On Sunday, family members of Zoe Sozo Bethel, 27, who won Miss Alabama for America Strong 2021, announced on Instagram that she died eight days following injuries from an undisclosed accident.
It was later reported that Bethel died following a suicide attempt based on a police investigation, per the NY Post. However, Miami PD later clarified Bethel died after falling from a third-floor window at a Miami condo building.
“This was a tragic accident, and no foul play is suspected,” Miami Police said in a statement.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled Bethel’s death to be accidental. The cause of her death was blunt force trauma.
The 27-year-old’s passing came four days after her family initially reported she was involved in an unspecified “accident” and had “sustained severe damage to her brain/brainstem & is in a coma.”
“Zoe had an accident Thursday night, February 10th, & sustained severe damage to her brain/brainstem & is in a coma.”
“Unfortunately the doctors are saying the damage cannot be repaired & that she may not have much time left,” they added.
On February 20, Bethel’s family shared the news of her passing.
“On Friday, February 18, 2022, at approximately 5:30AM Eastern time in Miami, Florida, our beloved Zoe Sozo Bethel passed from this life into the next as a result of succumbing to her injuries,” they wrote adding that she “touched the hearts of many people” and was involved in several organizations. “She was the current Miss Alabama (for America Strong), a political commentator for RSBN, a Brand Ambassador for Turning Point USA, and Liberty University’s Falkirk Center. She was also a spokeswoman for Students for Life and affiliated with Project Veritas,” while asking for “effectual and fervent prayers” and privacy.
Since the news of her death, tributes have been pouring in on social media platforms from supporters and fans.
