A mother is seeking answers and accountability in her 18-year-old son’s death after the Cal State Fullerton student died after attending an off-campus fraternity event.
Anthony Joseph Blas died Sept. 13 after he was unresponsive at the event and dropped off at St. Jude Medical Center’s emergency department. The Fullerton Police Department said alcohol consumption appeared to have been a contributing factor to the student’s death. Now, two weeks later, Blas’ grieving mother is breaking her silence as she seeks accountability.
“Anthony is not here,” Linda Blas, the teen’s mother, said. “…This is our new reality. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.
Linda Blas said her son was just two weeks into his freshman year at Cal State Fullerton when his death happened. She adds that he was excited to have recently been accepted into a fraternity.
“He calls at 11, 12, and he tells me, ‘Mom, they called. I’m in! I’m in!’” she said. “He was excited.”
That was the last time the two spoke.
Fullerton police said a group of people took the student to the area hospital after he became unresponsive while at the event. Law enforcement confirmed 911 was not called.
Linda BlasLinda Blas
An undated image of Anthony Blas and his mother, Linda Blas.
“They can’t hide,” Linda Blas said. “You can’t be the hero and say, ‘Oh, we took him to the hospital.’ You can’t hide behind the good Samaritan cloak, because you didn’t. There’s a fire house two blocks from the fraternity house. I don’t know if that would save him, but I want to believe it could have or given him a chance.”
After Anthony’s death, Fullerton police said in a news release that they did not consider hazing or foul play to be a factor. However, they added that they aren’t completely ruling anything out as the investigation continues.
“Somebody needs to be held responsible for serving liquor,” Linda said. “I don’t know what they served to minors, because he sure as heck couldn’t get it; His license says 18.”
Cal State Fullerton said the fraternity involved in the investigation is not affiliated with the university. The school is asking anyone with information on the case to call campus police.
Police identified the student as an 18-year-old man and said alcohol consumption may have been a factor. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.