Is there any doubt
in your mind?
That hazing contributed to your son's death.
No. We believe the rituals that
were part of this fraternity.
Had dangerous components
that contributed to his.
Adverse mental and physical health.
In August, John and Colleen Tyler
dropped their son Luke off at WSU
to kick off his college career.
He couldn't wait to be a koog
and a sadiki fraternity member.
That's him outside the house
under the flag last summer.
Five months later,
this 19 year old died by suicide.
The coroner found a toxic mix
of alcohol and Wellbutrin,
a commonly used antidepressant,
in his system.
Every day is a new day.
To just realize he's gone again.
And um. Suicide was the
furthest thing from our mind,
the Tyler says. Suicide was unthinkable.
Luke had never shown any signs
of depression, no indication of
mental health issues whatsoever.
Couldn't believe it.
Couldn't couldn't understand why.
The family was full of love.
Direction it was when I heard that
it just it didn't make any sense.
Luke's parents say they didn't send
a troubled teenager off to school,
but a young man full of life and hope,
a dedicated family member who loved boating,
teaching sailing to little kids,
travel, adventure and sports.
That's him #21 playing lacrosse.
Ohh yeah.
Luke was also a nutrition and fitness buff.
He even entered a bodybuilding
competition and won it.
The Tylers say this was the
picture of their son, a freshman,
just starting out with goals,
friends and support.
It's just such a dichotomy between
the bright, healthy young man that
we sent to WSU and in a very,
very short amount of time, him having.
You know, depression or or
needing antidepressants to and
then taking his life that way.
It doesn't make sense.
After his death, the parents say
they found out Luke had kept a
troubling part of college from them.
At least six friends came
forward saying he was struggling
with hazing at the fraternity.
What he expressed to his friends was that
it wasn't what he thought it was and that
it did push him to his breaking point.
A few of those friends started.
This petition urging the school
to shut down Theta Chi because
they said Luke's death followed
along and cruel pledging process.
We are so disappointed in Theta Chi.
They should have known better.
They should have done better.
The Tyler safe fraternities at WSU
should know better than anyone.
Just three years ago,
19 year old Sam Martinez of Bellevue died
at wazoo from acute alcohol poisoning.
It happened after a night of hazing
at the Alpha Tau Omega House,
just a few short blocks from Theta Chi.
That tragedy led to new policies
and training on campus and a sense
of security for Luke's family.
I thought you said that you
felt like it would even be one
of the safest places to be.
I did. I really?
When you think about it,
it's like after Sam died.
I would expect that the school,
the Greek system would be
implementing stronger policies.
We trusted WSU, we trusted the
Greek system with with our son.
Just this week, the university
announced they're investigating
Dekai for allegations of hazing,
providing alcohol to minors
and reckless endangerment.
And they said if we determine hazing
has occurred, we'll hold people and
groups accountable for their actions.
The Theta Chi national fraternity.
And as the statement saying,
they're deeply saddened by Luke's death,
and they expect all fataki members
to cooperate with authorities.
We do want answers. We want the truth.
Luke's parents say they hope their son's
death is more important than the Greek
culture of secrecy and the people who
know what really happened come forward.
We lost our son.
So I think if there's anything,
they might want to try to figure
this out for the other kids.
We don't want anyone else to feel
the pain that we are feeling.
Something has to change.
Something has to stop.
In a celebration of life for Luke
will be held tomorrow in Kirkland.
We mentioned in the piece
there that the university is
investigating the fraternity.
That's where possible student
conduct violations. In addition,
the Pullman Police Department are
investigating whether any crimes
were committed relating to hazing
and providing alcohol to minors.
Because hazing
has been a crime in the state of
Washington really for decades.
But it is important to note
these are still allegations.
Nothing has been proven, and that's
what the school and the police are
trying to get to the bottom of Susanna.
There is a new law that's making its
way through the state Capitol right
now attempting to address hazing.
Right. Right. Second one, two
years in a row,
both named after Sam Martinez,
who you just saw there in the story,
who lost his life three years ago.
This bill just passed the House this week.
And if it does pass,
it would make some of the most serious
types of hazing a felony right now,