Miss Alabama Zoe Sozo Bethel death ruled a suicide
The family of Miss Alabama and conservative commentator, Zoe Sozo Bethel announced her death in late February after she sustained brain damage from a fall. According to reports, the 27-year-old committed suicide. Bethel won Miss Alabama for America Strong fall to her death after running at full speed toward a third-floor balcony railing of a Miami condo building, Miami police said, according to Daily Mail.
Miami Police says witnesses including Bethel’s five-year-old daughter, overheard her praying, acting strange, and pacing before she landed in the first-floor parking lot.
Bethel’s brother, Santiago Roman, told police interview that his sister accidentally tumbled over the railing as a result of not seeing it. He said Bethel was on the phone with another one of her brothers, Zion Lemuel Bethel, and she sounded “distressed and at one point started to pray before she jumped.”
The media personality, was also a spokesperson for Students For Life, was hospitalized in a coma after she was found unresponsive by responding police. The details leading up to her death were released in a police report. Bethel ingested an “unknown amount of unknown suspected narcotics” while eating out with her brother on Feb. 10. Another report alleged that “16.9 grams of an unknown type” of drug were recovered from the scene.
“The victim ingested a small amount of the substance. Mr. Roman asked what’s that substance and she replied that it was a form of cannabis that helps her relax given to her by a friend,” the report read.
A female witness called 911 after witnessing Bethel’s fall, adding that Bethel was having a breakdown from possibly taking too many narcotics, according to the police report.
Witness accounts along with the discovery of the narcotics led to the ruling of Bethel’s suicide. However, her family has said she was a devout believer in Jesus Christ, she wouldn’t have killed herself. In fact, her family said in a statement that “if she had a choice, she would still be here with us today.”
As of March 9, a GoFundMe campaign to support Bethel’s family with medical and funeral expenses has raised $50,000 of its $500,000 goal.
Officer Placed On Leave After Video Shows Him Choking Black Purdue University Student
HUD says Texas agency discriminated against Black and Hispanic people after Hurricane Harvey