5 sentenced in hazing death of Bowling Green student

A man who was president of a Bowling Green State University fraternity when student Stone Foltz died during a hazing incident was sentenced Thursday to 21 days in jail.

Daylen Dunson, 22, of Cleveland Heights also was sentenced by a Wood County judge to 28 days of house arrest and three years of probation. Dunson pleaded guilty last month to reckless homicide, tampering with evidence, obstructing justice, obstructing official business, eight counts of misdemeanor hazing, and seven counts regarding providing alcohol to underage persons in connection with the death of Foltz in a hazing incident in 2021.

Four other men were sentenced Thursday for their roles in Foltz’s death. Benjamin Boyers, 21, of Sylvania, received 28 days house arrest, two years of probation; Jarrett Prizel, 19, of Olean, New York, was sentenced to 28 days in jail, 28 days of house arrest, and two years of probation; Niall Sweeney, 21, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 24 days in jail, 28 days of house arrest, and two years of probation; and Aaron Lehane, 21, of Loveland received 28 days of house arrest and two years of probation.

All had agreed to plea deals. Three more men have yet to be sentenced: Jacob Krinn, 21, of Delaware, Ohio; Troy Henricksen, 24, of Grove City; and Canyon Caldwell, 21, of Dublin, Ohio.

“While today’s sentencings may be a conclusion for some of the young men convicted in relation to Stone’s death, there will be no closure for our family until hazing is permanently eradicated on college campuses,” Foltz’s family said in a statement. “Universities and Greek organizations must be held accountable for creating and supporting environments that allow hazing to thrive. Stone and countless other students have been tragically injured or killed because people in power refuse to protect them. We fully intend to take steps to require all Ohio universities to actively enforce their policies so that hazing, which is rampant on their campuses, ends for good. There is no other acceptable alternative for Stone or our family.”

On March 4, Foltz, 20, attended a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity event at an off-campus location, authorities say. Anyone pledging the fraternity had to drink a “handle,” of liquor, which is about 40 1.5 ounce shots.

Foltz was taken back to his house after the event and his roommates found him the following morning. He was first taken to Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, then flown to ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He died three days later after he was put on life support and his family arranged to have his organs donated.

Dunson was the president of the fraternity when Foltz died, Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson said. Dobson said Dunson lied to police when questioned about Foltz’s death and also told others to lie about the fraternity event. He also deleted social-media posts about the event in hopes of hiding it from authorities, Dobson said.

BGSU expelled the fraternity from campus in April 2021.