Fraternity finds No Evidence of Hazing in Hipps’ death

On Saturday, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Clemson University issued a statement that the group has found no evidence of hazing in the death of 19-year-old freshman Tucker Hipps, whose body was found last Monday. He was reported missing following an early morning run with fraternity members. The fraternity said it has completed the first phase of its internal investigation and found no evidence of hazing, consistent with an earlier statement from Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw who also says it doesn’t appear hazing played a role. In his autopsy report, Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis indicated Hipps died of a head injury consistent with a fall. Investigators speculate that Hipps might have tried to jump between spans of the bridge he was running on and fell into the lake.