Wrongful death lawsuit filed against frat
Teen’s parents say son was ‘subjected to extensive hazing.’
Collin Wiant told a friend that he was going to be hazed by fraternity members the night he died last fall, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Epsilon chapter of Sigma Pi at Ohio University.
The complaint, filed in Athens County Common Pleas Court Thursday by Columbus attorney Rex Elliott, claims Wiant was “subjected to extensive hazing” to the point of death.
Wiant, an 18-year-old freshman from Dublin, died on Nov. 12, 2018, of asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion, according to a toxicology report.
The Epsilon chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity and Sigma Pi International are defendants in the lawsuit. Ten John Does are also listed as liable to the plaintiff, the estate of Collin Lewis Wiant — which is overseen by his parents, Wade and Kathleen Wiant.
“This is a very strong family,” Elliott said. “Their objective is to make sure this doesn’t happen to another family.”
The lawsuit details the events that led up to Wiant’s death, including months of hazing by fraternity members.
On Nov. 11 around 8:30 p.m., Wiant went to a couple of campus bars with other fraternity members, according to the complaint. Witnesses said Wiant was acting normal and wasn’t heavily intoxicated.
Just after midnight on Nov. 12, a fraternity member told Wiant to go over to an apartment, the fraternity’s unofficial annex house.
“Before Collin left, he said, ‘I know I’m going to get hazed,’” the complaint said.
A 911 call was made just before 3 a.m. indicating Wiant was unresponsive at the apartment. He was later pronounced dead at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital.
Wiant’s body was found surrounded by drug paraphernalia, including canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as “whippets.”
The lawsuit described the months of hazing before Wiant’s death as physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. Activities included being beaten with a belt, pelted with eggs, deprived of sleep, forced to drink a gallon of alcohol in an hour and being given cocaine, marijuana, Adderall and Xanax. Wiant and other pledges were required to be on call for other fraternity members at all hours of the day, which caused a decline in Wiant’s academic performance and mental health.
The fraternity was ordered to close immediately following Wiant’s death. The chapter remains under a cease and desist order from Ohio University, pending an investigation, said university spokeswoman Carly Leatherwood.
“This is a very sad situation, and our hearts go out to Collin’s family and friends who have been impacted by this tragic loss,” she said.