Medical Examiner Rules Southwest Flight Attendant's Death a Suicide
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has determined that the death of a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, who fell 24 stories from a Hawaii hotel, was a suicide.
The death of Jenny Lupton, a 50-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant from Oklahoma, has been ruled a suicide by the Honolulu Medical Examiner. Lupton was found deceased on August 20 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort in Waikiki.
The Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner stated that Lupton died of multiple injuries and that the manner of her death was suicide. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) has indicated that the investigation remains active and ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.
Lupton, who had been a flight attendant for 23 years and was the mother of a 15-year-old son, Kaleb, was on a layover in Hawaii. Her body was discovered by a hotel employee near dumpsters at the resort in the early hours of August 20.
Initially, Lupton's family expressed disbelief that she would die by suicide and called for a thorough investigation. Her sister, Tresa Lupton, told KFOR that the family strongly believed it was either a "freak accident or someone harmed her." The family also raised concerns about the timeline of notification after her death and the possibility of foul play. The HPD launched an investigation on August 24 following the family's request.
Lupton's niece, Hannah, shared a heartfelt tribute on a fundraising page set up for the family, describing her aunt as "the light of every party" and a person with an unforgettable personality. The online fundraising campaign has raised over $24,000.
Southwest Airlines released a statement offering condolences and support to Lupton's family and coworkers, and confirmed they were cooperating with authorities.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.