Dad reveals daughter met man hours before fatal Valentine’s Day dorm fall

A grieving father has shed light on his daughter’s final hours before a tragic fall.

The details surrounding who she was with remain a heartbreaking mystery.

A Life Cut Tragically Short

Liz Hamel, a bright 18-year-old freshman, had her whole life ahead of her at the University of California Santa Barbara.

But on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, the unthinkable happened.

She was discovered unconscious outside her campus dormitory in the early hours of February 14th.

Authorities believe she fell from a dorm breezeway.

Despite medical efforts, Liz tragically succumbed to her injuries days later, leaving her family devastated and searching for answers.

‘She Was Our World’

Liz’s father, Alain Hamel, is bravely speaking out, desperate to understand what led to his only child’s death.

Speaking to Fox News, he described the immense void left by her absence.

“She was great,” Hamel shared, his voice thick with emotion. “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.”

The family, based in Seattle, has been liaising with the UC Santa Barbara Police Department (UCPD).

Hamel acknowledged the police’s kindness and empathy but expressed frustration over the lack of concrete details.

“Over the past few months, we’ve been briefed by UC Santa Barbara PD… But, of course, since it’s an ongoing investigation, they can’t give us a tremendous amount of details,” he explained.

A Public Plea and a Breakthrough

Feeling stuck, the Hamel family recently took a significant step.

They reached out to the Santa Barbara community, seeking help identifying a young man seen with Liz on the night she fell.

The response was incredibly swift.

Within just 24 hours, university police had located and spoken to the individual.

“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 gratefully.

He added, “I’m not the police. I am on the outside, but it seems like they really moved it forward.”

University Confirms Interview, Investigation Ongoing

UC Santa Barbara confirmed the development in a statement.

“An individual who was identified in relation to the incident at our residence hall has been located and interviewed,” the university stated.

“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.”

The statement emphasized the police department’s commitment.

“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.”

Crucially, the university noted the man interviewed is not considered a suspect in Liz’s death.

The Valentine’s Day Encounter

So, who was this man seen with Liz just before the tragic incident?

Alain Hamel revealed what investigators have pieced together so far.

He explained that, as far as he knows, his daughter met the young man spontaneously that evening.

“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,” Hamel recounted.

Neither Hamel nor Liz’s friends apparently knew the man prior to that night.

Surveillance footage captured them together, though only from certain angles.

“And then they left [the noodle bar] 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,” Hamel stated, outlining the tragically short timeframe.

The exact sequence of events between leaving the restaurant and Liz being found remains the focus of the ongoing investigation.

As the investigation continues, the Hamel family holds onto the memory of their beloved daughter, hoping for closure.

Anyone with information regarding Liz Hamel’s death is urged to contact the tipline at 805-335-3851.