Oklahoma Woman Found Dead in Hawaii: Family Seeks Answers
Oklahoma Woman Found Dead in Hawaii: Family Searching for Answers
The family of a Moore woman found dead in Hawaii is asking for a thorough investigation after authorities said she appeared to have fallen from the balcony of her 24th-floor hotel room in Waikiki.
Jenny Lupton, 50, was found dead near the Hilton Hawaiian Village three days ago. Her family says the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, and they are traveling to Hawaii as they search for answers about what happened.
Honolulu police have opened an unattended death investigation, while Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has contacted Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez regarding the case.
Oklahoma Woman Found Dead in Hawaii During Work Trip
Lupton, of Moore, had worked as a Southwest Airlines flight attendant for 29 years and was in Hawaii for work when she died.
Her family said she knew Hawaii well and had visited the islands many times. She planned to remain there for several days before returning home to Oklahoma.
Hours before her death, Lupton had been communicating with family members. Her sister, Tresa Lupton, said Jenny had recently spent time with another flight attendant, dancing and enjoying the evening. She had also gotten a tattoo during the trip.
The family was later told by the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner that it appeared Lupton had fallen from the balcony of her hotel room on the 24th floor.
According to the family, a hotel employee discovered Lupton's body near a dumpster.
Her relatives say they do not believe she died by suicide and are concerned about unanswered questions surrounding the timeline of her death.
“The timeline doesn’t make sense, and we are afraid that maybe there was foul play,” Tresa Lupton said.
At this point, however, Honolulu police have not publicly said foul play is suspected.
Family Wants Hawaii Investigation to Determine What Happened
Lupton's sisters now plan to travel to Hawaii both to bring her home and to learn more about the circumstances surrounding her death.
The family said the head of hotel security told them there are more than 70 surveillance cameras in the area and that police are reviewing video. The family said it does not yet know whether anyone witnessed Lupton's fall.
Honolulu police have classified the case as an Unattended Death investigation and said the department will not release additional information at this time.
The involvement of Oklahoma officials has also reached the state level. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has contacted Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez regarding the investigation.
For Lupton's family, those efforts are important because they say they have received little information about what investigators have discovered so far.
They are hoping surveillance footage, the medical examiner's findings and the police investigation will ultimately provide a clearer timeline of what happened during Lupton's final hours.
Moore Family Remembers Jenny Lupton as Investigation Continues
While the investigation continues, Lupton's relatives say they want people to remember the woman behind the questions surrounding her death.
Lupton was the mother of a 15-year-old son and spent nearly three decades working for Southwest Airlines. Her family described her as outgoing, inclusive and someone who made a point of making others feel welcome.
Her niece, Hannah Lupton, followed her into the airline industry and said the two had traveled together several times.
Another niece, Crystal Rios, described Lupton as someone who was popular but always made sure others were included.
Southwest Airlines said the company was saddened by the death of its employee and has offered support to Lupton's family and co-workers. The airline also said it is cooperating with authorities investigating her death.
For now, many of the central questions surrounding Jenny Lupton's death in Hawaii remain unanswered.
Her family says it will continue searching for those answers as Honolulu authorities investigate exactly what happened at the Waikiki hotel.
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