CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The son of Rep. John Carney, D-Del., is one of five defendants in two lawsuits seeking at least $50 million stemming from the death of a Clemson University fraternity pledge.
The lawsuits, filed Monday, each seek at least $25 million in actual damages in the September death of 19-year-old Tucker Hipps. Hipps fell from a bridge into rocky, shallow water during a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity run.
In addition to Samuel Quillen Carney, the lawsuits name two other fraternity members, as well as the university and the fraternity.
"No one - certainly no parent - can feel anything but sympathy for this family's grief and anger," John Carney and his wife, Tracey Quillen Carney, said in a statement released by his office on Tuesday. "We have faith that those trusted with investigative and legal authority will act based on facts."
"Our advice to Sam since the tragedy in September has been to tell the truth and remember that any detail might help," the statement said. "That continues to be our message to him."
Tucker Hipps disappeared Sept. 22, 2014 during an early-morning run. His fraternity brothers noticed him missing at breakfast, and called police about eight hours later, they said.
Searchers found his body in rocky, shallow water below a bridge over Lake Hartwell near the Clemson campus. He had fallen headfirst.
The lawsuit said Hipps was not under the influence of alcohol or any other substance during the early-morning run.
There has been no ruling on the manner of Hipps' death and the case is still under investigation by the local sheriff, said Pickens County Coroner Karl Addis.