ABC-7 Xtra: Investigation finds evidence of hazing in Franklin High School football program
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An ABC-7 investigation has uncovered what’s being described in an investigative report as “inappropriate physical conduct linked to hazing” among teammates on the Franklin High School football team.
The school launched its investigation in October 2024 after Franklin High School Principal Amanda Bowser received two anonymous letters alleging hazing was happening within the football program, according to records obtained by ABC-7.
The documents show the investigation looked into players’ behavior inside the team’s locker rooms, and the allegations included genitalia placed on a player’s face or mouth.
Now, ABC-7 has learned the school district is looking back at its initial Fall investigation, with players interviewed again in late February.
District officials confirmed on February 26 that Walker, who coached at Franklin High since 2007, was reassigned from his coaching duties as ABC-7 reported. The district would not comment at the time, calling it a “personnel matter.”
The school is hiring Walker’s replacement, and the Texas Education Agency tells ABC-7 it has received a complaint about him. A TEA spokesperson says the complaint is currently in the “review stage” and declined to comment further.
ABC-7 has repeatedly reached out to El Paso Independent School District Director of Communications Sehban Zaidi requesting an interview.
The school district is refusing to comment citing an ABC-7 Public Information Act (PIA) request, saying, “...El Paso ISD has sought an Attorney General ruling related to your PIA request. While the Attorney General’s ruling is pending the District will not comment on the matter. El Paso ISD remains committed to creating nurturing environments that support the growth of every child. We take every appropriate action to ensure student and staff safety. We appreciate our community's trust and support.”
We've also reached out to Daren Walker for comment. He referred us back to the school district saying, “All media requests should be referred to the EPISD communications department.”
As of April 16, Walker said he’s still employed with EPISD.
Anonymous letters prompt hazing investigation
On October 3, 2024, Franklin High School Principal Amanda Bowser received two anonymous letters saying hazing was happening within the football program.
Bowser and assistant principal Guillermo Ramirez led the investigation, records show.
The documents obtained by ABC-7 under the Texas Public Information Act include investigative reports, a timeline of the investigation, statements from football players and coaches, and recommendations to the football program.
The district redacted the student information –and other data it deemed sensitive-- under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, known as FERPA.
"During the spring football season, about the time players were moved up from (FERPA) to (FERPA), assaults took place in the locker room; activities that went far beyond typical football locker room behavior,” one of the letters to Franklin High School Principal Amanda Bowser read. “Even though things have settled down, there are still many players that refuse to shower in the locker rooms.”
Records show the anonymous letters prompted school officials to take a series of actions during the month of October, including meetings with coaches, players and parents.
In those meetings, school officials said they went over the hazing allegations, and asked parents to share any information they might have, records show.
“Based on the findings through investigations completed by both me (Ms. Bowser) and Mr. Ramirez, we can substantiate that inappropriate physical conduct linked to hazing took place within the football locker room and shower area during Spring football, April 2024 and previous years,” Principal Bowser wrote in her investigative report dated November 22, 2024, nearly two months after the start of the investigation. “There have been no reports of these behaviors happening this school year/season,” Bowser added.
According to the records reviewed by ABC-7, it does not appear any players were disciplined following the investigation.
Bowser wrote that “Variations and contradictory reports within witness statements has made it difficult to hold specific individuals accountable for these behaviors."
The consensus among 9 coaches, who provided written statements to Bowser during the month of October, was that they did not see or hear anything about hazing within the football program, according to the records reviewed by ABC-7.
“I have been Head Football Coach at Franklin High School since the spring of 2007. During this time at Franklin High School I have not heard, witnessed or has anyone reported hazing to me,” football coach Daren Walker wrote. “Looking back, there were concerns about behavior in April 2024. There were some issues with players that continually had to be reprimanded about acting up.”
Franklin High School Assistant Principal Guillermo Ramirez, who is listed in records as the Title IX coordinator, wrote in his November 7 investigative report that he interviewed players on October 16, the day of the Franklin Homecoming Parade, October 17, and later in the month.
“(FERPA) of the students interviewed said they have not seen or experienced any hazing, bullying or any type of inappropriate touching,” Ramirez wrote. “These students were quick to interview. They didn’t have much information to share during the interview.”
Ramirez also stated, “(FERPA) of the students interviewed shared that there is some banter going back and forth during practice at times. (FERPA) will shove each other and says comments such as “(FERPA) (FERPA)” but state that it is left on the (FERPA) field."
In a memo dated October 31, the executive principal of the Secondary Schools Division told Human Resources that Principal Bowser and the coaching staff did not know about the hazing allegations until the anonymous letters were delivered to the school.
Fall investigation rules out Title IX violations
Nearly a month after Principal Bowser received the anonymous letters, records show Assistant Principal Ramirez filled out a Sexual Harassment Report Intake form.
In it, Ramirez wrote the location of the incident(s) happened in the, “(FERPA) Locker Room.” He said a report was made to the El Paso ISD Police Department "stating that the Franklin (FERPA) team participates in acts of hazing."
Ramirez stated an investigation was opened by the campus Title IX coordinator, records show.
In the report, Ramirez wrote none of the students interviewed about the hazing allegations reported “any of the incidents brought forward by (FERPA). Students reported the occasional butt slapping after a good play or a good game, but did not see it as inappropriate touching.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX is a federal law that protects students from sex-based violence. According to the ED, all schools and colleges who receive federal funds are required to enforce it. The law states school districts are required to have a Title IX coordinator, and complaints must be investigated once reported.
“The Title IX definitions considered based on the allegations were sexual harassment, hostile environment, and/or Sexual Assault,” Ramirez wrote in the report.
Ramirez concluded by writing the interviews did not “substantiate the allegations under the definitions of Title IX.”
“We have not substantiated the claims of genitalia being placed on a player’s face or in a player’s mouth,” Franklin High School Principal Amanda Bowser wrote in her investigative report dated November 22, 2024. “There were no victims or eyewitnesses that could corroborate this allegation.”
Investigation’s findings trigger changes within the football program
Following the conclusion of the football season, Franklin High School Principal Amanda Bowser outlined several changes she says will happen within the football program, including:
- The JV and Varsity football period was moved to 4th and 8th period for the 2025-2026 school year. “This will reduce the amount of locker room and shower time, while also increasing coaches’ supervision of players,” the report stated.
- Coaches and athletes of all sports at Franklin High School are now required to take courses through the National Federation of State High School Association each season. The required courses are on bullying, hazing and inappropriate behaviors, along with hazing prevention for students.
- Coaches and athletes playing sports at Franklin High School will also be required to implement the Texas Way curriculum. The report says this program is a character development initiative aimed to improve sportsmanship.
“We believe by implementing the above changes and programs, we will significantly minimize further student risk and begin changing the culture that has been present in the Franklin Football program,” Bowser wrote in her report.
District hires outside law firm to investigative hazing allegations
ABC-7 has learned the El Paso ISD hired a law firm to investigate allegations of hazing in connection to the Franklin High School football team.
The district is seeking an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to withhold from ABC-7 what it described as an investigative report and comprehensive timeline, according to a letter sent to Paxton from the district’s attorney, S. Anthony Safi.
Safi wrote the investigation and the timeline were done by Austin-based law firm Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson P.C., according to the letter dated March 31.
Safi believes the information can be withheld under the attorney-client privilege law.
“The investigative report and timeline were intended to be confidential, and have been kept confidential,” Safi wrote. “There materials were not intended to be disclosed to third parties other than those to whom disclosure was made in the furtherance of rendition of professional legal services to EPISD, or those reasonably necessary for the transmission of communication.”
Safi is also asking the Attorney General to withhold an audit of the hazing allegations he says was done by the district’s chief internal auditor, along with a letter sent to Principal Amanda Bowser from the Texas Department of Family and Protective services.
The district is also trying to prevent the release of a four-page letter sent from Principal Amanda Bowser to football coach Daren Walker, along with a two-page response from Walker, the letter shows.
“These documents clearly evaluate the performance of Mr. Walker, and, as such should be considered confidential pursuant to Section 21.355 of the Education Code,” Safi writes.
It is unclear when the district hired the outside law firm because it will not answer any of ABC-7's questions.
ABC-7 is challenging EPISD’s letter to the Attorney General and seeking how much the district has paid the Austin law firm.
Spring Investigation: Parents get letter about hazing investigation & Title IX
ABC-7 obtained a letter that was sent to some parents on February 25, 2025, advising them of their teen’s rights under Title IX. The letter was from Lisa Estrada-Batson, assistant superintendent of Student and Parent Services and Title IX Coordinator for EPISD.
“As you are aware, the District has been investigating allegations of alleged misconduct involving some members of the Franklin High School varsity football team,” Estrada-Batson wrote. “As part of that investigation, the District received information that some alleged conduct may potentially implicate your student’s rights under Title IX.”
The letter goes on to explain what Title IX is, and how certain requirements need to be met when responding to allegations of sex-based misconduct.
"One of those requirements is for the District to meet with the alleged Complainant to discuss the allegation(s), the Title IX process, and available supportive measures (non-punitive measures to improve the complainant's situation)," the letter reads. "The complainant then has the option to file a formal complaint."
The letter also says, in part, "If your student decides not to file a formal complaint the District will respect those wishes, unless the allegations are so egregious the Title IX Coordinator feels compelled to file a formal complaint on the complainant's behalf."
Estrada-Butson concluded her letter by asking parents to notify her within three days if they wish to file a formal complaint.
A day later, the district confirmed Coach Daren Walker had been reassigned from his coaching duties.
Players are interviewed a second time
As part of ABC-7's open records request, we received documents that show 13 players were reinterviewed on February 27 and February 28, two days after Estrada Butson’s letter went out, and one day after Walker’s reassignment was confirmed by the district.
According to the records, some of the following questions were asked:
“How are football players initiated when they move up from JV to varsity?” “What happened to you when you were moved up from JV to varsity?” “Since the investigation began in October, has any player come to you and asked you not to be truthful?” “Has Coach Walker even spoken to you about the allegations? When and what did he say?”
Other questions are more descriptive of the allegations:
“…have you had any discussions with any other players about the allegations of inappropriate physical conduct such as ripping off shirts, pulling down pants, smacking buttocks?” “Who humped you against your will?” “At one point you said you had a video. Where did it come from and what happened to it?” “You specifically have been named as a person taking part in what could be called initiating JV players to varsity? Specifically, that you sat on a player’s face while he was being held down. Tell me about those times.”
Student information was redacted and no identities were revealed on the documents released to ABC-7.
While it was hard to make out most of the responses hand-written by the interviewer, some players indicated there was trash talking and took it as a joke, while others pointed to students being dragged to the “Hog Pit”, their shirts ripped off, or incidents in the locker room showers where students ganged up for initiations.
One response read, "Video on snapchat, but deleted now. Deleted the entire group chat. I saw a snippet" "I did not personally witness it.”
Another showed, "Got away FREE" "They deleted their FB group chat; I witnessed them be frantic.”
Some additional responses to the various questions reviewed by ABC-7 included:
- “They have a written statement from a player before a game.” "t-shirt & shorts on, shirt off, shorts off, underwear on." "They kept it quick" "We all viewed it as a joke."
- "If you come to varsity locker room we're gonna get you" "April 2024" "Felt shocked" "was touching me" "10-15 sec"
- "I watched it happen; holding (FERPA) down; pants & underwear off"
- "I just didn't feel safe" "2nd game of season" "stopped" "i guess they thought i had earned it"
- "Nothing crazy" "it was all verbal. We'd make jokes" "I saw one video who got dragged into the hog pit, no clothes off - shirt over face"
- "no one was like 'don't say anything'"
- "I feel it's been taken out of proportion." "This has been going on for a couple of years." "All HS do this" "It was never mean"
Players and parents speak out
ABC-7 had the chance to speak with some parents and students on the team at a recent EPISD Board of Trustees meeting on April 15.
During public comment, players and parents spoke out about what they deemed as continuing issues on the team, including what they call the sudden removal of Defensive Coordinator Jose Horner.
Kendal Jessup, whose son Stone has played on the football team for three years, says parents and students have been kept in the dark about what the investigations showed. She does not believe, however, the investigations involve Horner directly.
“So, our team, this has been probably one of the most difficult years in Franklin football history,” Jessup explained. “We've lost a teammate and we've undergone three investigations, at the school, that include Title IX investigations. And then the boys went through these events that led to these investigations. And through it all, Coach Horner has been the landing spot for these boys on those investigations.”
ABC-7 has only been able to confirm two investigations.
Stone Jessup, who is a Junior linebacker for the Franklin Football team, was part of both investigations, being interviewed twice.
"I was held victim to hazing, sexual harassment, and incoming all of this,” Jessup explained to ABC-7. “I didn't feel comfortable telling anyone what happened, especially at the time of the events. I didn't feel like it was safe for me to say - I was still struggling to get a spot on to varsity."
Stone Jessup said he feels more needs to be done to stop hazing within the football program at Franklin.
“It's not a true thing that can really be stopped,” Jessup said. “It's happened probably in almost every football program, but our football program has had a bad batch. We have taken it more seriously enough to cause three investigations. I think more should be done to prevent this,” he said.
Anthony Meraz, a sophomore defensive line player for the team, also spoke at the April 15 meeting urging trustees and administrators to reinstate Coach Horner. He told ABC-7 his experience has been different, saying he hasn’t been hazed.
“I think that personally I believe that it's unnecessary,” Meraz said when asked about the hazing investigations. “I mean, as it is, you know, we've been struggling with the passing of one of our teammates and the school opened a lot of these investigations. They were very, very - held back on what they told us. You know, we had lost a lot of coaches, and they didn't even tell us that. We had to find out via social media or by rumors, which I think is completely ridiculous.”
When asked if he feels safe on the team, Meraz said, “Absolutely, I feel safe for the team. I love it here. I would never leave. These are, like I said, my brothers, my family and, you know, losing Coach Horner. It's a big hit.”
What’s next?
It’s unclear who will coach the Franklin High Football team next season. Parents tell ABC-7 the district has formed a committee seeking input on what they want to see in the next head coach. The status of the rest of the coaching staff, including Coach Horner, is unknown despite the outcry from the eleven people --eight current and former players, and three parents-- who spoke out on his behalf at the recent board meeting.
Several of them told ABC-7 they want more transparency and information from the district.
Meraz, the sophomore defensive lineman, said it was unacceptable to find out about Coaches Walker and Horner’s exit from the program through word of mouth and social media.
“It’s our program, you know, we’re the players... We show up to practice every day. We get the good grades to play.”
“We haven’t even heard anything about the last investigation; and so, we don’t really know the results of that last one,” said Kendall Jessup.
ABC-7 is committed to getting answers from the district and transparency on the investigations’ documents.
We will report any updates as they become available.
