[UPDATE 5/7/12:58 p.m.]: The article has been updated to include UCSB Media Spokesperson Kiki Reyes’ response.
A young man seen with Liz Hamel on the night of the fall resulting in her death has been identified and interviewed by the UC Police Department, according to her father’s attorney, Tyrone Maho.
The press conference held on April 30 urged the community to help identify the young male. Jack Dindia / Daily Nexus
UCSB first-year student Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel was found unconscious outside of the San Rafael Residence Hall with serious head and body injuries on Feb. 14 at 10:26 p.m., according to her father, Alain Hamel. She was rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where she died six days later at 18 years old. The UC Police Department (UCPD) is actively investigating the incident.
The night the incident occurred, Hamel was seen with a young male at the restaurant Lao Wang in Isla Vista. She was with this male “for a large part of that evening” according to Maho, and was seen leaving Lao Wang with him — 21 minutes later she was found unconscious outside San Rafael Residence Hall.
Hamel and her friends were attending a Valentines Day celebration at Lao Wang the day of the fall, according to Mr. Hamel. Photo courtesy Alain Hamel
At a press conference held on April 30 by Maho and Alain Hamel, they asked students and community members to come forward with any information that may help with the investigation. Since then, many people came forward to identify the male, according to a statement sent to the Nexus by Maho.
“Fortunately, the response [to the press conference] was absolutely amazing. Many people came forward, identifying this person, and the family is so grateful. The family’s investigator, Michael Claytor, then turned over all this information to law enforcement,” Maho said.
Maho said in the statement that he “understands” that UCPD has since interviewed the young male, and is now working with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office. UCSB media spokesperson Kiki Reyes confirmed in a statement to the Nexus that the male has been located and interviewed, and that UCPD has been working with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s office since “the early stages of the investigation” and that they “cannot discuss any additional details at this time.”
Maho and Alain Hamel’s family are still seeking answers from the community on what occurred that evening
“If anyone has any information — maybe they heard something, maybe they remember seeing these two together in those 21 minutes, we still are asking that they come forward,” Maho said. “We will not be satisfied until all the family’s questions have been answered.”
Alain Hamel’s family and Maho encourage the public to come forward with any information that could benefit the investigation by calling Claytor Investigations at 805-335-3851 or contacting him via his website.
A version of this article appeared on p. 1 of the May 8, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
