Does anyone know the cause of death?

Not to be nosy or anything, but I am interested as well. Dying in your sleep at 20 isn’t quite a common occurrence. I’d guess sleep apnea or sudden cardiac death, but still I have no idea. In any case, I’m not trying to be mean or anything and I would express my condolences to her family in this time.

My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Hawkins’ family.

this is very strange. last year someone else died in their sleep. both were early 20s i believe. very scary. this school is creepy.

I agree; I am also interested in cause of death and do not want to seem nosey. My condolences to the family because this is obviously a tough time for them. But at the age of 20, such a thing is not the norm unless there was a medical problem. Very sad situation.

Indeed, this is tragic and upsetting. But I do want to make a point. Simply saying, “I don’t want to seem nosy, but…” does not negate the fact that you are, in fact, being nosy. This is a private matter. Her family and friends are handling it as such.

If you know how this happened, you probably wish you didn’t. And if you don’t know, you don’t need to know.

Nothing to see here, people. Stop rubber- necking. Move on.

… freaks.

@march 28, 9:59 pm

Excuse me, but your arguments are highly immature. It is quite obvious that saying “I don’t mean to be …” and then saying something usually means you ARE doing that, however, that is not the purpose of using such a phrase. The purpose is to soften the blow, so to speak, so that the person commenting does not look like a jerk, and it shows that he has some tact and cares what other people think about what he says.

Would you rather I had said “I am also interested in the cause of death. Dying in your sleep at 20 isn’t quite a common occurrence. I’d guess…etc” without showing any concern for their family or without saying my intention isn’t to seem nosy? Also, I would suggest that before you pick at trivialities and phrases whose intention is pretty clear to most people out there that you learn “For your FYI” is a redundant phrase. I don’t want to stoop to that level, but this is what it has become.

In addition, I would like to point out that it is quite obvious that it is a private matter. However, privacy is relative and it has been made at least slightly more public through this article. I was merely expressing my concern and I just happened to be curious how it happened, since it’s unusual. Surely you understand how unusual things pique our curiosities. Also, it’s not like I commented with “Tell me the cause of death, now. I need to know it and it’s my business. If you don’t tell me, I will go to the family and interrogate them until they tell me”. I had a good bit of tact, in my opinion, and I was not trying to be offensive to anyone, by any means.

Furthermore, saying if you don’t know, you don’t need to know is true. I never said I need to know by a long shot. I simply wanted to know. I didn’t demand someone tell me or anything of the sort. I suggest you come off your high horse and stop acting self-righteous. It may do you some good.

In conclusion, I don’t mean to be harsh (well, actually, I do), but calling people freaks who genuinely care and are simply curious is one of the most immature things I have seen in some time. Please try to have some common sense in the future.

Oh, and I am the first “Chris” who commented. The one who posted after that is another person, FYI.

Ooh, thanks for pointing out the OBVIOUS redundancy in my intentionally redundant redundancy.

If cause of death was meant to be known, it would have been made known. Was that too roundabout?

The only reason I posted anything in the first place was because of the completely inappropriate speculation made on this very forum regarding the circumstances of the death of another student. In asking how someone has died on an unfiltered “blog”, anyone can respond with what they think happened, what they heard happened, or what someone told them happened. The accuracy of any of that information is questionable.

Speculation feeds the rumor mill. Look at the situation for what it is: someone has died. A bright, beautiful, young woman who served her community and was well on her way to achieving her dreams. If you want to spin theories about how people have died and which organs stopped functioning first and so on, watch CSI. Would it really *really* matter at all to you if you knew that information? Odds are that you didn’t even know Brittany until an email came into your inbox.Now you care about how she died? You should be asking how she lived, the kind of person she was, the lives she touched. That’s what matters. Keep your curiosities to yourself. This is a real person we are talking about. How would you feel if this was you?

All it takes is one ill- informed person (or insensitive liar) to spread a rumor. Have some respect.

@11:21 PM

If it is obvious to you that it is redundant, why not fix it? Or, since it is the name blank, why not use your name? I was not trying to pick out small errors just for the sake of picking them out but people do get defensive.

How is speculation inappropriate, at least what I guessed? I was not saying I knew what the cause of death was, I was simply saying what was possible. I realise that it fuels rumours when people go “this may have happened”, etc. However, there is always the possibility that the author may see it and update the article or do a follow-up article. I never assumed that the cause of death had a nature by which it would be necessary to hide it from others, and if it does, my personal opinion is that it would have helped to at least mention that in the article to keep curious speculation at bay.

Also, while it is true that I did not know her, it really makes no difference in my concern. I’m not so heartless as to only wonder why she died. I just wanted to know for the sake of knowledge. Of course it would matter, because knowledge is always useful somehow, even if it doesn’t always seem like it. Do you really think I would have even commented that I feel sorry for her family and their loss if I didn’t care? The answer, in short, is no.

If this were me, how would I feel? I would understand that people are naturally curious and that it’s not their fault that they want to know, I can say with all honesty. I would also tell the person that I would prefer not to reveal the cause at this time for undisclosed reasons. And if there were such a statement, I would have been perfectly fine with it and I would have still expressed my concern. I don’t believe I am insensitive at all, and I believe I have the right to be curious. Of course this is a real person. I understand that. How have I not been respectful? I just don’t understand how expressing my sympathies to their family is not having respect, but if you can tell me why that is, please, enlighten me.

People want to know the cause of death because the idea of someone 20-something years old passing away in her sleep is scary. Okay? Relax. No one is trying to be disrespectful.

Just as Chris explained it, it was not for gossip purposes. Perhaps this student had a medical condition or was involved in some activity that others can be aware of and hopefully prevent future tragic deaths.

Either way, it is a shame about this girl, she was such a nice person and intelligent student of the classes I took with her. My condolences to her family and friends.

(This post was edited for content by TRW. Please do not use these comments as a means for a personal attack. -TRW Tech)

stop the foolishness and show some respect…if you want to argue do it elsewhere

My condolensces & prayers go out to the family.

And, guys please stop arguing.
Yes it is a shock that someone so young passed away…I’m shocked as well. However, it has occured before…people pass away because it’s their time to go. What I’ve learned from death, especially when someone very young passes away, is that tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, so it’s important that you live each day to the fullest and make the most of every opportunity, because you never know what the future holds. And tell everyone you love that you love them…and stay prayerful.

*Peace*

I can’t believe how edifying, respectful, and relevant your comment is. It is so constructive and really contributes to the article. Calling others’ actions foolishness having never met them in person is pretty silly, IMO. Also, no one is arguing, merely stating points. This article isn’t your own little private plot of land where you can tell others what to do. I think it is quite funny how showing my respect and simply wondering what may have caused such an odd occurrence is viewed as not being respectful. Also, this is an article, not a funeral visitation. I said all I could to express my respect. If you’d still like to judge others while not knowing their heart or what goes through their mind, be my guest.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. May she rest in peace.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

My thoughts and prayers are with her family. May she rest in peace and greet those she knew when we get our next chance to see her. For now she will live in our hearts and our minds.

R.I.P Brittany. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and loved ones.

Wow that really is a shame. My condolences go out to the family

Brittany i miss you sooooooo much it doesnt make any sense……but God takes the good ones for a reason I love you and ill see you one day in heaven!

rest in peace. always love no matter what.

how did she die?

It was a pre-existing cardiac condition that was not thought to be serious. Very shocking and unexpected. She was six weeks pregnant at the time of her death and engaged.