately 40 shots, which is equivalent to a substantial amount of hard liquor.
Dobson stated that his office holds the view that this was a yearly occurrence.
“This was not a gathering where initiation rituals took place… Initiation rituals were a fundamental aspect of this occasion,” Dobson stated.
Foltz’s brother, Krinn, dropped him off at his apartment that night, and half an hour later, his roommate found him unconscious and called 911. He was a member of a big fraternity.
“From the beginning to the end,” Krinn was more directly involved in Foltz’s death than Dobson and the other men, which is why he was charged more severely, said Dobson.
Many of the members of the PIKE fraternity who attended the event tried to dispose of evidence after Foltz was taken to the hospital. Dobson emphasized that this is an ongoing investigation and that there are additional individuals involved who still need to be recognized.
Dobson said, “If you don’t even attempt to be a part of the solution, you will be identified as a part of the problem.”
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Family and attorney urge once more for an end to fraternity initiation rituals.
Rex Elliot, the attorney for the Foltz family, stated that these indictments are a “crucial initial measure” in eradicating
He expressed, “Otherwise it won’t cease, there must be grave repercussions for this conduct.” “Our mission is to ensure that no other young life is wasted,” he stated.
Elliot stated that it is essential to implement drastic reforms to put an end to hazing, which includes adopting nationwide policies of zero tolerance for hazing in universities and colleges, as failure to comply with these policies could result in permanent bans for organizations.
He expressed, “We are not going to stop until there is a dramatic reform to prevent these deaths and injuries.” He stated, “I believe that the only way to stop this senseless type of death and injury is through this ongoing effort.”
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According to their attorneys, Stone’s parents, Shari and Cory Foltz, expressed their gratitude in the announcement, stating that these indictments are merely the initial step.
Will we do the right thing? Will people in positions of power take it upon themselves to demand zero tolerance for abuse? How many deaths and injuries will it take for us to see that hazing is truly unacceptable, until peace can be found in fraternity? We are living every parent’s worst nightmare.
Shendrix@dispatch.Com.
@Sheridan120.