The Hazing Crisis in DeWitt County: When Tradition Becomes Torture
🚨 Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — DeWitt County Families Are at Risk
DeWitt County parents send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities to protect their students. They believe that when their child joins a fraternity or sorority, they’re joining a brotherhood or sisterhood — not a torture chamber.
But the truth is far darker.
The same hazing that hospitalized a University of Houston student in November 2025 — the same waterboarding, forced exercise, and physical abuse — happens at universities near DeWitt County. The same national fraternities that failed to protect students in Houston operate chapters across Texas, including near DeWitt County. And the same institutional negligence that allowed a student to nearly die in Houston exists right here in our community.
This isn’t happening “somewhere else.” This is happening near DeWitt County. This could be your child.
The University of Houston Case: What Happened and Why It Matters to DeWitt County
In November 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. What followed was seven weeks of systematic abuse that nearly killed him.
Fraternity members:
- Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a technique considered torture when used on enemy combatants
- Forced him to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
- Struck him with wooden paddles
- Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him continue exercising
- Humiliated him — forced to carry sexual objects, strip in cold weather
- Exhausted him — forced to drive members during early morning hours
On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme physical exercises until he collapsed. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His condition worsened. On November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital.
Diagnosis: Severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
Treatment: Three nights and four days in the hospital.
The fraternity’s response? They closed the chapter — not out of remorse, but to limit liability. And in their public statement, they said: “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.”
They’re already planning their comeback while Bermudez recovers.
Why This Case Should Alarm Every DeWitt County Parent
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This wasn’t an isolated incident — The same fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, had a member die from hazing in 2017. They had eight years to fix their culture. They did nothing.
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The same fraternities operate near DeWitt County — Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at major Texas universities, including those near DeWitt County. If they were waterboarding students at UH, what are they doing at universities in our region?
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Universities are complicit — The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter. They chose not to.
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They knew it was happening — In 2017, another UH fraternity sent a student to the hospital with a lacerated spleen from hazing. The university knew this could happen again. They did nothing to prevent it.
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This could be your child — Bermudez wasn’t even a UH student when this happened. He was a “ghost rush” — a prospective member expected to transfer. If they’ll haze someone who isn’t even enrolled, who won’t they haze?
The Reality of Hazing in America — And Why DeWitt County Isn’t Immune
Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “building character.”
Hazing is:
- Assault — physical abuse, forced consumption, sleep deprivation
- Battery — striking with paddles, forced physical exertion
- Torture — waterboarding, extreme humiliation
- Reckless endangerment — pushing students to the point of organ failure
- Sometimes manslaughter or murder — since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States
The statistics are horrifying:
- 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing
- 40% of student athletes report hazing
- 95% of students who are hazed do not report it
- Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, clubs, and other organizations
And it’s happening near DeWitt County.
Texas Law: What DeWitt County Families Need to Know
Texas has strong anti-hazing laws, but they only work if victims come forward. Here’s what you need to know:
📜 Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — Anti-Hazing Law
What is hazing?
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beating, whipping, striking, branding)
- Sleep deprivation
- Exposure to the elements (forcing students to strip in cold weather)
- Extreme calisthenics (500 squats, 100+ pushups)
- Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or other substances
- Psychological torture (waterboarding, humiliation)
Criminal penalties:
| Offense | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Engaging in hazing | Up to 180 days in jail, $2,000 fine |
| Hazing causing serious bodily injury | Up to 1 year in jail, $4,000 fine |
| Hazing causing death | 180 days to 2 years in state jail, $10,000 fine |
Organizations can be fined up to $10,000 and lose permission to operate.
❌ Consent is NOT a defense
Texas law explicitly states:
“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
This means: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal regardless of consent.
Who Is Liable? Everyone Who Let This Happen
In the Bermudez case, we’re suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Phi National | Failed to supervise chapters despite knowing about “a hazing crisis” |
| Beta Nu Chapter (UH) | Directly organized and conducted the hazing |
| University of Houston | Owned the fraternity house; failed to prevent hazing despite prior incidents |
| UH Board of Regents | Institutional oversight failure |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed the hazing |
| Individual Members | Participated in the hazing |
| Former Members | Allowed hazing at their residence |
| Spouse of Former Member | Premises liability for allowing hazing at their home |
The same liability applies near DeWitt County:
- National fraternities/sororities
- Local chapters
- Universities
- Individual perpetrators
What DeWitt County Families Can Do If Their Child Is Hazed
If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears quickly, and Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims.
✅ Immediate Steps:
- Get medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately.
- Preserve all evidence — Save texts, social media messages, photos, videos. Do not delete anything.
- Document everything — Write down what happened, when, where, who was involved.
- Get witness information — Names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses.
- Do NOT confront the organization — They will destroy evidence and coordinate their story.
- Do NOT post on social media — Anything you post can be used against you.
- Contact an attorney immediately — At Attorney 911, we offer free consultations for hazing victims.
📞 Call Attorney 911 — We’re Fighting This Fight Right Now
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We work on contingency — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
The Precedent: Hazing Cases Win Millions
DeWitt County families might think: “This happened at a big university. We’re just a small community. Can we really fight this?”
The answer is YES.
Hazing cases have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts across the country:
| Case | University | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | $110+ million settlement |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Florida State | Settlement (amount confidential) |
These aren’t just numbers. These are messages.
Messages that say:
- You cannot torture our children.
- “Tradition” is not an excuse for abuse.
- Universities and fraternities will be held accountable.
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. DeWitt County families get the same aggressive representation.
The Warning Signs: Is Your Child Being Hazed?
Hazing is often hidden, but there are warning signs:
🚩 Physical Signs:
- Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, burns)
- Extreme exhaustion or sleep deprivation
- Sudden changes in appearance (weight loss, disheveled look)
- Signs of alcohol poisoning (vomiting, confusion, unconsciousness)
- Difficulty walking or moving
🚩 Behavioral Signs:
- Sudden withdrawal from friends and family
- Increased secrecy about activities
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms
- Fear of social rejection or retaliation
- Sudden decline in academic performance
- Avoiding certain people or places
🚩 Organizational Signs:
- Your child is required to keep activities secret
- They’re forced to perform tasks that seem dangerous or humiliating
- They’re threatened with expulsion or social consequences if they don’t comply
- They’re forced to consume alcohol or other substances
- They’re subjected to extreme physical exercise
If you see these signs, your child may be in danger. Act immediately.
What Makes Our Firm Different: Why DeWitt County Families Choose Attorney 911
When your child is hazed, you’re not just fighting a fraternity. You’re fighting:
- National organizations with millions in assets
- Universities with their own legal teams
- Insurance companies that want to pay as little as possible
- A culture that protects perpetrators
You need attorneys who know how to win against these opponents.
🏆 Our Advantages:
- We’re litigating a hazing case RIGHT NOW — We know the tactics, the defenses, and how to counter them.
- Former insurance defense attorneys — We know how insurance companies think because we used to work for them. Now we use that knowledge against them.
- Federal court authority — We can pursue cases in federal court, giving us more leverage.
- Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York — strategic advantage against national fraternities.
- Aggressive, trial-ready approach — We don’t back down. If they won’t settle fairly, we go to trial.
- Bilingual staff — Se habla español. We serve all DeWitt County families.
- Contingency fee basis — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
💬 What Our Clients Say:
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello and they said that they would take it. And in the next few months I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” — Donald Wilcox
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris
The Message to Fraternities Near DeWitt County
To the fraternities operating near DeWitt County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near DeWitt County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
We track your house corporations. We track your alumni chapters. We track your national insurance structures. We track your documented history of hazing deaths and injuries.
If your Texas chapters harm students, we will pursue every liable entity.
We already shut down the Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston. Your chapter could be next.
The Message to Universities Near DeWitt County
To the universities near DeWitt County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
You own the fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate. You have the responsibility to protect.
When you fail to act, when you look the other way, when you prioritize reputation over safety — you become liable.
Act now or face the same accountability.
Enough Is Enough — DeWitt County Families Deserve Justice
For too long, hazing has been dismissed as “tradition.” For too long, universities have looked the other way. For too long, fraternities have gotten away with torture.
No more.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now. We’re holding Pi Kappa Phi accountable. We’re demanding justice for Leonel Bermudez. And we’re ready to fight for DeWitt County families.
If your child has been hazed, you are not alone. You have rights. You have options. And you have us.
📞 Call Now — Free Consultation for DeWitt County Hazing Victims
1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We serve DeWitt County and all of Texas. We come to you. We fight for you. We win for you.
Hazing doesn’t have to be part of the college experience. Let’s end it together.
