Ga. teen hospitalized after ‘hazing incident’ was not hazed, drank voluntarily, police say

Two adults and three teenagers have been charged after an investigation into a party that left a 19-year-old hospitalized and other incidents at a St. Simons Island home.

Channel 2′s sister station Action News Jax attended a news conference Monday where Glynn County police gave update on the Trent Lehrkamp investigation.

On March 21, Lehrkamp was hospitalized “due to a high level of intoxication, from a mixture of controlled substances and alcohol,” according to Glynn County police. Lehrkamp’s blood alcohol concentration level was .464%, nearly six times Georgia’s legal limit of 0.08%, Action News Jax reported.

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On Monday, police said they booked the homeowners Carlton J. Strother, 46, and Lauren C. Strother, 56, of Glynn County on charges of maintaining a disorderly house and contributing to the delinquency of dependency of a minor.

Edward Hobby, 17, has been charged with battery for a separate incident at the Strothers’ home.

Two other teens will also face charges. Since they are under the age of 17, Glynn County police did not release their names, but one faces simple battery and criminal trespass while the second faces a possession and use of drug related object charges.

“Since the start of this investigation, investigators remained in contact with Mr. Lehrkamp and his family and kept a clear line of open communication, advising of the status and updates on the progress of this case, and we continue to wish the victim well towards his recovery,” Interim Chief of Police O’Neal Jackson said.

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The charges stem from a party that allegedly happened at a house on St. Simons Island in March. Police originally investigated it as a hazing incident.

At Monday’s news conference, Glynn County District Attorney Keith Higgins said he wanted to clear up misinformation that has spread since the investigation opened.

Higgins said that investigators found that Lehrkamp was not hazed, that he drank voluntarily and that he was washed off with a water hose after an egg fight.

He also said there was no evidence that anyone defecated or urinated on Lehrkamp, nor is there any evidence that he ingested any battery acid.

Glynn County police said anyone who has additional information or potential evidence can contact them at 912-264-1333 or email investigators at 911silentwitness@glynncounty-ga.gov.

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