UPDATE: Heartbroken parents of 18-year-old Sawyer Lee Updike have filed a lawsuit against Sigma Chi Fraternity following their son’s tragic suicide, which they claim was the result of a horrific hazing ordeal. The lawsuit, filed on November 22, 2025, accuses the fraternity of creating a culture of violence and coercion that led to Updike’s psychological collapse and death.
Just months after joining the Alpha Nu chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, Updike died alone in a convenience store parking lot on January 16, 2024. His parents, Sheryl Roberts-Updike and Lee J. Updike, allege that their son’s hazing involved brutal acts including being burned with cigarettes, beaten, and forced to consume illegal drugs.
The lawsuit describes a pattern of systematic hazing that allegedly included being “speared with a fishhook” and threatened with sexual assault against his girlfriend if he failed to comply with fraternity demands. “What happened to Sawyer was cruel, senseless, and preventable,” said his mother, Sheryl, in a statement.
The filing claims that by the start of the spring semester, Updike was in a full-blown psychological crisis, exacerbated by fraternity members providing him with cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. Reports indicate that following these incidents, he left the house intoxicated and ultimately took his life shortly thereafter.
“Every day I live with the weight of his absence,” Sheryl added, illustrating the devastating emotional toll on the family. The Updikes are seeking justice, holding the fraternity accountable for their son’s death, which they argue stemmed from a culture of hazing that was both known and encouraged by older fraternity members.
The lawsuit demands $2 million in damages, emphasizing that no parent should have to endure the loss of a child due to such preventable circumstances. The allegations have prompted significant attention across the nation, reigniting discussions about fraternity culture and hazing practices in universities.
In response to the allegations, Sigma Chi released a statement expressing regret for Updike’s death and confirming that the UT Austin chapter has been closed following an internal investigation. Several members were expelled for their roles in the hazing incidents. Sigma Chi’s Executive Director, Michael J. Church, stated, “Our central principles call us to hold each other to the highest possible standards… Any individual who fails to do so betrays not only himself but also his brothers.”
The Updike family’s heartbreaking ordeal highlights the urgent need for reform in collegiate Greek life, as they urge the public to recognize the severe consequences of hazing. The lawsuit is poised to challenge longstanding practices within fraternities, and the Updikes hope their case will prevent further tragedies.
As this case develops, expect ongoing coverage and updates. The implications of this lawsuit could lead to significant changes in how fraternities operate and how universities address hazing.
