More data sought on cheerleader's fatal fall
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILUKU, Maui — The autopsy test results are complete, but the medical investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of an 18-year-old New Jersey cheerleader may not be over.
Dr. Anthony Manoukian, Maui County medical examiner, yesterday said that he's considering convening a coroner's inquest to question witnesses under oath about the Jan. 12 death of Lauren Crossan, who fell nine stories from a Ka'anapali hotel room.
Lauren Crossan was set to perform with hundreds of other cheerleaders at the Jan. 17 Hula Bowl.
Police have said the circumstances look suspicious. Nevertheless, they have classified the case as a "miscellaneous accident" for lack of evidence of foul play.
If a coroner's inquest is convened, it would be the first since Manoukian took over as county medical examiner 10 years ago. He said the extra work to draw a more complete picture may be appropriate because of the high-profile nature of the death.
Crossan, a senior at Randolph High School, was a lively, well-liked student and cheerleading captain, and her death garnered extensive media coverage in New Jersey and the rest of the nation.
Manoukian said a formal inquest would go beyond the legal constraints of a police investigation to get a clearer picture of how Crossan came to tumble off a balcony at the Hyatt Regency Maui.
Crossan, who was to perform with hundreds of other cheerleaders at the Jan. 17 Hula Bowl, arrived on Maui at 4:45 p.m. Jan. 11 and died less than 12 hours later. Her nude body was found below the ninth-floor balcony.
The balcony belonged to a room registered to two California men whom she had met hours earlier. The men, ages 19 and 20, were arrested and questioned by police but were released without charges.
Autopsy results so far have found no apparent sign of foul play, no sign of a struggle or any evidence of sexual assault. Her injuries were consistent with a fall.
The autopsy so far has found that Crossan was drunk, with a blood-alcohol level of .17 percent — equivalent to being under the influence of eight or nine drinks, Manoukian said. There was no evidence of illegal or so-called "date rape" drugs.
Manoukian said Crossan's injuries indicate she hit "an intermediate object," possibly the building, during her fall, suggesting that she slipped and fell straight down. If she had jumped or been pushed, she likely would have cleared the building, he said.
A coroner's inquest would allow Manoukian to subpoena witnesses and, with the help of county attorneys, ask questions of them while they were under oath.
Manoukian said he has talked with county officials about launching an inquest and will meet with county attorneys Feb. 9 to discuss options.
Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4808 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
