About ten months after the tragic fall of University of California, Santa Barbara freshman Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel from her dormitory balcony, police have concluded the incident was accidental. The family, however, feels this explanation is insufficient, and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has indicated that the case remains “pending.”
In a recent statement, the University of California, Santa Barbara Police Department (UCPD) shared with FOX News Digital that their investigation determined Hamel’s death was due to an accidental fall. They stated, “Following a thorough investigation into the tragic death of one of our students outside a residence hall in February 2025, UCPD has forwarded its findings to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review.”
UCPD emphasized their collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation.
“Based entirely on a detailed review of all available information and numerous interviews, including persons of interest, it is the department’s conclusion that this incident was an accidental fall,” the statement elaborated.
The department has been in regular contact with Hamel’s family to offer condolences. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss,” they mentioned, adding they have no more information to share out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the case remains “under review,” but did not specify when there might be an update.
Hamel, an 18-year-old student from Bellevue, Washington, studying biology and chemistry, was discovered beneath a third-floor walkway at UC Santa Barbara’s San Rafael Residence Hall around 10:26 p.m. on February 14, 2025. Sadly, she passed away six days later at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Through their attorney, the Hamel family expressed skepticism regarding the conclusions reached by the police. They voiced ongoing concerns about unanswered questions surrounding Liz’s death, stating, “While we acknowledge the UCSB Police Department’s conclusions, there remain 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 considered.”
“On a human level, my wife and I are devastated. Liz was our only child and we are still trying to figure out how we will manage without her.”
— Statement from Alan Hamel, via family attorney Tyrone Maho
Attorney Tyrone Maho and private investigator Michael Claytor voiced their disagreement with police findings, arguing that the evidence doesn’t support closing the case. They highlighted the absence of crucial information and addressed inconsistencies in the investigation that they believe remain unresolved. They also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest regarding UCPD’s involvement in the investigation.
Maho noted that their independent investigation is ongoing, and earlier in June, both Hamel’s father and Maho held a press conference at the site of the fall, seeking insights, especially regarding an unidentified man last seen with Liz that night.
According to Maho, Hamel spent nearly two hours with this individual at a local restaurant, where their interaction seemed friendly. Interestingly, she left her cell phone and ID behind, which friends later retrieved.
Reports indicate that Hamel did not return straight to her own dormitory but ended up at a different one—San Rafael—which is not on a direct route from the restaurant. Hamel’s father noted that the location was not somewhere one would stumble across casually.
At 10:26 p.m., she was found severely injured by a passerby, not the man who had left the restaurant with her. Despite being alive when help arrived, Hamel succumbed to her injuries six days later.
Hamel had moved to California in 2024, aiming to pursue a career in science, and was also a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, which commemorated her death publicly in March.
In his previous comments, Hamel’s father expressed profound grief, stating, “She was our world. She was our only child. And she was our everything… We were so lucky to have her for 18 years. I wish we had more time.”
The circumstances surrounding Hamel’s death remain murky as the investigation continues and her family continues to seek answers.
