So the only two defendants who are left are the two fraternity brothers former fraternity brothers. On March 12, 2014, Robert had the following text message exchange with his sister: Robert: Im going to kill Stacey (Note: Stacey Meyer was a purported friend of Roberts and girl friend of Delta Sig member Dave Matheny). Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Aired: Sept. 30, 2019 FULL EPISODE: The Crossing Hazing of Robert and Pledge Brothers by Delta Sig View all. In 2017, the fraternity got the court to throw out the rest of the claims against it. The Crossing" features interviews with the family of Robert Eugene Tipton Jr. and former High Point Police Chief Marty Sumner. Will a full pardon follow? (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The chief medical examiner's office ruled Tipton died from drug poisoning. As long as it doesnt happen againJust dont tell anybody what I said over break. Thats enough to fuck me over. Prosecutors argued Cahill, then-29, and Wieneke, 22, had an intense romantic relationship for about a year before Wieneke's death, and during an argument over an alleged affair, she killed him with a baseball bat. Mark Rumsey: To what extent did police and prosecutors investigate Robert Tiptons death? Please subscribe to keep reading. A forensic pathologist hired by Tiptons family says the student instead died from breathing in stomach contents due to a concussion. Matheny and most of the other brothers/pledges heard about what Robert had shared and were upset. Robert: I was upset one night and said I was stressed and she told Dave (Matheny) that I told her Im stressed. When asked whether pledges were pressured by Fraternity members to use hard drugs, including cocaine, with them, or forced by Fraternity members to consume alcohol to the point of extreme intoxications, the testifying pledge invoked his Fifth Amendment Right against self-incrimination and, on the advice of counsel, declined to answer. Araguas is still her lawyer, but Erdahl died from an apparent heart attack on Oct. 2, 2019. State finds issues with public records, open meetings and handling of contract for lawyer, Diamondback to open lunch spot in Innovation Quarter. Delta Sigma Phi: Hazing and Unique Chapter Privileges, High Point Police Department (HPPD): The Investigation, YouTube Narrated PPT Presentation to HPPD (2018), CBS17 Appeals court upholds NC frats dismissal in pledge death. You have permission to edit this article. 19-year-old charged with murder. Tipton, of Memphis, Tenn., pledged Delta Sigma Phi in the spring of 2012. A 2012 graduate of HPU and a Delta Sig pledge during the same time Michael Qubein was pledging provided a detailed affidavit of the hazing which occurred at the hands of Delta Sig. Hechinger: Well, three former security officers at High Point gave affidavits in support of the lawsuit. Back in action: Jeopardy contestant from Winston-Salem returns to show, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. The judge ruled that as a matter of law, the university didnt have whats called a duty of care for a fraternity member in a situation off campus. She just needs to be careful. The detective questioning him is a family friend. Delta Sigma Phi: Hazing and Unique Chapter Privileges, High Point Police Department (HPPD): The Investigation. Rumsey: From your reporting, what are some of the major uncertainties? In September 2018, Bloomberg published a detailed investigative article on Roberts life at High Point University and the Delta Sigma Phi chapter he was pledging. Black Mountain Chocolate to shut down March 11, Two Things: Victim's family not surprised by no show; hospital wars in Greensboro and money well spent, Police close Burke Street to investigate shooting death. The detective questioning him is a family friend. In communicating to friends and family, Robert was less outwardly confident about his physical safety and well-being at Fraternity pledge events. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Keeping in mind Chief Sumners characterization of his Departments homicide structured investigation, lets look at what the HPPD investigators actually did prior to cessation of all further activity within 3 hours of Roberts death. Was he involved in these actions involving either the text messages or the laptop, or both? Robert Tipton, a happy-go-lucky student at High Point University, is found unconscious and later pronounced dead by accidental overdose. Robert Tipton was born on February 10, 1990 and attended . Everyone was reminded to keep their mouths closed. Roberts anxiety and fears were not unwarranted. Hechinger: One of the episodes thats really striking is that after Robert Tiptons body was taken to the hospital, one of his fraternity brothers took his phone, went through his phone and deleted texts with material about what happened at the fraternity. Chief Assistant District Attorney Howard Neumann said the story omits a great deal of factual information, but he declined to elaborate. The transcript has been edited for clarity. Hechinger spoke with All Things Considered host Mark Rumsey. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. However, the states medical examiner said Tiptons physical injuries were mild or superficial. The autopsy report also found that he suffered contusions on his head neck and abdomen that were deemed "superficial or mild in nature" and did not contribute to his death. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. what could they do thats so bad in two hours. When the pledge answered, ha-ha a lot of shit, Robert offered the following reassurance: theyre just going to yell at us a bunch and maybe make us work out or eat something nasty, they cant kill us., In communicating to friends and family, Robert was less outwardly confident about his physical safety and well-being at Fraternity pledge events. Robert was transported to High Point Regional Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead at 11:10am. About 'Dateline' "Dateline NBC" is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 31st season. The universitys statement also notes that a state medical examiner ruled Tiptons death a drug overdose. I dont think she realized how weird they are about stuff. I dont think it was staceys fault tho. Greek life at U.S. colleges and universities has a death toll. Deborah Tipton, Robert Tipton's mother, filed a wrongful death action in Guilford County Superior Court in 2015, a year after the national Delta Sigma Phi fraternity revoked the charter of its HPU chapter. Golden Shellback Crossing of the Equator at the 180th Meridian. Robert also expressed concerns to his sister, Mary, that he would be punished by Delta Sig members. See production, box office & company info. Watch Dateline Episode: The Crossing - NBC.com The Crossing A mother launches an investigation into the sudden death of her son. You can cancel at any time. In 2017, the fraternity got the court to throw out the rest of the claims against it. He was definitely someone who one would think the police would be interested in questioning. Virginia, 2003: Robert Davis, a special-needs individual, makes a false confession to a murder as a teenager. Its been over six years since the body of 22-year old Robert Tipton, a junior at High Point University, was found in the private off-campus apartment of a fraternity brother. March 25, 2014 / 1:49 PM Afterward, they said there just wasnt enough information to reopen the case, and I spoke to an assistant district attorney who said he felt very comfortable that enough had been done. And when the Los Angeles Police Department opens a new cold case unit, the stories the women tell would give detectives a chance to catch a serial killer. It was ruled an accidental drug overdose but she suspects it was something fa. Pledge Master) of Roberts pledge class. Jefferson, who called Robert Tipton his best friend, said hazing was a natural part of Greek life. Please subscribe to keep reading. Man died Wednesday. Hechinger: Thats right. Written in Blood. People at the firm look forward to watching the episode, she said and hope there is a truthful portrayal of what happened within the episode. By Keith Morrison. The state medical examiner listed oxymorphone poisoning as Tipton's cause of death, according to the News & Record. S20 E6941m. S20 E6642m. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Robert: Dont talk to the brothers during this time periodIm in a lot of trouble apparently bc of some thing Stacey said. Hes reported on a number of apparent inconsistencies and troubling details surrounding Tiptons death. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Pledge Master) of Roberts pledge class. [They] deleted all kinds of information about the fraternity about pledging. GREENSBORO, N.C. - The family of a fraternity pledge who died in 2012 is suing North Carolina's High Point University, alleging that hazing led to his death and that school officials had knowledge of the fraternity's conduct. John Hechinger: Well, from the beginning it seems the police were convinced that this was a drug overdose. And what they said is that they were basically told, Stay away from the fraternity stay away from Michael Qubein. Rumsey: Your reporting seems to at least raise the issue of possible favoritism or overlooking of things by investigators in this case because of that connection the fraternity member who [is] the son of the university president. Is it too late to reform fraternities? State appeals court upholds ruling in lawsuit over fraternity pledge's death at High Point University, 'I won't go away': Four years later, a mother wants answers about her son's death after an HPU frat party, New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long- term', says NATO chief Stoltenberg, Finland begins building fence along Russia border, Thousands protest against against Israel judicial reform. Tipton, he said, "knew what he was getting into more than anybody. There is no record Michael received training for this role. READ MORE Dateline Full Episode: The Crossing Robert Tipton, a happy-go-lucky student at High Point University, is found unconscious and later pronounced dead by accidental overdose. Roberts Hall was the backdrop for High Point University's commencement in May 2018. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. You have permission to edit this article. So, that was a whole line of inquiry that wasnt followed. The Devil and Bobbi Parker. Roberts anxiety and fears were not unwarranted. But Roberts family starts to question what really happened. Robert Tipton, a happy-go-lucky student at High Point University, is found unconscious and later pronounced dead by accidental overdose. We have so much going on in February, we just had to put it all in one place. Robert: Dont know. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). If you have any information, please contact us at 866-760-0028. Even delete this text just now. He's convicted but, with the help of his court-appointed lawyer and the Northwestern University Innocence Project, he's granted clemency. Mondays Dateline featured a segment on a High Point University students 2012 death and his mothers continued efforts to prove fraternity hazing killed him rather than the drug overdose cited by the state medical examiner. "Most likely, he sustained a concussion which precipitated the aspiration," the report reads. But Roberts family believes theres more to the story.July 2, 2019. The state Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday the mother of Robert Eugene Tipton Jr. didnt offer sufficient evidence that A $100,000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Roberts death. It was ruled an accidental drug overdose but she suspects it. The episode, which airs at 8 p.m., centers on the 2019 trial of Annette Cahill, tried twice for the . Students will be able to get haircuts and talk weekly with mentors. In that time his father, Dwayne Wixom, said that he has heard many rumors f. Tipton, 22, who was rushing Delta Sigma Phi, was found not breathing in an off-campus apartment on March 26. 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