Elizabeth Erwin
News Editor
eerwin1@murraystate.edu
An Evansville, Indiana teenager was found dead in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house on Sunday, April 29.
Zachary Tyler Wardrip, 19, was visiting a hometown friend, who is a member of Lambda Chi, last weekend in Murray.
Sources close to the situation said Wardrip and friends attended a party at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Saturday, April 28.
Upon leaving the party, friends took Wardrip to one of the units at the Lambda Chi house to sleep. His friends eventually returned to their residential college at the end of the night.
Murray Police Department Spokesman Sergeant Brant Shutt said they were called to the Lambda Chi house on Sunday, April 29.
“We do have an ongoing investigation into a death, but no foul play is suspected,” Shutt said.
Most members of the Lambda Chi fraternity were in Gatlinburg, Tennessee over the weekend for their annual formal.
Don Robertson, vice president of student affairs, attended a Lambda Chi emergency chapter meeting on Sunday, April 29, where chapter members were briefed on the incident. Robertson said he has not yet spoken with the members of Pi Kappa Alphaw.
Robertson told The News the Murray State chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha have not received any disciplinary action.
“Right now it is being investigated by the city police so we will wait to see what those results are,” Robertson said. “Depending on what the results are, we will determine what we need to do or not do,” Robertson said.
Murray State President Bob Davies sent an email to students, faculty and staff on Monday, April 30 expressing his condolences.
“I am very saddened to write this letter,” Davies wrote in the email. “On Sunday morning we learned that a friend of one of our students who was visiting him in Murray passed away at an off-campus fraternity house.”
Davies reminded everyone that University Counseling Services is available for students who need it.
Known to family and friends as “Z,” Wardrip worked at Bud’s Harley Davidson in Evansville, Indiana. His obituary posted on the Huber Funeral Home website said “he enjoyed hunting, fishing, computer games, shooting matches, welding, UK basketball and tinkering in the garage with his papaw.”
According to the obituary, “Z” would go out of his way to help people and tell them they were loved by him.
“He will be remembered for his big smile, his loving heart and his warm hugs,” his obituary read.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 2, at Huber Funeral Home, Tell City Chapel in Evansville, Indiana.
The Wardrip family requested those attending the visitation and funeral dress casual as Zach was “a country boy.”
Students who would like to speak to a counselor can contact Counseling Services at 270-809-6851. Faculty and staff who need assistance can contact the University’s Employee Assistance Program at 800-441-1327.
The News reached out to both the local chapters and national headquarters of Pi Kappa Alpha and Lambda Chi Alpha for comment but didn’t receive a response.