Family of man found dead after beer pong game awarded $16M

Salomon Martinez died in 2013 after playing beer pong with friends

The family of a Connecticut man who fell to his death from a fourth-floor window after he was accused of cheating in a game of beer pong was awarded nearly $16million.  

Salomon Martinez’s family filed a $15.6million lawsuit against Kyle Gonzalez, Matthew Chandler and Stephanie Dwyer, three of the people who were at the Naugatuck apartment in January 2013 when Martinez died. 

The 24-year-old married father was found dead on the sidewalk in front of the Pond Street building following a night of playing the drinking game, police said. 

The Superior Court jury agreed that Gonzalez, Chandler and Dwyer were to pay the grieving family the award, according to the Connecticut Post. It’s not clear, however, when the family will be able to collect the money.   

‘He was a wonderful son, husband and father who worked hard to support his family,’ the family’s lawyer, Jeremy Virgil, told the courtroom.

Martinez’s mother, Yolanda Martinez, addressed the jury describing how her son’s death has impacted not only herself, but Martinez’s wife and four-year-old daughter.

‘We are happy with the result and glad the jury was able to make these people accountable for their actions,’ Virgil said. 

Matthew Chandler

Kyle Gonzalez

Matthew Chandler (left) and Kyle Gonzalez pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault

According to police, a fight broke out at the apartment after two men lost a $10 bet and accused Martinez of cheating. 

During the brawl, a fish tank was shattered and bottles were thrown. Martinez was chased upstairs and tried hiding in a child’s bedroom.

Virgil told the courtroom that Gonzalez broke down the door to the bedroom and Martinez ended up going out the window. 

Police were called to the apartment building, but left after questioning partygoers. They later returned after Martinez’s body was discovered on the sidewalk. It’s not clear if he was pushed or fell out the window.

Gonzalez, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault in Martinez’s death, admitted to breaking the bedroom door but said Martinez was already gone when he entered the room. 

Chandler, who also pleaded guilty in Martinez’s death, was sentenced to 10 years. It’s believed that Dwyer fled the state and is living in Florida. 

Salomon Martinez fell from the fourth-floor window of an Naugatuck apartment building (pictured center)

Salomon Martinez fell from the fourth-floor window of an Naugatuck apartment building (pictured center)



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk