About
About Robert
Since March 26, 2012, the family of Robert Tipton has been grieving his death and searching for answers into the circumstances surrounding the violent end to his life as a Junior at High Point University (HPU) in High Point, NC. At the time of his death, Robert was pledging Delta Sigma Phi and was the ‘Pledge’ class president.
Robert Tipton was born on February 10, 1990 and attended Presbyterian Day School and Memphis University School. He received his high school diploma from the Carlbrook School in Halifax, VA. Robert had many interests and talents, but his greatest joy came from his family. Accompanying his mother on a vacation or spending time with his sister, Mary. Robert was a natural runner and accomplished track athlete, winning many awards in junior and senior high school. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed duck hunting and skeet shooting at his family’s lodge in Humphrey, Arkansas.
Above all, his many friends and family knew him as a young man with a very caring nature and sensitive heart; an endearing quality embraced by all who knew him. The many Facebook messages and other media commentary reflect just how much most people cared and loved Robert.
“You never failed to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.”
“You are the most loving and tender person that I have ever had the privilege of calling friend.”
“You taught me how to really care for people.”
“You made me love life and want to live every day to the fullest.”
“I’ll miss your big smile and big hugs.”
Mary Elisabeth, his sister wrote “Shine down upon us. I love you more than the world, brother. As my angel, please never leave my side.”
Robert lost his life and was taken from his family and friends as a young man with a promising future; and given the circumstances surrounding his death, you’ll find many, many unanswered questions and justly deserved suspicions which exist to this day. The ‘Justice4RobertTipton.com’ website and FaceBook Justice4RobertTipton page were created to keep the quest for answers and justice going, and to provide a central place where the public can read, observe and comment on matters related to this case.
The answers to some of the many questions have been revealed through the current and past private investigations conducted by the family. However, despite representing to the public that it had done a full investigation into Robert’s death as if it were a homicide, the HPPD, inexplicably, failed to follow-up on any of the potential investigative avenues identified by the lead detective on the case. Instead, the HPPD effectively stopped its investigation within three hours of Robert’s death. Since that time, the HPPD and the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office have gone to incredible lengths in their efforts to curtail all investigative efforts and have ignored every opportunity to open the investigation in an effort to address the many unanswered questions and voluminous leads which have yet to be investigated.
About the Case
At the time of his death, Robert Tipton was 22 years of age and a junior at High Point University. He was pledging to the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. According to his many friends, Robert was a generous, kind and considerate young man, willing and always volunteering to help his fraternity brothers and others at every opportunity. Robert was the ‘Pledge Class President’, meaning he was responsible for ensuring that his fellow pledges received and followed the instructions and orders given by the Pledge Educator and other fraternity brothers. Michael Qubein, the son of the President at High Point University (Nido Qubein), was the Pledge Educator for the fraternity. As the Pledge Class President, Robert reported to Michael Qubein.
Some of the many unanswered questions in this case arise from the inexplicable lack of investigative efforts by the HPPD which effectively curtailed all investigative activity within several hours of Robert’s death; a decision evidently supported by the local District Attorney’s Office. As an example, the HPPD lead detective’s (Heather Meyer) own handwritten notes on or about the day of Robert’s death outline a set of significant investigative leads to be addressed. Not one of those leads were by investigated by Detective Meyer or anyone else with the HPPD. Despite the grossly inaccurate public comments of then HPPD Police Chief Marty Sumner about how Robert’s death was treated as a homicide investigation and all leads were followed; the facts are none of the leads noted by the lead detective in this case were investigated, no new leads were developed, and Robert’s death was not investigated as a homicide. The HPPD investigation into Robert’s death was essentially completed in three hours on 3/26/2012. No further investigative activity is detailed in the HPPD report until the Medical Examiners autopsy report was provided in June 2012 and the case was closed promptly by Detective Meyer.
How You Can Help
This website and Facebook (FB) page will lay out the factual evidence and inferences and questions derived from the physical, documentary and testimonial evidence revealed thus far; and seek assistance into answering the primary questions:
- Why did the HPPD effectively shut down the investigation down within a few hours of Robert’s death and have remained steadfast in its refusal to re-open the investigation despite the overwhelming evidence of a total lack of investigative effort and major investigative leads outstanding?
- Who is the person(s) responsible for the injuries which contributed to Robert’s death?
- What role, if any, did the Delta Sigma Phi chapter play in Robert’s death and events leading up to his death?
- What role, if any, did High Point University play in the events leading up to Robert’s death and in the days/weeks thereafter?
- What relationships exist between the HPPD, High Point DA’s office, and the staff and police of High Point University?
The ongoing efforts to answer the afore mentioned questions and get to the truth behind the death of Robert and the suspicious reluctance of the HPPD and DA’s office to investigate continue through private investigative efforts, this website and social media.
A $100,000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Robert’s death.
The Justice4RobertTipton TIP line:
(866)-760-0028
Media Coverage
We are thankful for the media coverage Robert’s case has gotten. Please continue to check back for the most recent information regarding his case. You can also find more on the Media page by clicking here.
CBS – Family of dead fraternity pledge sues university in N.C.
The family of a fraternity pledge who died in 2012 is suing North Carolina's High Point University, alleging that hazing led to his death and that school officials had knowledge of the fraternity's conduct. The News & Record of Greensboro reports that...
NBC – High Point University sued over student’s alleged hazing death
Robert Eugene Tipton Jr., who was pledging Delta Sigma Phi at HPU, “was hazed viciously by members of Delta Sig at the direction” of Michael Qubein, son of university President Nido Qubein and one of Tipton’s classmates, the suit alleges. Click here to read more from...
Arnold & Smith – Horrific Hazing Allegedly Cause Of College Student’s Death
According to news reports, the family claims that the day before he died, Tipton was told he had to attend what the fraternity dubbed a “counseling session” at the off-campus apartment. After arriving, they say that members of Delta Sigma Phi proceeded to viciously...
Do you have information regarding the case?
A $100,000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Robert’s death. If you have any information, please contact us at 866-760-0028.