Texas Fraternity Activities Suspended After Overdose Death Of Pledge [UPDATED]

COLLEGE STATION, TX -- The Sigma Nu fraternity has suspended all activities of its Kappa Sigma chapter at Texas A&M after the drug overdose death of a pledge last weekend, officials said Thursday.

Members of the fraternity's Lexington, Ky, headquarters announced the decision in a statement posted on their website. The pledge who died has since been identified as Anton Gridnev, who was a 19-year-old college student from Frisco.

"Sigma Nu Fraternity has suspended all activities of the Kappa Sigma Chapter, located at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, pending completion of investigations related to the August 20 death of student member Anton Gridnev," fraternity officials said in a statement. T"he suspension is based on all information available to the General Fraternity at this time."

Brad Beacham, executive director of Sigma Nu, expressed condolences to the victim's family.

“Anton’s family and friends remain in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to grieve his death,” Beacham said. “We are deeply troubled by information released by the College Station police department and remain prepared to assist, however possible, with the investigation by local authorities. At the appropriate time, the fraternity and university will complete their own investigations.”

While announced Thursday, the fraternity’s action in suspending the chapter’s activities was taken on Wednesday, officials said. The fraternity took the previous step of suspending the fraternity activities of four students arrested and charged by College Station police for drug and paraphernalia uncovered in the course of the investigation.

"Sigma Nu Fraternity prohibits the illegal possession and use of drugs and other substances by its members," the fraternity's Thursday statement read.

Sigma Nu Fraternity was founded at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, officials said. The fraternity currently has 165 chapters and colonies and has initiated more than 235,000 members since its founding, they noted. The Kappa Sigma Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity at Texas A&M University was founded in 1985, officials said.

College Station police responded to a report of an unconscious person inside the off-campus Sigma Nu house at 4:40 a.m. last Saturday. Medics at the scene applied medical treatment to the 19-year-old pledge, but he later died at the hospital.

A subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of illegal substances inside the fraternity house. A subsequent search warrant led to the arrests of four men. Two men from College Station, Michael Frymire, 20, and Samuel Peterson, 21, were arrested for possession of a controlled substance, the station reported. Additionally, Christian Sandford, 18, and Ty Robertson, 21, also of College Station, were arrested for marijuana possession, according to the report.

>>> Booking photos of Christian Sandford, Ty Robertson, Samuel Peterson and Michael Frymire (l-r) courtesy of College Station Police Department

******************************************************************************************************

From Aug. 21:

COLLEGE STATION, TX -- A Texas A&M fraternity member died of a suspected drug overdose early Saturday morning and several others were arrested on drug-related charges, according to media reports.

WTAW, a radio station serving the Brazos Valley region, reported that police in College Station responded to a report of an unconscious person inside the off-campus Sigma Nu house at 4:40 a.m. on Saturday. Medics also responding to the scene tried assisting a 19-year-old man in distress and transported him to the hospital, where he later died.

Police told the station the cause of death was from overdose of a yet-undetermined substance. They declined to immediately reveal the young man's identity.

A subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of illegal substances inside the fraternity house. A subsequent search warrant led to the arrests of four men. Two men from College Station, Michael Frymire, 20, and Samuel Peterson, 21, were arrested for possession of a controlled substance, the station reported. Additionally, Christian Sandford, 18, and Ty Robertson, 21, also of College Station, were arrested for marijuana possession, according to the report.

Several other unidentified people were also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sigma Nu is a Lexington, Va.-based fraternity with 165 chapters and colonies with more than 235,000 members since its 1985 founding, according to its website. Sigma Nu fraternity officials released a statement on Saturday in reaction to the fraternity member's death.

“Our hearts are filled with sorrow as we grieve the loss of this young man,” Sigma Nu Executive Director Brad Beacham said. “Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones. We appreciate the immediate support and care the Texas A&M community is providing during this very difficult time."

Beacham added that the fraternity will work closely with the Texas A&M officials in providing any needed support: "We will be working with Texas A&M officials to provide as much continuing support as possible to those affected. The Fraternity will assist, however possible, with the investigation by local authorities. At the appropriate time, the Fraternity and University will complete their own investigations.”

Sigma Nu has made headlines in past years for questionable behavior. Earlier this year, in February, Sigma Nu suspended its chapter at the University of North Georgia following allegations of hazing and alcohol abuse.

In 2015, the chapter in Old Dominion University after frat members installed banners intended for parents sending their daughters to the school. "Rowdy and fun, hope your baby girl is ready for a good time," read one of the tamer ones. The story gained viral status, and the national chapter subsequently repudiated the fraternity members' actions.

Also in 2015, several incidents made headlines: Suspension of the Miami University chapter for excessive hazing, misconduct and other charges; chapter suspension at the University of Central Florida after a member was recorded on video leading a rape chant; suspension of the fraternity at Middle Tennessee State Universityuntil 2019 for hazing and alcohol-related violations; a two-year suspension at Purdue University for hazing pledges, drug use and alcohol consumption among minors.

In 2014, more controversies visited Sigma Nu:

• Indefinite suspension of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln chapter for more than 60 fire code violations;
• Loss of charter at the University of Virginia, related to hazing abuse;
• A five-year suspension at Emory Universityfor hazing and endangering pledges.

In 1990, theUniversity of Texas at Austin abolished Sigma Nu as a campus group after details emerged of its severe hazing practices, as several media outlets reported at the time. Additionally, the fraternity's national president revoked the charter at UT as a result of the hazing probe.

Last year, KXAN-TV reported that "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm was accused in taking part in the violent hazing while a student at UT Austin that led to the fraternity's disbanding. The case centered on a lawsuit a Sigma Nu pledge filed, claiming he was severely beaten, dragged and has his pants set on fire as part of the initiation.

Hamm ultimately was charged with hazing and received deferred abjudication.