NEWS

Sheriff: No indication hazing played a role in Clemson student's death

Ron Barnett
rbarnett@greenvillenews.com
Tucker Hipps was a student at Clemson University.

CLEMSON - There is no indication that hazing played a role in the death of a 19-year-old Clemson University student whose body was found about 5:15 p.m. Monday in 4-5 feet of water at the State 93 bridge linking Pickens and Oconee counties, according to Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.

The body of Tucker W. Hipps of Piedmont was found Monday afternoon in Lake Hartwell between two State 93 bridges that span Seneca River from Oconee County to Pickens County, Coroner Karl E. Addis said.

"There has been speculation and innuendo, especially on social media, regarding whether hazing played a part in the death of Tucker Hipps," Crenshaw said. "So far there has been no indication in the Oconee County Sheriff's Office investigation that hazing played a part in the death of Tucker Hipps."

Crenshaw is asking that anyone who may have been traveling between 5:30-6 a.m. Monday along State 93 and the Seneca River bridge to contact the Sheriff's Office if they saw anything.

Hipps was participating in an early-morning group activity run with fraternity members Monday, according to Clemson University. He didn't return from the run and wasn't at breakfast, so fraternity members began looking for him.

Fraternity members contacted the Clemson University Police Department at 1:45 p.m. Monday to report him missing, according to the university.

A police officer found his body about 3:30 p.m. in the lake near the Highway 93 bridge.

The injuries were consistent with Hipps falling from one of the spans which is about 20-to-23 feet above the water surface, Addis said. He was found in 4-5 feet of water where the lake bottom is formed with rip rap rock, the coroner said.

No ruling on the manner of death has been made, Addis said, adding that law enforcement investigation and toxicology analysis could take several weeks.

Clemson University was cooperating with the Sheriff's Office and was conducting its own investigation into the Hipps' death, said Gail DiSabatino, Clemson University vice president for student affairs.

"We're terribly saddened by Tucker's death," DiSabatino said. "It's always tragic when someone so young and promising is lost. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."

The university is providing grief counseling to students.

A vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m. today on Bowman Field for Hipps.

A representative from the national office of Sigma Phi Epsilon, where Hipps was a member, arrived Monday evening in Clemson and was working with the university to ensure that chapter members receive support and counseling, according to a fraternity statement.

"This is a time for mourning, and our hearts and prayers are with the Hipps family," fraternity CEO Brian Warren said.

The statement said the fraternity is aware of allegations being made through the social media that the death was in some way linked to hazing. "SigEp has a zero tolerance policy regarding hazing and is currently investigating these claims," according to the statement.

"But if foul play was involved in any way, Tucker's fraternity will do everything it can to see that those responsible are brought to justice," Warren said.

Meanwhile, Hipps was remembered fondly by his former Wren High coach and Wren High staff. He was a 2013 graduate.

Hipps was "one of those guys you could always count on," as a defensive back for the Wren High football team, Wren High coach Jeff Tate said.

"When he played, he played hard and he gave great effort. He was always very coachable," Tate said.

"He was one of those guys you could always count on. He always had a smile on his face. Not everybody is like that," Tate said.

Hipps last played in 2012 on a team that won eight games, Tate said. About 20 of the current members of the team played with him, he said.

"I will obviously talk with the kids today," he said Tuesday.

Hipps' former principal, Nichole Boseman, said she remembers him as "a delightful young man."

"I feel like he made a positive impact on Wren High School," she said.

She said she remembers him as "a vibrant young man" walking the halls with a smile on his face.

He was chosen to be a counselor for Palmetto Boys State.

"I think this tragedy is definitely felt by the Wren community," she said.

Counseling is being made available to students on an individual basis as needed, she said.

At Clemson, the presidents of the 24 member fraternities of the Interfraternity Council voted to suspend education activities for new members until further notice, according to the university.

Students at Clemson and at other colleges, including the University of South Carolina, Florida State and the University of Georgia, are wearing orange to show support, according to posts on social media.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Jimmy Watt said Clemson police alerted sheriff's deputies just after 3:30 p.m. that a body had been discovered in the water below the State 93 bridge, just before the university campus.

The body was recovered from the water about 5:15 p.m., Watt said.

An investigation is continuing, Watt said.