WOMAN FOUND DEAD AFTER STATION CONTEST 

Kevin Carter – Radio and Records

It's every radio station's worst nightmare -- a 28-year-old mother of three who competed in a water-drinking contest last Friday at Entercom CHR/top 40 KDND (107.9 The End)/Sacramento to win a Nintendo Wii was found dead in her home several hours later.

Preliminary autopsy findings concluded Jennifer Strange showed signs that were consistent with water intoxication, according to Sacramento County asst. coroner Ed Smith, who added that Strange's autopsy found no traces of "life threatening medical conditions" that would have otherwise explained her sudden death.

Strange was found dead in her home by her mother Friday afternoon, just hours after she competed in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, where the contestants drank as many bottles of water as they could without going to the bathroom. The person who held out the longest would receive a Nintendo Wii video game system.

"She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad," said Laura Rios, one of Strange's co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento. "She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her." Strange's supervisor called Strange's mother, who went to her daughter's home and discovered her body.

According to various published reports and coverage on local ABC affiliate Channel 10, the contest began at 6:15 a.m. Friday during The End's Morning Rave, where 17-20 contestants were each handed eight-ounce bottles of water to drink every 15 minutes.

Fellow contestant James Ybarra said he bailed out after 90 minutes. "I tapped (out) after five (bottles)," Ybarra said. "My bladder couldn't handle it anymore." Ybarra said after he quit, the remaining contestants were given even larger bottles to drink. Strange was still in the contest when he opted out. "I was talking to her and she was a nice lady," Ybarra said. "She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for the kids."

On Monday, Entercom/Sacramento VP/market manager John Geary posted this note on The End's Web site:

All of you are probably aware of the tragic death of a contestant, Jennifer Strange, following her participation in a contest on the Morning Rave last Friday.

 

First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies go out to Jennifer's family and loved ones.?

 

I also want to assure you that the circumstances regarding this matter are being examined as thoroughly as possible.

 

We are doing everything we can to deal with this difficult situation in a manner that is both respectful and responsible. In the interim, the Morning Rave is off the air indefinitely. Thank you.

R&R has reached out to Geary and PD Steve Weed for additional comments.

[ Email this article | Return to ByrnesMedia Main Page ]