Family challenges UCSB police ruling on student’s fatal balcony fall

Almost 10 months after UC Santa Barbara freshman Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel suffered a deadly fall from the balcony of a campus residence corridor, police say the case has been closed as an accident. However her household says the assertion is inaccurate and the Santa Barbara County District Legal professional’s Workplace now confirms the case continues to be “below assessment.”

The UC Santa Barbara Police Division (UCPD) informed Fox Information Digital in a brand new assertion that after conducting a months-long investigation, the division concluded that Hamel died on account of an unintended fall.

“Following an intensive investigation into the tragic dying of certainly one of our college students outdoors a residence corridor in February 2025, UCPD has forwarded its findings to the Santa Barbara County District Legal professional’s Workplace for assessment,” the division stated.

UCPD stated it labored intently with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Santa Barbara County District Legal professional’s Workplace in the course of the case.

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Liz Hamel, 18, was discovered unconscious outdoors a dorm on the College of California Santa Barbara campus on February 14 after apparently falling from an air passageway. (Alain Hamel)

“Primarily based on the whole lot of the intensive investigation, which concerned a scientific assessment and report of all accessible info and quite a few interviews, together with an individual of curiosity recognized in the midst of the investigation, it’s the ministry’s conclusion that the incident was an unintended fall,” the assertion continued.

The division stated it recurrently met with Hamel’s fast household and supplied their condolences.

“Our hearts and ideas are with the household and pals who’ve suffered a horrible loss. Out of respect for the household’s privateness, now we have no extra info to share.”

The Santa Barbara County District Legal professional’s Workplace individually informed Fox Information Digital that the case continues to be “below assessment.” The workplace didn’t present a timeline for when there may very well be an replace on the standing of the case.

Hamel, an 18-year-old biology and chemistry pupil from Bellevue, Washington, was found below a third-floor walkway of UC Santa Barbara’s San Rafael Residence Corridor on February 14, 2025, round 10:26 p.m. She died six days later at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The Hamel household issued a press release to Fox Information Digital by means of their lawyer, disagreeing with police’s conclusion and expressing concern about unanswered questions.

“We’re conscious of the UCSB Police Division’s conclusion, however we nonetheless have unanswered questions on how Liz died. We are going to proceed to work with our counsel and the suitable authorities to make sure that all accessible proof is fastidiously reviewed.”

“On a human stage, my spouse and I are devastated. Liz was our solely little one and we’re nonetheless attempting to determine find out how to transfer on with out her.”

— Assertion from Alain Hamel, by means of household lawyer Tyrone Maho

Household lawyer Tyrone Maho and personal investigator Michael Claytor informed Fox Information Digital they disagree with police’s conclusion and imagine the proof doesn’t help closing the case.

They stated essential info continues to be lacking and flagged what they see as inconsistencies within the investigation file that “stay unresolved.”

In addition they raised considerations concerning the UCPD’s dealing with of the investigation, saying there may very well be a “potential battle of curiosity” if the college police investigated the dying of certainly one of its personal college students.

“Our personal investigation continues,” she added.

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The household of Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel is disputing UCSB police’s conclusion that the freshman’s deadly fall was an accident, citing unanswered questions concerning the investigation. (Alain Hamel)

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According to SFGATEHamel’s father and Maho held a press convention in June on the web site the place she was discovered, pleading for info, particularly concerning the unknown man final seen together with her the night time she died.

On the press convention, Maho informed reporters that Hamel had spent almost two hours on the Lao Wang Noodle Bar in Isla Vista with the person, with whom she appeared to have a “superb relationship” on the restaurant. She apparently left behind her telephone and identification, which pals later recovered.

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Liz Hamel died earlier this 12 months after falling from a dorm room at UC Santa Barbara. (Alain Hamel)

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SFGATE reported that the pair didn’t stroll towards San Miguel, Hamel’s freshman dormitory, however as a substitute walked towards San Rafael, one other residence corridor on campus. “She lived on the opposite facet of campus,” Alain Hamel stated, noting that the dormitory the place his daughter was found is just not on the route from the restaurant to her personal residence.

“You do not simply come throughout this dorm. It isn’t the primary place you go,” Maho stated, including that they imagine the person could have identified somebody there or stayed within the constructing.

At 10:26 p.m., a passerby, not the person who left the restaurant together with her, discovered Hamel severely injured below a third-floor walkway outdoors the San Rafael Residence Corridor. She was nonetheless alive when first responders arrived and died within the hospital six days later.

Hamel moved to California in 2024 to check biology and chemistry and hoped to turn into a scientist. She was additionally a member of Pi Beta Phi’s California Zeta chapter, which publicly mourned her dying in March.

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A Washington state father is urgent for solutions concerning the investigation into the dying of his 18-year-old daughter at Santa Barbara College earlier this 12 months. (Marli Miller/UCG/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs)

“It’s with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved California Zeta sister Liz Hamel,” the chapter wrote. “I ship Pi Phi love and help to her household, family members and our sisters at Pi Beta Phi UCSB throughout this time.”

“Liz Hamel was a beloved and valued member of Pi Beta Phi. She might be remembered for the kindness and pleasure she dropped at others.”

Her father expressed the household’s unhappiness in his earlier interview with Fox Information.

“She was our world. She’s our solely little one. And she or he was every thing to us. … We had been so fortunate to have 18 years together with her. We want we had extra time.”

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As prosecutors proceed their investigation and the household presses for solutions, the occasions main as much as Hamel’s deadly fall stay unclear.

Fox Information Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Stepheny Worth covers crime together with lacking individuals, murders and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.value@fox.com.