UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The death of Elizabeth Hamel, the UC Santa Barbara freshman who passed from major injuries in February 2025, has been ruled an “accidental fall” by UC Police Department.
On the evening of February 14th, the 18-year-old freshman was found outside San Rafael Hall, unconscious and with significant injuries sustained from falling several stories. Elizabeth was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment, but died six days later from her injuries.
Hamel’s death left family and friends with a multitude of unanswered questions. As a resident of San Miguel Hall, it was unclear how she gained access inside San Rafael Hall, and the identity of the young man she was seen with the night of February 14th remains a mystery…