On September 18, 2024, TikToker Melissa’s (@thereal.melissa) 22-year-old niece, Selena Hubbard, died at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Her death was ruled undetermined twice.
When Melissa called the deputy coroner, a hardware store answered the phone instead. However, it was somehow still the correct number for the deputy coroner.
Melissa was told that Selena was found dead in her dorm room, but she believes they are lying. Now, she’s trying to figure out what happened to her niece. It is highly suspicious that a healthy 22-year-old went to bed and just never woke up.
“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,” Selena’s family detailed on a GoFundMe page.
“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.”
Selena Hubbard was born on February 18, 2002. She was a senior at Southern Illinois University, majoring in human psychology. After her cousin passed away from a substance abuse disorder, she decided to change her major so she could help others struggling with the same issues.
She was described as funny, bright, and kind. Selena was very close to her family, including her mom, dad, brother, and two younger sisters. She also loved her dog, Dixie. A memorial visitation was held on September 29, 2024, to celebrate Selena’s life.
Melissa hopes that she can spread the word about her niece and help move the case along by posting Selena’s story on TikTok. In the comments section, many viewers offered their condolences, along with advice on what the family’s next move should be.
“I live 20 minutes from SIU. I’m so sorry for your loss. Sadly, she is not the only suspicious death in Carbondale. I highly recommend you reach out to Larry Young. He is fighting for justice—look up the case Molly Young,” commented one viewer.
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“This is sketchy. Did it happen on campus? The college could be trying to cover it up. Unfortunately, lots of schools will try to cover things up because they don’t want their reputation ruined. It’s sad,” wrote another.
“Carbondale is notorious for being a party school. Have you retraced her steps from the night before? Was she with anyone? Could someone have slipped her something? Around here, you’ve got to do your own policing. A girl went missing less than 10 miles from my house after writing a note saying she’d be back and that she was going for a walk,” shared a third.
Selena’s family has set up a fundraiser page to raise money to hire a private forensic pathologist to go over her autopsy and all the other reports, as the circumstances surrounding her death are still unclear.
“…On February 2025, the cause of death was determined to be “unknown/undetermined.” Toxicology showed her medications were all within therapeutic range,” Selena’s family said on the GoFundMe page.
“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.”
If you would like to make a donation, you can visit the GoFundMe page here.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
