Anthony Joseph Blas’s family is demanding a transparent investigation after the 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton freshman died following an off-campus fraternity gathering.
Blas, 18, was dropped off unresponsive at St. Jude Medical Center on September 13 and pronounced dead after what appeared to be an alcohol-related medical episode, authorities said. The teen had attended an event linked to Delta Chi, a fraternity that lost its official recognition at the university more than three years ago over hazing and substance abuse allegations.
The fraternity’s national office issued a statement to the OC Register in the wake of Blas’s death. “Following the closure of the chapter, Delta Chi has proactively worked with university officials to make students aware that no active Delta Chi chapter exists at California State University, Fullerton,” the organization said.
The national body also addressed the tragedy directly. “Anthony’s family deserves answers, and all those affected deserve a complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” Delta Chi continued.
Blas’s relatives have pressed for a full accounting of the hours before his death. In a statement, the family called for a “complete and transparent investigation” and raised concerns that “hazing may have played a role.”
The family also specifically questioned the response to Blas’s medical emergency. They asked why “911 was not called when Anthony was found unresponsive” and sought information about what happened “in the hours leading up to his death, who was present, when those present realized he was in distress, and why 911 was never contacted.”
Authorities have indicated alcohol may have contributed to Blas’s death but stated that no evidence of foul play was found. The circumstances of how Blas became unresponsive and why emergency services were not summoned remain under investigation.
Delta Chi’s troubles at Cal State Fullerton date back to April 15, 2021, when the university revoked the chapter’s recognition through January 1, 2029. The ban stemmed from hazing allegations and violations involving “use, possession, manufacture, or distribution” of illegal drugs and alcohol, according to CSUF’s Student Organization Conduct Status. The university could now extend that prohibition indefinitely in light of the freshman’s death.
While it has not been officially confirmed that Delta Chi was involved in the gathering where Blas was last seen, the fraternity is located at the intersection where the event took place. The distinction between an officially recognized chapter and an underground continuation of the group has become a central question in the unfolding investigation.
The case has drawn renewed scrutiny to how universities monitor fraternities that have lost official status but may continue operating off campus. Cal State Fullerton’s original disciplinary action against Delta Chi was set to run for nearly eight years, one of the more severe sanctions among Greek organizations at public universities in recent years.
The national fraternity’s assertion that it has worked to inform students that no active chapter exists suggests an awareness that the local group has persisted in some form despite the university’s action. Whether that effort was sufficient to prevent underground activity is now part of the broader examination.
Blas’s death marks the latest in a series of alcohol-related fatalities involving college students and Greek life events, though specific details about what occurred at the September 13 gathering remain limited pending the ongoing investigation.
The family’s focus on the failure to call 911 has resonated in discussions about bystander responsibility at college drinking events. Their detailed list of questions reflects a search not only for accountability but for a timeline that could explain whether rapid medical intervention might have altered the outcome.
University officials have not indicated whether they will accelerate or expand their review of Delta Chi’s status beyond the existing 2029 expiration date.