NJ College Student Died After Fall Down Trash Chute: Report

SUMMIT, NJ — Justine Gross' death was initially called accidental by Penn State police with little other details released, but authorities confirmed on Friday that her death was the result of an 11-story fall through a trash chute.

Gross was a 19-year-old sophomore at Penn State and graduate of Summit High School's class of 2020. She was reported missing Nov. 10 and then found dead the next morning. Penn State police released a statement last week saying it appeared her death was accidental but did not release where she was found or the circumstances surrounding her death. Police asked anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact the State College Police Department

The incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m.on Nov. 10 inside an apartment building on 436 E. Beaver Avenue in State College.

"Video evidence suggests she was alone in the 11th floor hallway and in the waste disposal room when she fell," police said. They said they incident was an accident, but the investigation is ongoing.

In an interview with NJ.com, Gross' mother told the outlet she's not convinced her death was an accident. Justine was last with a man who lived in the apartment building who, Francoise believes, offered her "a smoke," possibly drugs. Francoise told NJ.com her daughter was not one to use drugs.

After falling to her death, Gross' body was taken by a waste disposal truck to the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority transfer station in College Township, authorities said.

That's where police found her at around 2:45 a.m. on Nov. 12.
Final lab results are still pending from the Centre County Coroner's Office.

If you have any information on the incident, contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150.