Father presses for answers in college freshman daughter's death after fall from dorm: 'She was our world'
A Washington state father is pressing for answers about the investigation into his 18-year-old daughter's on-campus death at a California university earlier this year.
Liz Hamel, 18, was found unconscious outside a dorm on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara Feb. 14 after apparently falling from a breezeway. She died days later.
But what happened leading up to her death remains a mystery.
"Over the past few months, we've been briefed by UC Santa Barbara PD, and they've been very kind to us. They've been … empathetic. But, of course, since it's an ongoing investigation, they can't give us a tremendous amount of details," Alain Hamel, Liz's father, told Fox News "America Reports" co-anchor Sandra Smith in an interview Friday.
New England Serial Killer Fears Heighten After Eighth Idyllic Town Rocked By Gruesome Discovery
Hamel, who lives in Seattle, told Fox News his family reached out to the community this week for help finding a man who was with his daughter the night she fell. Within 24 hours, university police were able to talk to the person of interest.
Read On The Fox News App
"I think it was incredibly successful. … I can't say enough for Santa Barbara. It was so fast. They really helped us so much to move the investigation forward," Hamel said. "I'm not the police. I am on the outside, but it seems like they really moved it forward."
"An individual who was identified in relation to the incident at our residence hall has been located and interviewed," UC Santa Barbara said in a statement. "The investigation is still ongoing, and we cannot discuss any additional details at this time. UCPD is keeping the family informed and is working closely with (the) Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office.
Yosemite National Park Employee Dies From Mysterious Injuries In Staff Housing
"UCPD is committed to continue its comprehensive investigation to seek answers related to this tragic event and has been working closely with the district attorney's office and the sheriff's office since the early stages of the investigation."
Hamel said he doesn't know the man who was with his daughter and neither did his daughter's friends. He is not a suspect in her death.
Hamel said, as far as he knows, they met at a noodle bar that night, "and they hit it off, and it was Valentine's Day. So, I think that might've had something to do with it. And, yeah, they were photographed together only from a certain angle. And then they left a little after 10:06 (p.m.). And then, to my knowledge, at 10:27 is when she was found unconscious, having fallen from that breezeway."
"She was great," Hamel said of his daughter. "She was our world. She's our only child. And she was everything to us. She was a real joy. And you know, we were so lucky to have 18 years with her. We wish we had more time."
A tipline is available at 805-335-3851 for anyone with information surrounding Liz's death.Original article source: Father presses for answers in college freshman daughter's death after fall from dorm: 'She was our world'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Boulder suspect spent a year planning Molotov cocktail attack on pro-Israel march: docs
The Boulder, Colorado domestic terrorism suspect spent a year preparing to hurl Molotov cocktails into a peaceful pro-Israel march, court documents revealed. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national whose visa, which was granted during the Biden administration, expired in March 2025, told federal authorities that the violence was a long time in the making. In an interview with authorities, according to the federal complaint, the suspect said he was waiting for his daughter's graduation before carrying out the attack. Boulder Terror Attack Suspect Said He Wanted To Kill 'All Zionist People,' Used Molotov Cocktails: Feds Following his daughter's milestone, he allegedly proceeded with his plan. Court documents say he researched how to build incendiary weapons on YouTube, collected the ingredients over time, and transported the homemade devices to Boulder in his silver Toyota Prius. On Sunday, June 1 at 12:55 p.m. MST, Soliman arrived early to the gathering, according to the complaint. He told authorities that he discovered "Run For Their Lives," a group organizing weekly walks to bring awareness to the Israeli hostages, through social media. Read On The Fox News App As participants assembled in Boulder's Pearl Street area, Soliman allegedly yelled "Free Palestine!" and launched two lit Molotov cocktails into the throngs of people at 2 p.m. MST. He was arrested shortly after. The incident, which the FBI described as a "targeted terror attack," left twelve people, ages 52 to 88, with injuries, including one in critical condition. None of the victims have died. READ THE FEDERAL COMPLAINT – APP USERS, Click Here Soliman later told investigators he specifically targeted what he called a "Zionist group" and wished they were all dead. "I would do it again," he told authorities, according to the complaint. According to the affidavit, Soliman was motivated by "Zionists." He told officers that the people at the event represented an existential threat to "our land," referring to Palestine, and that they had to be stopped. Suspect In Boulder Terror Attack Determined To Be Egyptian Man In Us Illegally: Fbi Law enforcement recovered at least 14 unlit Molotov cocktails, along with gasoline, red rags, and a weed sprayer that may have been intended for dispersing flammable liquid, according to the complaint. Inside his vehicle were papers bearing the words "Israel," "Palestine," and "USAID," authorities said. WATCH: Witnesses capture alleged suspect on video following Boulder attack A video later posted on X appeared to show the suspect shirtless and pacing, holding one of the makeshift weapons and shouting, "How many children killed?" followed by, "End Zionist." Law enforcement also searched Soliman's home, where he said he had left a journal and an iPhone containing messages to his family. His wife later turned over the phone to authorities. A storage unit behind the residence, linked to Soliman by a neighbor, was also investigated. Soliman is charged with violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 249(a)(1) and (a)(2), federal hate crime statutes involving acts motivated by race, religion, or national origin. Fox News' Bill Melugin and Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Boulder suspect spent a year planning Molotov cocktail attack on pro-Israel march: docs
American Military News
an hour ago
- American Military News
Video: Activists ‘shielded a killer' in ICE operation near Boston
A group of activists forced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston agents to abandon a surveillance operation at the home of an illegal immigrant suspect wanted for murder after surrounding the agents' vehicle and blowing their cover. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that ICE agents were 'surveilling a murderer's home in their car, when a crowd surrounded their vehicle, blew their cover, and they had to pull off the target.' Melugin explained that the incident took place last Thursday in Somerville, Massachusetts, which is near Boston, and that the murderer was located 'close to a school.' READ MORE: Pic: ICE raids CBS News anchor's husband's restaurant in DC 'An activist later posted a video, boasting that they got ICE to leave the area, and that they were 'trying to kidnap kids from school,' Melugin tweeted. 'They shielded a killer.' Following last week's incident, an activist shared a video on social media and appeared to be bragging about stopping ICE's operation in Somerville. 'ICE just tried to abduct a bunch of kids and parents right here at Somerville High School, and so many community members showed up that ICE just left,' the activist said. 'Remember, you are the major power in your community. If you show up with people you trust quickly; you can protect kids, you can protect families. So form information networks, know where ICE is in your community, and show up.' According to Fox News, ICE officials have started to face growing resistance from sanctuary states and cities, as well as various activist groups across the country. The outlet noted that in addition to activists blowing the cover of the ICE agents who were surveilling an illegal immigrant murderer's home, another activist reportedly tried to prevent agents from arresting an illegal immigrant who had been handcuffed by law enforcement officials. Addressing the resistance ICE officials have faced in recent weeks, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde told Fox News, 'I think the lack of cooperation is getting worse and worse, and it's putting law enforcement lives in danger.' 'We're not going away,' Hyde added. 'It might take us longer. It might be harder, but we're not going away, we're here. We know what the American people voted for. We understand that we work for the American people and we're going to be here until we send everyone home.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss, ‘King of the Hill' Voice Actor, Fatally Shot at 59
Jonathan Joss, best known as the voice actor behind King of the Hill's John Redcorn, died after being fatally shot at the age of 59, according to police. During a dispute, Joss was shot and killed by a neighbor on Sunday night in San Antonio, Texas, said authorities. According to The New York Times, the neighbor was identified by investigators as Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, who was taken into custody and charged with murder. More from Rolling Stone Valerie Mahaffey, 'Northern Exposure' and 'Desperate Housewives' Actress, Dead at 71 Alf Clausen, Longtime 'The Simpsons' Composer, Dead at 84 James Lowe, Lead Singer of Psychedelic Band the Electric Prunes, Dead at 82 According to a statement shared on Joss' Facebook account by his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the couple had returned to the site of their former home, which had been damaged in a fire, to check on their mail. They were approached by a man who began yelling homophobic slurs and fired his gun, said de Gonzales. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone,' said de Gonzales. 'We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.' Joss and de Gonzales married earlier this year on Valentine's Day. In a text message to The Associated Press, de Gonzales wrote, 'He was murdered.' Joss was found near the street by officers, and paramedics pronounced him dead when they arrived, according to The Times. The San Antonio Police Department did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment. Joss was best known for his distinct voice playing Redcorn, a Native American character on King of the Hill, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. The series will return to the small screen 15 years after it ended its original run and Hulu will debut Season 14 of King of the Hill in August. It's unclear if Joss will be featured in the revival. A rep for Mike Judge did not immediately return Rolling Stone's request for comment. Joss also featured in a recurring role on the popular television show Parks and Recreation as Chief Ken Hotate. He has also appeared in Tulsa King, Ray Donovan, True Grit, and The Magnificent Seven. Before his death, Joss posted a video on Instagram as he shared his excitement about the beloved series' return, saying that the 'reboot is up and moving' and invited fans to meet him at a comic shop in Austin, Texas, and take photos for free. When walking around the shop and discussing his character in the new series (his role in the next season has not yet been confirmed), Joss mused about the idea of 'expiration dates.' 'We have them, man, life and death. Sometimes we have a talent, a desire. Sometimes you get put on a shelf,' he said. 'If you're canned and you put on the shelf, expiration date is like forever. Be a can of whoop ass when you get on that shelf. Think about moving forward. Think about being a can with an amazing expiration date. So, even if they put you on the shelf, man, when you come out of that can, you're fresh.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century
