SUMMIT, NJ — Justine Gross’ death was initially called accidental by Penn State police with little other details released, but authorities confirmed on Friday that her her death was the result of an 11-story fall through a trash chute.
The police statement came after her mother, Francoise Gross, told NJ.com about the incident.
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The incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m.on Nov. 10 inside an apartment building on 436 E. Beaver Avenue in State College.
“Video evidence suggests she was alone in the 11th floor hallway and in the waste disposal room when she fell,” police said. They said they incident was an accident, but the investigation is ongoing.
In an interview with NJ.com, however, Gross’ mother told the outlet she’s not convinced her death was an accident. Justine was last with a man who lived in the apartment building who, Francoise believes offered her “a smoke,” possibly drugs. Francoise told NJ.com her daughter was not one to use drugs.
After falling to her death, Gross’ body was taken by a waste disposal truck to the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority transfer station in College Township, authorities said.
That’s where police found her at around 2:45 a.m. on Nov. 12.
Final lab results are still pending from the Centre County Coroner’s Office.
If you have any information on the incident, contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150.
With reporting from Patch correspondent Samantha Mercado
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