Three Student Deaths Expose Rise of Unregistered Fraternity Hazing Rings

Three 18-year-old college students have died in 2026 after taking part in fraternity or sorority initiation rituals, part of a pattern that anti-hazing advocates say is worsening despite a 2024 federal law meant to force transparency on campuses.

At least 556 hazing cases were reported nationwide between July 2025 and August 2026, according to data cited by The Post. Rituals described in incident reports and disciplinary letters this year include forcing pledges to swallow live goldfish, waterboarding, and ordering students to bring a squirrel to an initiation meeting.

Freshman Anthony Joseph Blas, 18, died after allegedly pledging Delta Chi at Cal State Fullerton, a chapter the university had already banned over alcohol, drugs and hazing violations. Blas was two weeks into his freshman year when he learned on September 12 he’d been accepted and was invited to the fraternity house that night. He became unresponsive at the event and was dropped off by other students at St. Jude Medical Center just after midnight, where he died.

The Fullerton Police Department attributed his death to suspected alcohol poisoning and said its investigation found no evidence of hazing or foul play. Blas’s family disputes that conclusion. His mother, Linda Blas, said: “Somebody needs to be held responsible for serving liquor.” His twin brother Daniel wrote on social media that his life “is revolved around him” and that “Anthony deserved better going to college.” The family is demanding a “complete and transparent investigation.”

Delta Chi’s national office said it has not operated a recognized chapter at Cal State Fullerton in five years and that the group involved has “not been recognized, chartered, or authorized by the Fraternity since that time.” Cal State Fullerton said in a statement: “Our hearts remain with the family and friends of Anthony Blas. Cal State Fullerton is working closely with the Fullerton Police Department.”

Colin Martinez, 18, died of alcohol poisoning on January 31 at an off-campus rush event for Delta Tau Delta at Northern Arizona University. Martinez and three other pledges were brought to the party with pillowcases over their heads and ordered to share two bottles of vodka. He passed out and was later found dead when police were called the next morning. Carter Eslick, 20, who led the now-defunct chapter, pleaded guilty to felony hazing.

Savanna Jones, 18, died April 30 after allegedly being made to drink an entire bottle of liquor while answering riddles to join the “Turtle Club” at Wilberforce University in Ohio. She became severely intoxicated, vomited and could not stand before being returned to her dorm, where she died. Her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university. Attorney Rex Elliott, who represents the family, said: “Savanna Jones’ death was brought on through a senseless and illegal hazing ritual. Savanna’s young life did not need to end this way. Along with Savanna’s family, we are committed to doing everything we possibly can to end hazing once and for all in this country.”

A pattern advocates call preventable

Jolayne Houtz, whose 19-year-old son Sam Martinez died after being hazed at Washington State University in 2019 while pledging Alpha Tau Omega, has become a leading voice pushing for accountability. She founded HazingInfo, a free public database tracking hazing incidents, to honor her son.

“They’re operating with impunity and nobody is holding them to account. It is intolerable and we need to start treating it like a public health crisis to finally put a stop to it.”

Houtz said the danger is concentrated in groups that no longer answer to any institution. “It is hard to spot in any organization but it’s worse in these unrecognized bodies. It is like Whac-A-Mole to find them and shut them down,” she said, adding she’d like to see schools publish lists of fraternities operating without recognition.

“My heart goes out to these families because these deaths are 100% preventable,” Houtz said. “We have been losing students to hazing since the 1830s and we can’t just let it go on.”

Evelyn Piazza, whose son Tim Piazza died at Penn State in February 2017 in a case that prompted national fraternity reforms, said the trend has reversed. “Hazing has gotten worse since COVID and the degree of hazing has picked up again in terms of dangers and harm,” she told The Post. “I honestly feel like parents still aren’t paying attention or having conversations with their kids to tell them do not let yourself be hazed, you are worth more than that, and do not do any hazing.”

There have been 36 hazing-related deaths since Piazza’s death in 2017. Colleges are now required to track and report hazing incidents under the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed into law in December 2024 — but the recent cases suggest the law has not stopped the underlying behavior.

Recent incidents nationwide

Several disturbing cases have surfaced in the past few weeks alone:

• Pledges at the Sigma Tau Gamma chapter at the University of Arizona were allegedly forced to eat live goldfish and consume large amounts of alcohol while being screamed at and threatened by active members, according to a school disciplinary letter suspending the chapter.
• About 30 partially clothed pledges of Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Wisconsin were found smeared in condiments in a filthy basement on September 23 after police responded to an anonymous tip; some had visible injuries. Fraternity president Brayden J. Klein and vice president Samuel N. Vane, both 20, were arrested on hazing and disorderly conduct charges, both misdemeanors.
• Delta Kappa Epsilon and Phi Gamma Delta chapters at Louisiana State University were suspended after pledges were allegedly waterboarded, forced to chug chocolate milk until they vomited, and told to bring a squirrel to a meeting.
• Video surfaced from the University of Miami in March 2024 showing a student squeezing into a trash can while others spit milk on him.
• In August, 13 Penn State fraternity brothers were arrested for allegedly running a cocaine trafficking operation out of two fraternities, forcing pledges to cut and bag drugs for sale to other students.

Northern Arizona University, Wilberforce University and Delta Chi did not respond to requests for comment.