The parents of Liz Hamel, an 18-year-old college freshman, are seeking further clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding her death, despite university police classifying it as an accident. The incident occurred on the night of February 14th at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus.
According to reports, Liz fell from a three-story breezeway. University police have concluded that the fall was accidental.
A police spokesperson, Kiki Reyes, stated that the University of California Police Department (UCPD) conducted a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which occurred outside a residence hall in February 2025. The findings were then forwarded to the Santa Barbara District Attorney for review.
Reyes further explained that the investigation involved a systematic review of all available information, including numerous interviews, and an account of events. A person of interest was identified and interviewed during the investigation. Based on this exhaustive process, the department concluded that the incident was an accidental fall that resulted in the student’s passing. Reyes extended condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
However, Liz’s parents remain unconvinced and are determined to uncover more details about the events leading to their daughter’s death.
Alain Hamel, Liz’s father, issued a statement expressing the family’s continued pursuit of answers. “We are aware of UC Police’s conclusion, [but] we still have unanswered questions about how Liz died,” he said.
He added that they will continue to collaborate with their legal counsel and relevant authorities to ensure a thorough review of all available evidence. Alain mentioned that their attorney and a private investigator they hired have “technical” questions that require answers.
The investigation revealed that Liz had spent Valentine’s Day evening with friends in Isla Vista. The group visited the Lao Wang Noodle Bar, where Liz was seen on security footage with a young man with blond hair. They left the restaurant together at 10:05 PM.
Tragically, just 21 minutes later, a passerby discovered Liz lying on the sidewalk beneath a third-floor walkway at a campus dormitory. She was suffering from cardiac arrest.
Paramedics rushed Liz to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where she remained until her death six days later.
Frustrated by the lack of information in the months following Liz’s death, Alain Hamel and his lawyer, Tyrone Maho, held a press conference at the site where Liz was found. They specifically sought answers regarding the identity and involvement of the man Liz was last seen with.
Maho stated that Liz spent approximately two hours at the noodle bar before leaving with the man, whom he described as someone with whom she had been “very close.” Surveillance footage showed the man holding Liz. A photo taken at the noodle bar depicted him wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans.
After leaving the restaurant, Liz and the man did not proceed to her dorm, San Miguel Residence Hall. Instead, they went to the San Rafael dorm, which Alain pointed out was “on the other side of campus and was not on the route from the restaurant to her dorm.”
Maho emphasized the unusual location: “One doesn’t just simply stumble across this dorm. It’s not the first place one would go to. So we believe he might have known someone here. He might have been staying here.”
Alain later confirmed that police questioned the young man his daughter was with that night shortly after the news conference.
Despite the UCPD’s conclusion of accidental death, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has stated that the case remains “still under review.”
In the meantime, Alain and his wife are struggling to cope with their loss. “She was my daughter, my friend, my TV buddy and my constant source of pride,” he said. “I miss her with every breath, but I am endlessly grateful for every moment we shared.”
The case raises several questions:
- What exactly transpired in the 21 minutes between Liz leaving the noodle bar and being found injured?
- Why did Liz and the man go to the San Rafael dorm instead of her own?
- Did the man have any connection to the San Rafael dorm?
- What was the nature of Liz’s relationship with the man?
- While the police consider the case closed, what new evidence could the District Attorney’s office uncover?
The Hamel family is determined to find answers and ensure that all aspects of Liz’s death are thoroughly investigated. They seek closure and a full understanding of the tragic events that led to the loss of their daughter.
