A South Carolina-born student at New Orleans University has died, leaving more questions than answers for her shocked family and friends.
Ciaya Jordan Whetstone, a 21-year-old junior studying at the College of Business Administration, was set to graduate in 2023. Instead, her family is in mourning after she was brought to University Hospital unresponsive. Later, she was pronounced dead.
Ciaya was with friends on February 18 at the Carnival parades in Metairie. Ciaya and her friends left the route around 8:30 p.m. and continued their night at a nearby bar. A friend drove Ciaya to her boyfriend's house, where she remained until around 1 a.m., when she decided she needed to go home and check on her dog.
Ciaya got herself an Uber home. Her roommate, Reese White, told NOLA that Ciaya said the Uber was waiting for her and would take her to go get her car. Reese, who thought Ciaya appeared intoxicated, tried to convince her to stay home.
Another friend of Ciaya's, Roberto Torres, called her at 1:30 a.m., as she was getting back in the Uber. He overheard the driver ask Ciaya, "Do you like to party?" Ciaya told Roberto she'd call him back, but she never did.
"I called. I called. I called — nothing," he shared.
That was the last known time anyone spoke with Ciaya. She was bought to University Hospital unresponsive at about 7 a.m. February 19. She was pronounced dead by paramedics, with officials saying her death is "unclassified" and that she was brought to the hospital via "private conveyance," a term law enforcement uses to indicate that an ambulance wasn't used.
Uber says it has launched an investigation into the driver who picked up Ciaya. The company has deactivated the driver's account.
"Our thoughts are with Ciaya Whetstone's family as they grieve the loss of their daughter," a spokesperson for Uber told Fox News. "We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation."
Ciaya's family has decided not to comment on her death until the coroner concludes his determination of her cause and manner of death.
"We've got a tough few days ahead of us," stepfather Chris Ferrand told reporters.
"Right now, my concern is getting Ciaya home so we can lay our angel to rest."
University of New Orleans president Dr. John Nicklow released a statement addressing Ciaya's death.
"As a University, few things are more challenging than dealing with the sadness of the death of a student," the statement read.
"Our thoughts are with Ciaya's family and friends. We are offering counseling services to students and employees who need support."
