Police Probe Death After Radio Contest

[Trossi3389]

(Jan. 17) - Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a woman believed to have been killed by drinking too much water in a radio station contest.

On a tape of the Jan. 12 show, disc jockeys on KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" joke about the possible dangers of consuming too much water, at one point alluding to a college student who died during such a stunt in 2005.

A listener called the show to warn the DJs that the stunt was dangerous and that someone could die.

"Yeah, we're aware of that," one of them said.

Another DJ laughed: "Yeah, they signed releases, so we're not responsible. We're OK."

"And if they get to the point where they have to throw up, then they're going to throw up, and they're out of the contest before they die, so that's good, right?" another one said.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department decided to pursue the investigation Wednesday after listening to the tape, obtained by The Sacramento Bee newspaper, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said.

Jennifer Lea Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three, was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by determining how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom. The show's DJs called the contest "Hold your Wee for a Wii."

"Hey, Carter, is anybody dying in there?" a DJ asked during the show. "We got a guy who's just about to die," the other responded, and all the DJs laughed.

"I like that we laugh about that," another said.

"Make sure he signs the release. ... Get the insurance on that, please."

Strange participated in the contest during the morning in the studio and was found dead that afternoon. The county coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicate she died of water intoxication.

Other contestants said Strange may have ingested as much as two gallons of water. Several hours into the contest, Strange was interviewed on the air and complained that her head hurt.

"They keep telling me that it's the water. That it will tell my head to hurt and then it will make me puke," she said.

Strange won the second-place prize, tickets to a Justin Timberlake concert. She commented on the tape that she looked pregnant, and a female DJ agreed.

"Oh, my gosh, look at that belly. That's full of water. ... Come on over, Jennifer, you OK?" the DJ asked. "You going to pass out right now? Too much water?"

On Tuesday, KDND's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, fired 10 employees connected to the contest, including three morning disc jockeys. The company also took the morning show off the air.

Station spokesman Charles Sipkins said Wednesday that the company had not yet heard from the sheriff's department but that it would cooperate with the investigation.

Attorneys for the Strange family said Wednesday they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station.

[cptkirk321]

Attorneys for the Strange family said Wednesday they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station.

Why because your daughter was friggen stupid for doing this? Rest in peace but this is ridiculous, and for what a video game system Unfriggenbelievable how stupid some people are in this world and if they win this lawsuit the lawyers, judge and jurors should all be shot and pissed on

[Bobtheicon]

Originally Posted by cptkirk321

Attorneys for the Strange family said Wednesday they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station.

Why because your daughter was friggen stupid for doing this? Rest in peace but this is ridiculous, and for what a video game system Unfriggenbelievable how stupid some people are in this world and if they win this lawsuit the lawyers, judge and jurors should all be shot and pissed on

Do you not think the radio station should have any liability in this? Stupidity should not beget nor condone negligent homicide. Sure there are a lot of stupid people that would be better off dead; but that is another discussion.

How about if Donald Trump sponsored a little game of Russian Roulette for $10 Million Dollars? Sure its a bit of an extreme example, but its the same principle.

[cptkirk321]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

Do you not think the radio station should have any liability in this? Stupidity should not beget nor condone negligent homicide. Sure there are a lot of stupid people that would be better off dead; but that is another discussion.

How about if Donald Trump sponsored a little game of Russian Roulette for $10 Million Dollars? Sure its a bit of an extreme example, but its the same principle.

or in this instance a video game system Its time people stop trying to blame others and cash in for their own friggen STUPIDITY!!!

[guzzi]

i herd bout diz...just dont get it...

[Trossi3389]

What these radio stations have to realize is some of these people will go to the end of the earth to win a prize. This women had 3 kids who was probably on dss and zero christmas. DJ's will push the envolope just to get ratings........ turned out to be deadly here.

[skippy]

Basically.....she drowned.....without getting her hair wet.

[skippy]

Originally Posted by Trossi3389

What these radio stations have to realize is some of these people will go to the end of the earth to win a prize. This women had 3 kids who was probably on dss and zero christmas. DJ's will push the envolope just to get ratings........ turned out to be deadly here.

It must've been an awfully stupid idea if even JACKASS won't attempt it.

[RICKS PICKS]

I live in the Sacramento area,and its huge news here.I was just counting the seconds down before the family hired (one of the many thousands that called I am sure) an attorney.The station fired all the employees that were involved.The police are now looking into criminal investigations,when they originally said they werent. Watch out Howard Stern and any other type of shock jocks ,because this is going to change the way that any contests ,or competitions are looked at.Not only that ,anybody so much as gets their feelings hurt at one will no doubt sue when this settlrment comes out.

[skippy]

Originally Posted by RICKS PICKS

I live in the Sacramento area,and its huge news here.I was just counting the seconds down before the family hired (one of the many thousands that called I am sure) an attorney.The station fired all the employees that were involved.The police are now looking into criminal investigations,when they originally said they werent. Watch out Howard Stern and any other type of shock jocks ,because this is going to change the way that any contests ,or competitions are looked at.Not only that ,anybody so much as gets their feelings hurt at one will no doubt sue when this settlrment comes out.

O OH......does that means the local watering holes will now limit customers to only 3 glasses of water per night??

[guzzi]

can we get a verdict on diz one...im thristy...

[skippy]

Its another one of these incredible situations where the law is trying to protect people from being stupid.

It is against the law to attempt suicide.
If the person succeeds, good luck in trying to prosecute that person.

[setshot]

seems to me that the "stupid" people in this case are the station employees, who devised and promoted this contest, knowing full well that it could result in the death of a participant.
a lawsuit here would not be frivolous and the station should be held accountable both civically and criminally.

[Steel]

I also live near Sacramento and a College Student just north of here in Chico California died a few months back from a hazing incident. A fraternity had a contest and they had to drink a large amount of water to get in. Needless to say the kid died and the kids involved are in big trouble. Now this happens and I have to ask myself, don't people read the papers or watch the news. The lady has to carry some of the blame. Attorneys will do anything for money so the fact that they are now involved should not surprise anyone. What is a surprise is that the people kept drinking even when a nurse called into the radio station and said that the people could die for water intoxication. They kept drinking ! Something tells me that if these people were led to a cliff and told to jump they would be first in line. I feel bad for the family but you have to be held responsible for your own actions.