[UPDATE 12/9/1:32 p.m.] The article has been updated to include the response from the UCSB Police Department.
The family of UC Santa Barbara student Elizabeth “Liz” Hamel will continue to investigate the incident that resulted in her death, according to the family and its legal counsel. This follows the University of California Police Department’s conclusion on Dec. 5 that it was an accidental fall.
During an April press conference, Alain Hamel said that during early police briefings, the UCPD’s strategy “did not include public outreach.” Jack Dindia / Daily Nexus
On the night of Feb. 14, Hamel was found unconscious outside of the San Rafael Residence Hall with severe injuries. Six days later, she was pronounced dead at 18 years old. Last Friday, Dec. 5, the University of California Police Department (UCPD) released a statement saying that, after an “exhaustive investigation,” the department concluded it was an “accidental fall.”
According to a joint statement from Attorney Tyrone Maho, the Hamel family’s counsel and Investigator Michael Claytor, they “disagree” with the UCPD’s statement that “there can be a conclusion made in connection with Ms. Hamel’s death.” The group also affirmed that its independent investigation continues.
“We are aware of key inconsistencies that remain unaddressed, creating more questions than answers,” the statement read.
The group also alleged that there may be an “inherent” conflict of interest within the investigation.
“Further, we are concerned that there may be an inherent conflict of interest with the UCSB Police Department investigating this matter, and we could potentially be dealing with a biased review of the events that occurred on February 14, 2025,” the statement concluded.
UCPD responded by saying they conducted a thorough investigation, working closely with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office “since the early stages of the investigation.”
During an April 30 press conference held by the family and its counsel, Hamel’s father, Alain Hamel, said that during early police briefings, the UCPD’s strategy “did not include public outreach.” Before the conference, a young male seen with Liz Hamel on the night of the incident had not been identified.
“We respected that approach and trusted the process. However, as the weeks turned into months, we’ve been having briefings with the police, and the tenor has slightly changed in that area, as it seems they’re having difficulty identifying the man [seen with Liz Hamel],” Alain Hamel said at the time.
In another statement, Alain Hamel said the family still has unanswered questions about the incident. Alain Hamel said the family will continue working with its counsel and the authorities “to ensure that all available evidence is carefully reviewed.”
“On the human side, my wife and I are devastated. Liz was our only child and we are still trying to understand how to go on without her,” the statement read.
Let me see if I can get this straight. Is it true that it wasn’t until the father of Elizabeth Hamel hired a lawyer and private detective, that any information was acquired about the young man who was the last person seen with Elizabeth Hamel? And that two months passed before this information was acquired? And that the UCSB Mafia Police were the ones that interrogated him? Might they have cleared him under pressure from the great criminal propagandist Chancellor-punk, Henry Yang, because they didn’t want to see a “1” next to “Murders” on the their next Clery Report? If… Read more »