Another Page from the Playbook of Violence, Deception, and Cowardice in the Hazing Death of Caleb Wilson

Dr Jason L. MeriwetherCaleb Wilson’s life was stolen while pledging Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. What purpose was served by repeatedly punching the 20-year-old engineering major, and 8 others, in the chest? Where was the promise of brotherhood when fraternity members fabricated a story about playing basketball to protect their letters instead of Caleb’s life? Despite the outrage following the February 2025 tragedy, the circumstances of this incident are sadly familiar.

There are numerous cases where lives could have been saved by calling for help instead of hiding evidence or failing to act in a timely manner. Tyler Hilliard, Stone Foltz, Harrison Kowiak, and Michael Deng died under such circumstances. 

The playbook to violently haze then distort the truth to protect the fraternity isn’t new.

Letters Over Life

Max Gruver died in 2017 with a .496 blood alcohol level caused by a drinking ritual while pledging Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at Louisiana State University. Among the four criminally sentenced, Matthew Naquin faced evidence tampering charges for deleting hundreds of text messages and photographs. Naquin received 2 ½ years in prison, probation, a fine, and community service.

In 2017, Timothy Piazza was pledging Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at Penn State University. Following alcohol-fueled hazing, members waited 40 minutes to seek medical help after discovering Piazza unconscious. Brendan Young and Daniel Casey, who led the rituals, pled guilty and were sentenced to two to four months in prison, probation, work release, and community service. Twenty-six others faced a range of hazing and alcohol charges, mostly resulting in probation and community service. In 2019, The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research was founded to provide hazing prevention resources.

Tyler Hilliard died in 2018 while pledging my organization, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., at the University of California Riverside. When confronted at the hospital by his mother, Myesha Kimble Hilliard, chapter members lied, claiming Tyler had simply passed out before a hike, not disclosing a violent "Golden Paddle" ritual. Most fraternity members and pledges have remained silent, invoking their Fifth amendment rights. Hilliard’s family led the crusade for Tyler’s Law, which expands the ability for California families to sue schools, instead of limiting hazing lawsuits to individuals.