Hazing Victims in Osage County, Missouri: Your Rights, Your Recovery
This Could Happen at Any College Near Osage County — And It Probably Already Has
Osage County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities to protect their students. They believe that Greek organizations like fraternities and sororities are about brotherhood, sisterhood, and leadership—not abuse, torture, and life-threatening injuries.
But the truth is hazing is happening right now at colleges and universities near Osage County, Missouri. And if your child has been hazed, they may be afraid to speak up—just like Leonel Bermudez was.
Leonel Bermudez wasn’t even a student at the University of Houston yet when he was recruited by Pi Kappa Phi. He was a “ghost rush”—a prospective member expected to transfer for the spring 2026 semester. He wanted to join a brotherhood. Instead, he was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
This didn’t happen in some distant state. This happened in Missouri’s neighboring region—just hours from Osage County. And if it can happen there, it can happen at any college near Osage County.
Hazing Isn’t “Tradition”—It’s Abuse. And It’s Illegal in Missouri.
Many people think hazing is just “boys being boys” or “part of the experience.” But Missouri law says otherwise.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 578.360 defines hazing as:
“Any activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization.”
This includes:
✅ Forced physical activity (like 500 squats, bear crawls, or extreme workouts)
✅ Forced consumption of alcohol or food (binge drinking, eating until vomiting)
✅ Psychological abuse (humiliation, sleep deprivation, threats)
✅ Physical violence (paddling, beatings, waterboarding)
✅ Sexual humiliation or assault
In Missouri, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor—punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine. If hazing causes serious injury or death, it becomes a felony.
And here’s the most important part: Consent is NOT a defense.
Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Missouri law says they cannot legally consent to being hazed. The fraternity, sorority, or organization is still liable.
Who Is Responsible When Hazing Happens Near Osage County?
If your child has been hazed, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible:
1. The Local Chapter (Fraternity/Sorority at the College)
- Directly organized and conducted the hazing
- Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, risk manager) are personally liable
- Members who participated can be sued individually
2. The National Organization (Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc.)
- Failed to supervise the local chapter
- Knew about hazing risks but did nothing
- Have deep pockets and insurance policies
3. The University (University of Missouri, Missouri State, etc.)
- Failed to protect students despite knowing hazing occurs
- May own or control the fraternity/sorority house (premises liability)
- Have institutional insurance and substantial resources
4. Individual Members & Alumni
- Participated in hazing
- Hosted hazing events at their homes
- Can be held personally liable for damages
What Can Osage County Families Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit?
If your child has been hazed, they may be entitled to compensation for:
💰 Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)
- Medical bills (ER visits, hospital stays, therapy, future treatment)
- Lost wages (time missed from work or internships)
- Educational costs (tuition refunds, scholarship losses)
- Future medical expenses (if injuries require long-term care)
😢 Non-Economic Damages (Pain, Suffering, Trauma)
- Physical pain from injuries (rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns)
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse)
- Humiliation and shame (from forced activities, sexual humiliation)
- Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
🏛️ Punitive Damages (Punishing the Defendants)
- Awarded when conduct is extremely reckless or intentional
- Meant to punish the organization and deter future hazing
- Can be millions of dollars in egregious cases
Recent hazing settlements and verdicts nationwide:
- $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)
- $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta, LSU)
- $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)
Your child’s case could be worth just as much—especially if the hazing was extreme or caused permanent harm.
What Should Osage County Families Do If Their Child Has Been Hazed?
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis from extreme exercise) can be life-threatening
- Go to the ER or urgent care even if injuries seem minor—some symptoms (like kidney failure) appear days later
- Document everything—keep all medical records, bills, and doctor’s notes
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (take screenshots before they disappear)
- Photograph injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling)
- Write down everything your child remembers (dates, locations, who was involved)
- Get names and contact info of witnesses (other pledges, bystanders)
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing or incriminating
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative
- They may pressure your child to sign documents waiving their rights
- They may destroy evidence if they think a lawsuit is coming
- Anything your child says can be used against them
✅ Step 4: Report the Hazing
- File a police report (hazing is a crime in Missouri)
- Report to the university’s Title IX office (if sexual harassment or assault occurred)
- Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization
✅ Step 5: Contact an Experienced Hazing Lawyer
- Time is critical—Missouri has a 5-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence disappears fast
- Do NOT wait—the sooner you act, the stronger your case will be
- We offer free, confidential consultations—no upfront cost
Why Osage County Families Should Choose Attorney 911
🔥 We’re Already Fighting This Battle—And Winning
Right now, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
We know how to win these cases. And we can win for Osage County families too.
🏛️ We Have Federal Court Authority—We Can Sue Anywhere in the U.S.
- Based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, but we serve hazing victims nationwide
- Licensed in Texas and New York—strategic advantage for suing national fraternities
- Admitted to U.S. District Court—can pursue federal civil rights claims
- We will travel to Osage County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
💼 We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
- We know how they try to minimize claims
- We know how to dismantle their defenses
- We’ve won millions for victims—and we’ll do the same for Osage County families
📞 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline—We’re Here When You Need Us
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 anytime—day or night
- Free consultation—no obligation
- No upfront costs—we only get paid if we win your case
- Se habla español—we serve Spanish-speaking families
Fraternities Near Osage County with Hazing Histories
Many national fraternities with documented hazing deaths and injuries have chapters at colleges near Osage County, Missouri.
🚨 Pi Kappa Phi (University of Missouri, Missouri State, etc.)
- 2017: Andrew Coffey died from forced alcohol consumption (Florida State)
- 2025: Leonel Bermudez hospitalized with kidney failure (University of Houston) — OUR CURRENT CASE
- Known for: Waterboarding, extreme physical punishment, forced eating
🚨 Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) (University of Missouri, Missouri S&T, etc.)
- 2011: George Desdunes died from alcohol poisoning (Cornell)
- 2014: Chemical burns case at Texas A&M
- Known for: Forced drinking, physical abuse
🚨 Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) (University of Missouri, Missouri State, etc.)
- 2021: Stone Foltz died from forced alcohol consumption (Bowling Green State) — $10.1M settlement
- Known for: Extreme drinking rituals, physical punishment
🚨 Beta Theta Pi (University of Missouri, etc.)
- 2017: Timothy Piazza died after fall during hazing (Penn State) — $110M+ settlement
- Known for: “The Gauntlet” drinking ritual, physical abuse
🚨 Phi Delta Theta (University of Missouri, etc.)
- 2017: Maxwell Gruver died from forced drinking (LSU) — $6.1M verdict
- Known for: “Bible Study” drinking game, extreme physical punishment
🚨 Kappa Sigma (University of Missouri, etc.)
- 2011: Harrison Kowiak died from hazing (Lenoir-Rhyne)
- 2021: Danny Santulli blinded and brain-damaged from hazing (University of Missouri) — $2.2M settlement
- Known for: Extreme physical abuse, forced drinking
What Happens If Your Child Was Hazed at the University of Missouri?
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) has a long history of hazing incidents, including the 2021 Danny Santulli case, where a Kappa Sigma pledge was blinded and suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking.
Mizzou’s Greek Life Problem:
- 2021: Danny Santulli (Kappa Sigma) — blinded, brain-damaged from forced drinking
- 2019: Sigma Nu suspended for hazing
- 2018: Phi Delta Theta suspended for hazing
- 2017: Sigma Phi Epsilon suspended for hazing
If your child was hazed at Mizzou, we can help.
- Mizzou has institutional knowledge of hazing risks
- They have failed to protect students despite prior incidents
- They have substantial insurance and assets to compensate victims
Hazing Isn’t Just a Fraternity Problem—It Happens in Sororities, Sports, and More
Hazing doesn’t just happen in fraternities. It occurs in:
✅ Sororities (forced drinking, humiliation, sleep deprivation)
✅ Sports teams (physical abuse, extreme workouts, alcohol rituals)
✅ Marching bands (physical punishment, humiliation)
✅ ROTC and military groups (extreme physical training, psychological abuse)
✅ Honor societies and clubs (initiation rituals, humiliation)
If your child was hazed in any organization, we can help.
The Time to Act Is Now—Before Evidence Disappears
Hazing organizations destroy evidence fast. They:
- Delete text messages and social media posts
- Pressure witnesses to stay silent
- Hide or destroy pledge manuals and schedules
- Claim “it was just a prank”
Missouri’s statute of limitations for personal injury is 5 years, but evidence disappears in days.
If your child has been hazed, call us NOW at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Osage County Families: You Are Not Alone. We Will Fight for You.
Hazing is not your child’s fault. They were coerced, manipulated, and abused by people they trusted.
We are Attorney 911—Legal Emergency Lawyers™—and we are ready to fight for Osage County families.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Today
📧 Email ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront costs. We only get paid if we win.
To the Fraternities and Universities Near Osage County: We Are Watching
If your chapter is hazing students near Osage County, know this:
- We are already tracking your organization
- We have experience suing national fraternities
- We know how to find the money (insurance, assets, deep pockets)
- We will pursue every liable party—the chapter, the nationals, the university, and the individuals
The Pi Kappa Phi chapter that hazed our client? Shut down.
The individuals responsible? Named in a $10 million lawsuit.
The university that owned the house? Sued for millions.
Your chapter could be next.
Enough is enough.
