A Riverside mother is opening up about the mysterious death of her son. 

There are concerns that the young man died as a result of hazing.

“They were instructed to meet at Mt. Rubidoux at 9 o’ clock,” mother Myeasha Kimble said.

9 p.m. is an unusual time for a group of guys to go hiking. 

But Kimble says her son was trying hard to get into the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

“Tyler had complained of difficulty breathing and that..shortly after his complaints, he collapsed,” Kimble said.

She says one of her son’s friends told her that from the hospital on Saturday, shortly before 20-year-old UC Riverside student Tyler Hilliard mysteriously died. 

“It was very clear that they were being hazed,” aunt Robyn Fountain said.

Tyler’s aunt says in recent weeks, there were disturbing text messages on Tyler’s phone from senior members of the fraternity.

“Directing them to like, make a paddle, so we can beat you guys with it when you get here,” Fountain said.

She says other messages indicated the pledges had also been beaten with cactuses.

“So, there were pictures of cactus needles in their limbs and head,” Fountain said.

Now, both women are fighting for answers about whether or not Tyler’s death was the result of a hazing ritual. 
 
Alpha Phi Alpha’s executive director says “working with the university, the fraternity has launched an investigation into the situation and has placed the chapter on an immediate cease and desist status, suspending all activities.”

Some students say they’ve heard about hazing getting out of hand.

“There’s all types of stuff people talk about, you just don’t know who’s joking,” UCR student Matthew Woodridge said. 

But it’s never a joke to risk someone’s life. 

“Knowing that I can never talk or hold my son, it’s heartbreaking,” Kimble said.

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