Vincent Saglimbeni | Feb 21, 2023 – Updated Feb 21, 2023
PULLMAN, Wash. — The parents of Luke Tyler, a WSU student who was found dead inside his dorm in January, say their son was “at his breaking point due to hazing” before he died.
The Whitman County Coroner said on Monday what caused Tyler’s death was “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of alcohol and bupropion.” They say the manner of his death was suicide.
Tyler’s parents, John and Colleen Tyler, released the following statement on Tuesday responding to the coroner’s ruling of their son’s cause and manner of death.
As we are preparing for Luke Tyler’s Celebration of Life, we continue to be grateful for the immense outpouring of support and love for our family, as well as the recognition of the impact on the many lives that Luke touched. Luke’s suicide is a tremendous loss of life, love and potential that we continue to grieve. We are continuing to work with the authorities to determine how in a short 4 months during his first semester at WSU, Luke went from a positive, compassionate, and kind young man to having a depression so deep that caused him to take his own life. He had shared with close friends that he was at his breaking point due to hazing at Theta Chi, and we look forward to learning the truth about his experience. To honor his life and recognize the kindness he spread in the world, the family asks that you consider donations to “The Luke Tyler Memorial Scholarship Fund” at Sail Sand Point to enable other children to learn to sail and love the water the way Luke did.
4 News Now reached out to WSU for to see if they are investigating Tyler’s death as a hazing-related incident.
WSU Vice President of Marketing and Communications Phil Weiler says WSU is continuing to gather information to see if there is enough evidence to launch a formal investigation.
Read the article at KXLY here.
Read more about Luke Tyler here. His family has also set up The Luke Tyler Memorial Sailing Fund at Sail Sand Point to provide scholarships to students that honor kindness, sense of adventure and passion for learning new skills on the water.