No charges in radio contest death

Woman died of water intoxication in contest to win video-game system

Jennifer Strange, 28, willingly participated in the contest by Sacramento radio station KDND-FM and showed no visible symptoms to suggest that she was seriously ill or in danger of dying, Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully said in a statement.

"She knew what the contest involved when she entered it and had the option to stop or discontinue her participation in the contest at any time," said Scully, outlining how prosecutors contemplated -- and ultimately decided against -- filing charges of involuntary manslaughter.

"There were no observable indications or symptoms that Jennifer Strange was experiencing a serious medical emergency which would have required station employees to seek or administer medical aid to her," Scully said.

On Jan. 12, Strange was among a group of contestants who participated in "Hold your wee for a Wii," in which the winner would get a a Nintendo Wii video game player. Contestants were asked to drink large quantities of water over a four-hour period and to refrain from urinting.

After consuming nearly 2 gallons of water, Strange complained of headaches and disorientation. She went home and died that day.

Strange's mother, Nina Hulst, who found her daughter's body, declined comment Monday.

Strange's family, including her three children and widower, William Strange, filed a civil wrongful-death lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court on Jan. 25 against KDND station manager John Geary, the DJs who hosted "The Morning Rave" program and Entercom Communications, the station's parent company. A number of employees were fired after Strange's death.

Scully said the circumstances of Strange's death were distinct from those involving the February 2005 death of Cal State Chico student Matthew Carrington, 21, of Pleasant Hill, who collapsed and died of heart failure after members of a fraternity forced him to drink excessive amounts of water while he performed calisthenics during a hazing ritual. The underlying charge in that case was hazing, which didn't apply in the Strange case, Scully said.