Ohio prosecutors announced Thursday that eight people have been indicted on a variety of charges related to the death of a 20-year-old Bowling Green State University student after a fraternity hazing incident.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Stone Foltz attended the March 4 off-campus Pi Kappa Alpha event that allegedly involved a drinking ritual, according to his mother, Shari Foltz. Other students reportedly dropped him off at his apartment shortly before midnight that night, and he was found there by friends who called 911. He was pronounced dead on March 7.
Bowling Green permanent banned Pi Kappa Alpha from campus on April 9, two days after Lucas County Coroner Diane Scala-Barnett said that Foltz died of fatal ethanol intoxication and the manner of death was “accident – College fraternity induction ritual.”
Six of the eight face third-degree involuntary manslaughter charges, with one — 2o-year-old Jacob Krinn, Foltz’s fraternity “big brother — is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and felonious assault. Krinn is also charged with hazing, failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, and obstructing official business, WTOL reported.
All eight face charges of hazing and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws. Those are the only charges against 21-year-old Benjamin Boyers, and Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson said those misdemeanor counts against him would be dismissed for now. Aaron Lehane, 21, has been charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing official business in addition to the hazing and the failure to comply counts.
The other defendants, all charged with third-degree involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and failure to comply, are:
- Daylen Dunson, 20: additionally charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing official business,
- Troy Henricksen, 23: additionally charged with reckless homicide and tampering with evidence,
- Canyon Caldwell, 21: additionally charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing official business,
- Niall Sweeney, 21: additionally charged with obstructing official business, and
- Jarrett Prizel, 19: no charges beyond involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and failure to comply.
Dobson said at the news conference on Thursday that additional people could be charged. He said all but one of the eight was a Bowling Green student at the time of the incident — Lehane was not enrolled at the time. Henricksen is no longer a student at the university.
“I want this to be the last time a case like this is prosecuted in Wood County, and please God, let it be the last time it’s prosecuted in the United States,” he said.
Dobson said Krinn, as Foltz’s “big brother,” was “more directly involved” in Foltz’s death and therefore faces more serious charges. He faces a maximum 11 years in prison on the first-degree manslaughter charge.
Attorneys for Foltz’s family released a statement saying they were grateful for the work done by law enforcement and prosecutors and were “confident” justice would be served. But, they said, “today is just one step in the right directly.”
“Swift action also needs to be taken by government officials and university presidents nationwide to abolish fraternity hazing. We are living every parent’s worst nightmare and will not be at peace until fraternity hazing is seen for what it truly is — abuse. It’s unacceptable, and in Stone’s case, it was fatal. How many injuries and deaths will it take for people in positions of power to do the right thing? We demand zero tolerance. Anything less will result in additional innocent lives lost and parents like us pleading for change. “
The eight defendants have all received summonses to appear in court on May 19.
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[Featured image: Stone Foltz/Facebook]
