Student, 19, found dead in university dorm after frat group 'hazing rituals'
A US student found dead in his dorm was a victim of hazing at the hands of a frat group, friends have claimed.
Luke Morgan Tyler was found unresponsive in his room at Washington State University last week.
Friends of the 19-year-old have now called for an investigation into his death, claiming the freshman had been a victim of cruel and "inhumane" hazing as part of the Theta Chi fraternity.
Hazing refers to groups forcing people into doing degrading or even dangerous acts, often as an initiation to joining them.
Washington police have declared no foul play is suspected in Luke's death, the cause of which they have not yet revealed.
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Luke Morgan Tyler was found dead in his dorm at Washington State University (Facebook)But a petition has been set up, demanding authorities take a closer look into the fraternity and allegations Luke was a victim of hazing just before his death.
Luke's dorm, Perham Hall, meanwhile sits just a few miles away from where four friends were killed in the brutal Idaho student murders in November.
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death at a house in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13.
Brian Kohberger was arrested last month in Pennsylvania for murder and felony burglary and is currently awaiting trial.
Luke's death happened just a few miles from where four students were brutally killed in a house in Moscow, Idaho (aubrie.goncalves/Instagram)
Suspect Bryan Kohberger (Latah County Sheriff's Office/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)Perham Hall where Luke was staying is also just a mile from where Kohberger was living whilst studying a PhD in criminology at the same university.
There is no suggestion of any link between Luke's death and the murders, although students at WSU were said to have been badly affected by the news, with many left terrified.
The petition, set up by Trevor Michalski, has called for the Theta Chi fraternity to be banned and individuals to be charged.
"His death directly followed a long and cruel pledging process allowed by his fraternity, Theta Chi," the petition writes.
"Their inhumane and cruel hazing forced Luke, and many others to do things nobody should ever be forced to do.
"We demand that Theta Chi be investigated, shut down and the fraternity’s president, as well as pledge masters and others with power in the fraternity be investigated for their involvement with the death of Luke Tyler.
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Friends of Luke Tyler claim he was a victim of hazing at the hands of the Theta Chi frat house (Facebook)"Luke was truly an amazing person with an incredible affect on everyone whose life he touched, he deserves justice."
As of Monday morning, the online petition has amassed more than 9,700 signatures.
A GoFundMe to help Luke's family pay for his funeral meanwhile has so far raised more than $11,200 (£9,000).
Police in Washington meanwhile urged against people speculating around Luke's death.
Chief investigator Gary Lee Jenkins said in a statement: "It is premature to form any conclusion about what the cause and manner of death are. We are working with the Whitman County Coroner’s Office to investigate the circumstances."
The Theta Chi fraternity was contacted for comment.
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