Cookeville, TN – On December 8, 2018, officers responded to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) House located at 68 West 5 th Street in reference to an unconscious male. When officers arrived, they found an occupant of the residence performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Mr. Paul Hamilton Ten Eyck, age 23, of Maryville Tennessee. Officers and Putnam County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel continued performing life saving measures on Mr. Ten Eyck until he was transported to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) where he was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.
Detectives with the Cookeville Police Department conducted an investigation that included an extensive examination of the scene along with interviewing several potential witnesses present at the residence when Mr. Ten Eyck was transported to the hospital. The investigation indicated that Mr. Ten Eyck had brought and consumed a considerable amount of alcohol before laying on a couch at the residence and presumably falling asleep. A short time later, other occupants realized that he was not breathing and began administering CPR and notifying emergency personnel.
An autopsy was requested as part of the investigation. On April 19th , 2019, the requested autopsy was completed. It listed Mr. Ten Eyck’s cause of death as acute ethanol toxicity and determined the manner of his death was accidental.
After careful review of this case with the District Attorney’s Office, no criminal charges will be pursued.
The employees of the Cookeville Police Department would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the family of Mr. Ten Eyck. We want to remind everyone to drink responsibly and be mindful of your limits if you choose to consume alcohol.