The family of a 25-year-old Kenyan student who died after falling from the 19th floor of a Sydney hotel is demanding answers, citing injuries they say are inconsistent with such a fall. Sheila Jepkorir Chebii, an international student working as a housekeeper, was found on a fourth-floor podium at Meriton Suites on May 17.
Police initially treated her death as a suspected suicide, but relatives reject this after viewing her body. They report only a small forehead wound, a minor dent over one eye, bruising on her arms, and a slight hip injury. 'No fractures, no shattered skull, nothing. She was just peaceful,' said friend Chepchir Chir.
The family also highlights inconsistencies in the timeline, noting police logs record time of death as 12.30pm, yet phone records show Chebii texting and calling a cousin around that time. They point to CCTV 'blind spots' on the 19th floor and the fourth-floor podium where she was found.
Relatives claim the hotel employer was unreachable for two days after the incident. Chir questioned, 'Why did it take so long for Sheila's employer to contact her family? We want to know what happened on the 19th floor.'
The family has delayed burial and appealed to the Kenyan High Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for intervention. They seek a full forensic autopsy and a thorough investigation. A GoFundMe has raised over $4,000 (£2,130) towards a $12,000 (£6,200) target for legal fees and repatriation.
