BR woman falls 12 stories to death
COEUR D'ALENE, ID (WAFB) - An LSU faculty member who fell 12 stories to her death at a luxury resort in Idaho likely accidentally slipped, an investigator says.
Lynea M. Sprung Hambrice, 36, of Baton Rouge checked into the Coeur d'Alene Resort Wednesday afternoon with her 38-year-old boyfriend who is also from Baton Rouge. Hambrice was coordinator of student services at LSU's School of Music. Her boyfriend called a hotel operator early Thursday morning to report the incident.
Resort manager Bill Reagan held a news conference Thursday afternoon and said that the boyfriend reported that Hambrice jumped over the railing of their hotel room balcony in what "appears to be a possible suicide." However, Kootenai County Coroner Jodi DeLuca says her investigation does not point to foul play.
DeLuca says after examining the angle at which Hambrice fell, it appears she accidentally fell from the balcony. If she had intentionally jumped or had been pushed, she would have likely landed farther from the building, DeLuca said. Deluca says there is evidence the woman had been drinking.
The resort manager says the pair checked into the resort Wednesday afternoon and had recently made reservations for a four-night stay. The couple was in the area to attend the boyfriend's class reunion, investigators said. Police say an autopsy has been ordered.
The resort is located 34 miles east of Spokane, Washington. A 2009 survey by Zagat rated the resort as one of the best vacation destinations in America.
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