Help Uncover the Truth Behind Selena's Passing

Seeking Answers for Selena Hubbard

It has been ten months since the heartbreaking and unexpected loss of Selena Hubbard, and the lack of clarity surrounding her passing continues to weigh heavily on our family.

Selena was a bright, kind-hearted, and ambitious 22-year-old, full of life and potential. She passed away on September 17, 2024, just months away from graduating as a senior psychology major at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Her death has left an immeasurable void in our lives and in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved her.

Since that devastating day, Selena’s mother has worked tirelessly to understand what happened—spending countless hours researching, reaching out, and advocating in the hope of finding answers. Unfortunately, the investigation into Selena’s death has been deeply frustrating and painful. From the very beginning, communication issues delayed progress. When the coroner’s office transitioned after the November election, repeated attempts—over several weeks—to contact the outgoing coroner went unanswered. Even more concerning, no one ever reached out to discuss Selena’s medical history, which was critical to understanding what may have happened.

At the time of the autopsy, the only information available included a scene investigation, records from a doctor Selena had only recently started seeing, and input from her therapist. On January 4th, the family was told the autopsy delay was due to Selena’s lab work not being sent where it needed to go. Additionally, there were inconsistencies between what was initially communicated and what was later documented in the official report.

Selena had a complex medical history, including childhood epileptic spasms, a serious neurological condition. Though she had been seizure-free for 20 years, these early episodes contributed to later developmental and mental health challenges. She was diagnosed with ADHD at age 7 and anxiety by age 11, with her anxiety well-managed without medication until she was nearly 21.

Just three weeks before her passing, Selena began seeing a new psychiatrist via telehealth, who prescribed her three new medications. Selena was experiencing side effects from these medications in the days leading up to her death. These prescriptions, when combined, carry the risk of serious complications—including Serotonin Syndrome, arrhythmia, and seizure—especially concerning given her history. These medications are also known to lower the seizure threshold, further increasing the risk for someone like Selena.

Despite these red flags, on February 2025, the cause of death was determined to be “unknown/undetermined.” Toxicology showed her medications were all within therapeutic range. Following a letter from the family outlining their concerns, genetic testing was conducted. But in May, the results remained the same: negative, with no clear cause of death.

It’s worth noting that only 0.015% of autopsies are categorized as "unknown/undetermined"—a rarity that adds to our unease.

We later learned from the autopsy report that Selena was found on the floor face-down on a pillow—not simply " in bed," as we were initially told. This critical detail, and others, raise serious questions. Selena had been healthy, thriving in school, and excited about her future. She didn’t just die—something happened to her.

Her passing deserves more than unanswered questions. Her family deserves clarity. Why was her life cut short? Why didn’t she get the chance to live the life she was building? Why are we living our lives with out her?

On July 10th, we were advised to seek a second opinion from a board-certified forensic pathologist. This review will involve an in-depth analysis of Selena’s medical records, autopsy report, and any other relevant evidence. The cost to begin this review is a $2,100 retainer, with additional time billed at $700 per hour.

While we understand that a second opinion may not change the final outcome, we believe Selena deserves a thorough and independent review. And we, as her family, deserve peace of mind.

This process has been incredibly slow, emotionally exhausting, and financially overwhelming—but we will not stop fighting. We are determined to uncover the truth for Selena.

If you are able to help—whether by contributing financially or simply by sharing our story—we would be deeply grateful. Every bit of support brings us one step closer to the answers we’ve been searching for, and the justice Selena deserves.

With heartfelt thanks,