Jenny Lupton's Death: Family Rejects Suicide Speculation After Southwest Flight Attendant's Balcony Fall

Jenny Lupton's death has prompted her family to publicly reject speculation that she died by suicide after the 50-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant was found dead at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki on Thursday, August 20.

Lupton, a mother from Moore, Oklahoma, was found near a waste bin during a work layover after her family was told she appeared to have fallen from the balcony of her 24th-floor hotel room.

Honolulu police are continuing to investigate, and authorities have not determined the cause or manner of her death. Her relatives say they do not believe she died by suicide and are seeking answers about what happened.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office attempted to notify Lupton's family at about 12:20 p.m. Hawaii time on Aug. 20, according to the family. Hannah Lupton, Jenny's niece, said her mother received the call from the medical examiner and found the news 'extremely difficult' and 'shocking' because Jenny was her younger sister.

The family tried reaching the Honolulu Police Department after learning of Jenny's death but did not hear from HPD until Monday, August 24. Hannah said the delay was partly due to August 21 being Statehood Day in Hawaii, a state holiday that made contacting officials more difficult.

'We had such a lack of information from everyone for several days,' she said, adding that the family eventually contacted the Oklahoma attorney general's office for assistance.

Jenny Lupton's Death Investigation: Police Say No Conclusions Have Been Made

Honolulu Police Department spokesperson Noreen Reimel told SFGATE there was 'no unnecessary delay in contacting the family.' She explained that the process required positive identification of the deceased, followed by the medical examiner locating and notifying the next of kin before investigators could reach out.

By Monday, HPD had issued a news release saying its Homicide Detail was actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Lupton's death.

Police emphasised that the involvement of the Homicide Detail does not mean Lupton's death has been ruled a homicide. 'At this time, no conclusions have been made regarding the manner of death,' the department said in a statement.

Detectives are conducting numerous interviews, reviewing and recovering surveillance video, and examining evidence as part of what HPD described as 'a thorough investigation that will take time.'

The department said it would limit the release of certain information to preserve the integrity of the investigation but would notify the community if investigators identified an immediate threat to public safety.

Final Hours Before Jenny Lupton's Death: Family Says She Was Not Suicidal

Hannah said the family felt compelled to speak out after public speculation began suggesting that Jenny had died by suicide.

'We wanted to stress that she was not suicidal, and we do not believe it was suicide, especially with a timeline of things and the conversations we had just hours before,' she said.

In the hours before her death, Jenny had been in contact with family members and co-workers. She went dancing with friends, got a hibiscus tattoo and messaged relatives about enjoying her night out.

'She had been texting prior in the day, talking about having fun and going dancing with friends, and that she was really excited,' Hannah said.

The last text Jenny's family received arrived at 4:40 a.m. on August 20 Oklahoma time, which was 11:40 p.m. on August 19 in Hawaii. After returning to the Hilton, she texted fellow flight attendants asking about plans for the following day.

Emergency responders found Lupton dead at the scene on the morning of Aug. 20.

The family has raised the possibility of an accident or foul play, but HPD has not publicly identified either as a likely explanation.

'The patio furniture was not moved, so she wouldn't have been able to climb on that, and that's another thing that shows us it's not a suicide,' Hannah said. She added that the balcony railing was high and that Jenny was 5 feet 1 inch tall.

The family's interpretation of the scene has not been confirmed by investigators, and HPD has not said that the balcony furniture or railing establishes whether Lupton's death was intentional.

'All we know for fact is that there was a fall from her hotel balcony,' Hannah said. 'Other than that, we don't know if she was passed beforehand. We don't know if it happened from the fall. So we're waiting for that information.'

Hannah said the family believes Lupton's death was not suicidal and is concerned that foul play or an accident may have been involved. Those possibilities have not been confirmed by authorities.

A Life of Travel, Family and 29 Years as a Flight Attendant

For Hannah, the circumstances surrounding Jenny's final hours are only a small part of her life.

'Jenny was the type of person who, if you met her, you were never going to forget her, not her personality or her face,' she said.

Her family remembered Jenny as a devoted mother, sister, aunt and daughter who placed a strong emphasis on family. She had three siblings and a large extended family of nieces and nephews and made a point of attending sporting events and other milestones.

Hannah said Jenny loved travelling, was a sports fan who supported the Chicago Bears, and enjoyed gardening and spending time with her cat.

Lupton worked as a flight attendant for 29 years, including 26 years with Southwest Airlines.

'She loved being a flight attendant. She made many, many friends throughout, and that was a lifelong career,' Hannah said.

Jenny's passion for the profession also influenced Hannah, who became a flight attendant herself. Hannah said Jenny helped her prepare for interviews and later pinned her at graduation. The two eventually flew together several times.

Hawaii was Jenny's 'destination of choice,' according to Hannah. She had travelled there for decades, knew Waikiki well and had previously stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

'She loved the ocean. She loved the people there,' Hannah said. 'It was kind of her happy place.'

Since Monday, Hannah said HPD has reached out to assure the family that investigators are conducting a thorough investigation and are not ruling out possibilities. Investigators told the family they would provide updates once they had more definitive information.

'We're just hoping that we can find answers soon,' she said.

Oklahoma Attorney General's Office spokesperson Shauna Peters said in an emailed statement that the office is in contact with the family and Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez's office 'to help ensure a proper investigation' for a family 'who deserve to have answers about this tragedy.'

Southwest Airlines confirmed that Lupton died during a layover in Hawaii and said the carrier is 'engaged with local authorities' as they investigate.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not determined the cause or manner of Lupton's death. Her family's belief that she did not die by suicide, as well as its concerns about a possible accident or foul play, have not been confirmed by authorities.