The Wood County Grand Jury issued a new indictment in the alleged hazing death of Bowling Green State University student Stone Foltz in March.
Benjamin Boyers, of Sylvania, was indicted on felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. He also faces misdemeanor charges of hazing and violations of the underage drinking law, specifically for allowing the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on his premises. Each of the felony charges carries a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Boyer originally faced misdemeanor charges in the case, but Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson dropped those saying his office would focus on felony charges.
However, new information prompted the prosecutor to re-present the charges to the grand jury.
In the statement on Boyers’ indictment, Dobson stated: “It is alleged, after the police became involved, member of the fraternity and others engaged in disposing of or eliminating physical and digital evidence to thwart the investigation. It is also alleged that several involved individuals provided false information to police.”
Foltz was found unresponsive at his home on March 4 after participating in an off-campus Big/Little event hosted by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He died several days later.
Seven students, all active or former members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity involved in the alleged incident, are facing criminal charges. All pleaded not guilty when arraigned in Wood County Common Pleas Court in May.
The Foltz family has filed a wrongful death civil suit in Franklin County against 10 named individuals and other unnamed “John Does.” Foltz was from Delaware. Boyers identified in the suit as the chapter’s sergeant at arms is among those named in the suit.
BGSU expelled three students, suspended 17, and gave another a deferred suspension.
Pi Kappa Alpha has been banned from campus.
Rex Elliott and Sean Alto, of Cooper Elliott, the law firm representing the Foltz family, issued the following statement: “The hazing death of Stone Foltz reveals the abuse that takes place at colleges and universities across the county and the extent individuals and organizations will go to cover up their actions. It’s a despicable cycle that will continue to happen until we hold people who haze accountable and institutions take action to eradicate hazing for good. We thank the Wood County Prosecutor for his unwavering commitment to this case, and we trust the legal process will deliver a just outcome. “
