Family challenges UCSB police ruling on student’s fatal balcony fall
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Nearly 10 months after UC Santa Barbara freshman Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel fatally fell from a campus dormitory balcony, police say the case has been dismissed as an accident. But his family says the explanation doesn’t make sense, and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office confirms the case is still “under review.”
The UC Santa Barbara Police Department (UCPD) issued a new statement to Fox News Digital, saying that after a months-long investigation, the department concluded that Hamel died as a result of an accidental fall.
“Following a comprehensive investigation into the tragic death of one of our students abroad in February 2025, UCPD forwarded its findings to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review,” the department said.
UCPD said it worked closely with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office during the case.
POLICE SAY TEXAS A&M STUDENT BRIANNA AGUILERA DELETED SUICIDE NOTE ON HER PHONE
Liz Hamel, 18, was found unconscious on Feb. 14 outside a dormitory on the University of California Santa Barbara campus after apparently falling through a walkway. (Alain Hamel)
The statement continued: “Based on the entire comprehensive investigation, which included a systematic review and disclosure of all available information and numerous interviews, including a person of interest identified during the investigation, the Department has concluded that the incident was an accidental fall.”
The ministry said it spoke regularly with Hamel’s immediate family and expressed his condolences.
“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we have no additional information to share.”
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office also told Fox News Digital that the case is “under review.” The office did not provide a timeline for when there might be an update on the status of the case.
Hamel, an 18-year-old biology and chemistry student from Bellevue, Washington, was discovered under the third-floor walkway in UC Santa Barbara’s San Rafael Residence Hall on February 14, 2025, around 10:26 p.m. He died six days later at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
The Hamel family, through their attorney, released a statement to Fox News Digital expressing disagreement with the police conclusion and concern about the unanswered questions.
“We are aware of UCSB Police’s conclusion, but we still have unanswered questions about how Liz died. We will continue to work with our attorneys and appropriate authorities to ensure that all available evidence is carefully reviewed.”
“From a human perspective, my wife and I are devastated. Liz was our only child and we are still trying to figure out how to get on without her.”
Family attorney Tyrone Maho and private investigator Michael Claytor told Fox News Digital they disagree with the police department’s conclusion and believe the evidence does not support closing the case.
They said critical information was still missing and marked what they saw as inconsistencies in the investigation records as “unnamed.”
They also expressed concern about UCPD handling the investigation, saying it could be a “potential conflict of interest” for the university police department to investigate the death of one of its own students.
“Our own investigation is ongoing,” they added.
POLICE SHOULD ‘CLOSELY EXAMIN’ UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S DEATH AFTER MOTHER’S CLAIMS: FORMER PROSECUTOR
The family of Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel is disputing UCSB police’s conclusion that the freshman’s fatal fall was an accident, citing unanswered questions about the investigation. (Alain Hamel)
According to SFGATEHamel’s father and Maho held a press conference at Hamel’s location in June, specifically requesting information about the unidentified man who was seen with her on the night of her death.
At the news conference, Maho told reporters that Hamel spent about two hours at Lao Wang Noodle Bar in Isla Vista with the man, who he appeared to be “very close to” inside the restaurant. Apparently he left his phone and ID behind and his friends later found them.
FALL OF TEXAS A&M STUDENT BRIANNA AGUILERA OPENS POLICE RESPONSE TO FAMILY’S EXPLOSIVE CLAIMS: REPORT
Liz Hamel died earlier this year after falling from a dorm walkway at UC Santa Barbara. (Alain Hamel)
DEAD TEXAS COLLEGE STUDENT’S PHONE WAS ‘THROWN IN THE WOODS,’ SAYS LEGAL MOTHER
SFGATE reported that the couple did not walk toward San Miguel, Hamel’s freshman dorm, but instead headed toward San Rafael, another dorm on campus. Alain Hamel stated that his daughter’s dormitory was not on the road from the restaurant to his dormitory, and said, “She lived on the other side of the campus.”
“One doesn’t come across this dormitory by chance. It’s not the first place to go,” Maho said, adding that they believe the man might know someone there or might be staying in the building.
At 10:26 p.m., a passerby, not the man who left the restaurant with him, found Hamel critically injured under the third-floor walkway outside the San Rafael Residence Hall. He was still alive when first responders arrived and died in the hospital six days later.
Hamel moved to California in 2024 to major in biology and chemistry and hoped to become a scientist. He was also a member of the California Zeta chapter of Pi Beta Phi, which mourned his death in March.
TEXAS MOTHER WANTS ANSWERS AFTER HER 19-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS FOUND DEAD AT A UNIVERSITY TAILGATE
A Washington state father is pushing for answers about the investigation into his 18-year-old daughter’s death at UC Santa Barbara earlier this year. (Universal Images Group via Marli Miller/UCG/Getty Images)
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved California Zeta sister, Liz Hamel,” the department wrote. “We send Pi Phi Love and support to his family, loved ones, and our Pi Beta Phi sisters at UCSB during this time.”
“Liz Hamel was a loved and valued member of Pi Beta Phi. She will be remembered for the kindness and joy she brought to others.”
His father had previously expressed the family’s grief in an interview with Fox News.
“He was our world. He was our only child. And he was our everything. … We were so lucky to have had 18 years with him. I wish we had had more time.”
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The events that led to Hamel’s fatal fall remain unclear as prosecutors continue their investigation and the family presses for answers.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price covers crimes including missing persons, murders and immigration crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
