K-State student Jordan Forbit, 18, was found dead in an SUV across the the parking lot across the street from Derby Complex on Nov. 20, 2013. Nora Najera, who helped raise Forbit, said she knew Forbit was a victim of foul play before the police announced it.
“His wallet being missing and his phone being missing was odd to us, and it was odd to me immediately,” Najera said.
Gregory “Rory” Melvin Haug Jr., 21, was arrested by the Riley County Police Department Saturday and charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case.
The family was initially told by police that, “no foul play was involved,” but said they did not believe it according to the Facebook page “Justice For Jordan.” The group has over 2,000 members.
The comments made on WIBW’s Nov. 21, 2013 article
Najera said the family knew Forbit’s death had not been self-inflicted, in part because of comments made on a WIBW article which suggested someone else had given him a dose of heroin. There was also the fact that, after his death, the phone was still in use, according to the Facebook page.
“His phone, that we learned through phone bills, was used to dial 911 and various other numbers after he had already passed away,” the page said.
Najera said people often tend to look at the victim negatively in instances of overdose, even if the victim ends up proving innocent. She said she wants to keep that from happening in Forbit’s case.
“I want people to know Jordan from before this,” Najera said. “Everything he did athletically, he was amazing.”
Najera released a statement on behalf of the family Thursday.
“We are so thankful and grateful that we are on the path of justice,” Najera said. “We would like to thank all the agencies that were involved in getting us to this point, and we’d like to thank everyone for their love and support in this time, and in the days to come.”
The K-State Police Department declined to comment because the case has been referred to the Riley County District Attorney’s office. The Riley County District Attorney could not be reached immediately for comment.
