Family Seeks Answers After Untimely Death of 23-Year-Old Son

Nicholas Hanks was your average Texan twenty-something. He had a large network of friends, a good job and loved to fish and hunt. Born in San Angelo, Nick was living in Roanoke near the DFW metroplex when a family reunion called him back out west to Colorado City on Oct. 12. Following the reunion, Hanks drove to San Angelo. Little did his family know, that was the last time any of them would ever see him again alive.

The night began at the Angelo State University Homecoming game, when the Rams squared off against Eastern New Mexico. Hanks had been invited to attend from an old school friend, Raymond Banks, who was at the game with his girlfriend.

“Nick went to school with Raymond in Smithfield,” explains Nick’s mother, Sherrie Berrie via telephone. “Raymond had been kind of out of touch with him for a couple of years and then they had started hanging out some. Raymond started texting him and he was in San Angelo because his girlfriend was there,” she said.

After texting back and forth, Hanks agreed to meet Banks in San Angelo when the reunion was over, and drove the hour south to meet him at the San Angelo Stadium. After the game had ended, the night progressed as many do for the college-aged crowd, with the trio heading first downtown to hit several bars and then outside city limits to a party in the county.

Mixed reports of what happened between their arrival, estimated at midnight, and departure at approximately 2:00 a.m. have left the family with questions as to how Hanks spent his last few hours before ultimately being brought to the Shannon Medical Center at around 3:30 a.m.

“We’ve heard several different stories, so I don’t really know what really happened, which is kind of the problem,” said Berrie softly.  “I’ve been told that they were at a party and they were in a pickup, and that Raymond pushed alcohol on Nick and Nick was drinking and became so intoxicated that he passed out and that Raymond threw him in the back of a pickup,” she said.

The source of the story remains unavailable, Berrie said, and states ‘you’ve got the wrong person’ before hanging up when attempts make contact are made.

“I’ve also heard that Raymond and [his girlfriend] went into Whataburger and ate and when they came out, Nick had been sick, so they’d gone to the dorms. He was already unconscious or was not breathing, and instead of taking him to the hospital, they just sat in the car and decided what they should do. And they waited about 30 minutes…then they finally took him to the hospital, when there was no chance of him being revived…I’ve heard that also, that they panicked, and took about 30 minutes to decide what to do with him,” Berrie said.

Berrie mentioned a third story given by one of the girls at the party in which everyone was leaving because they feared the cops were coming. The girl said there was a young man face down passed out in the driveway. The identity of the person couldn’t be confirmed, the girl said, but her story is another that has left the family distraught.

According to the police report, both Banks and his girlfriend issued statements saying they’d left the party at 2:00 a.m., and that Hanks had been very intoxicated at that point, having drank an excess of vodka.

The report states that Banks and his girlfriend had become concerned about Hanks alcohol consumption, who is reported to have been chugging a bottle of vodka, and had suggested that they leave. Hanks was awake but incoherent, and needed assistance getting into the vehicle.

Upon leaving the party, the three went to Whataburger, where they waited in the drive-through for 30 minutes, the report states. They then proceeded to the Centennial Village dormitory at Angelo State University, when Banks and his girlfriend noticed something was wrong.

Statements from both Banks and his girlfriend say that Hanks was unconscious and that his lips were blue. Banks further stated that he attempted to wake Hanks with no success and immediately rushed him to the ER.

According to the family, Hanks arrived at Shannon approximately 45 minutes after his death; the police had not been called and CPR had not been administered. With the passing of her son still fresh in mind, Hanks mother Berrie wants to know what happened. She recalls her son fondly, still in shock and with a sorrowful shake in her voice.

“He was really a sweetheart, he was a big giver,” Berrie said. “I remember his senior year in high school. I’d given him a new coat, and one night he came home and he didn’t have his coat. And I was like ‘Nick, where’s your coat at, honey, it’s cold outside.’ And he said, ‘oh mom, don’t be mad. I was coming home and there was this guy walking down 71…and he didn’t have a coat on and it was so cold out,” Berrie explained, remembering her son’s giving nature. “He said ‘you take this coat, you need it more than I do,’” she said. “He gave his coat away.”

At his funeral, several friends showed up to give their condolences and say goodbye to a dear friend. Many of those present shared their stories of the Nick they had known.

“One girl—she’s in nursing school—she said how Nick would talk to her and he would ask what size her little boy wore…and one time he showed up and he had her son a pair of new tennis shoes and Spiderman shirt,” Berrie said. “A lot of times he would just show up and pick her car up and fill it up with gas or give her money because he wanted her to stay in school.”

Berrie described her son as generous and caring soul who was always there for those who needed him. He loved his family, his friends, and to live life in the moment, she said.

In the wake of his death, the family is seeking information on Hanks’ last night, and is seeking any and all input people may have. Those with information may call Sherrie Berrie at 512-968-3483.

Raymond Banks declined comment on the events of the night of Oct. 12. His girlfriend was unavailable for comment.

“I just like to let young people know… if you’re going out and your with friends and you’re partying, and you think it’s ok…and you’ve got somebody else to drive, be careful,” Berrie said. “If somebody becomes sick, don’t be scared to take them to the hospital. Get them help as quickly as possible and do CPR for your friends. If any kids know exactly what happened to Nick, please give me a call.”