No Criminal Charges In Water Stunt Death

Prosecutors said Monday they will not file criminal charges in the death of 28-year-old Jennifer Strange, who participated in a radio station's water-drinking contest.

The district attorney's office said the behavior of staff at station KDND-FM did not rise to the level of criminal activity.

"It was one of those ill-fated circumstances, no doubt, but not a circumstance where anybody could be charged with involuntary manslaughter," Sacramento County special assistant deputy district attorney Lana Wyatt told KCBS Radio.

Strange died Jan. 12 after taking part in an on-air contest to see which contestant could drink the most water without having to go to the restroom. She drank almost two gallons of water, trying to win a Nintendo Wi for her three children, reports . Later that day, she was found dead at her home.

The coroner's office ruled that Strange died of water intoxication.

At one point during the contest, a listener who identified herself as a nurse called "The Morning Rave" program to warn the disc jockeys that the stunt could be fatal, according to an audio tape of the broadcast.

"Yeah, we're aware of that," one of the DJs responded.

Another DJ laughed: "Yeah, they signed releases, so we're not responsible. We're OK."

"She was an adult, she voluntarily participated in the radio contest, she knew what the contest involved when she entered it, she had the option to stop her participation in the contest at any time," said Wyatt.

Strange's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the station, which fired 10 employees following the death. That lawsuit will proceed.