The man who was last seen with Liz Hamel, the UC Santa Barbara student who died after a balcony fall last year, claimed he saw her climb the San Rafael Residence Hall railing and fall three stories, according to a Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Bureau report obtained by News-Press.
Liz Hamel pictured at Lao Wang on Feb. 14 about an hour before she was found unconscious outside San Rafael Residence Hall. Courtesy of Alain Hamel.
On Feb. 14, 2025, Hamel was found unconscious outside of San Rafael with severe injuries. Seven days later, she was pronounced dead at 18 years old. On Dec. 5, the University of California Police Department (UCPD) released a statement saying that after an “exhaustive investigation,” they concluded it was an “accidental fall.”
News-Press’s article also mentioned Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick said their office considers “the case closed.”
Following UCPD’s statement, a joint statement from the Hamel family’s attorney, Tyrone Maho, and private investigator Michael Claytor, disagreed that “there can be a conclusion made in connection with Ms. Hamel’s death” and that they would continue their independent investigation.
The night of the incident, Hamel was seen leaving with a young male at the restaurant Lao Wang in Isla Vista. According to Maho, she was seen with him “for a large part of that evening,” and was seen leaving Lao Wang with him. 21 minutes later, she was found unconscious outside San Rafael Residence Hall.
The name of the man has never been released by authorities. According to News-Press, which obtained the Coroner’s Bureau report, a UCPD officer told the coroner’s investigator that he had witnessed her climb the railing and fall.
The report stated “her death could not definitively be the result of an accident, intentional or due to the acts of another.” Additional details that were brought to light from the report include Hamel’s fingernails appearing “dirty and damaged,” and an accompanying toxicology report said her blood alcohol concentration was 0.246.
According to a statement from Maho acquired by journalist John Palminteri, Maho reiterated that he believes UCPD’s investigation in this case is an “inherent conflict of interest.” The statement continued by stating that Maho believes the incident should be investigated further.
“Does someone who was with Liz and claims to have simply been a witness to her fall not call 911, but flee the scene? Clearly, a deeper and more thorough investigation is necessary from law enforcement,” the statement read. “As a civil attorney, I am limited in what I can do civilly, and the Hamel family desperately needs answers.”
Maho’s statement concluded by urging anyone who knows the person who was last with Hamel to “come forward and help the Hamel family” by reaching out to Claytor at (805) 335-3851.
News-Press’s article also mentioned Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick said their office considers “the case closed.”
A version of this article appeared on p. 5 of the Feb. 12, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.
She was a beautiful and lively young woman and her death is a major tragedy. Her blood alcohol level of 0.246 indicates something like 6 drinks in the previous hour. That somehow nobody reported her alcohol consumption until now is surprising. It is possible that UCPD was actually trying to keep her condition in the background out of respect for her. She was underage, 18 years old. The giant trucks from Pacific Beverage top up Isla Vista’s 4 dedicated liquor stores every Thursday, and Feb 14, 2025 was a Friday. BevMo is out at Camino Real, and another liquor store… Read more »
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UC Regents cannot be trusted, and the family’s attorney and PI are correct in that UCSB has a conflict of interest. Obviously, the UCPD serves the best interest of their employer, UC Regents, not the interest of public safety or justice.
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It’s heartbreaking that Liz Hamel’s death still leaves so many unanswered questions, especially with a witness who claims he saw her climb the railing and fall—yet fled instead of calling 911. The toxicology report and damaged fingernails raise further uncertainty, but without a deeper investigation, the truth may remain as hollow as a realistic silicone love doll — outwardly convincing on the surface, but missing the living, complex reality inside. The family deserves more than a closed case; they deserve answers.