Irv Weinstein's grandson found dead at foot of a California cliff

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By T.J. Pignataro
News Staff Reporter

The grandson of retired local television news legend Irv Weinstein died over the weekend after he fell from a tall cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara, Calif. County sheriff's officials said today.

The body of 22-year-old Noah J. Krom, of Isla Vista, Calif. was discovered early Saturday by three people walking on a beach, according to Drew Sugars, a sheriff's department spokesman.

"It appears to be an accidental fall," Sugars told The Buffalo News late this afternoon.

The incident was believed to have occurred late Friday or early Saturday.

"Right now we're trying to re-create the last 12 hours of [Krom's] life," Sugars said, explaining that deputies were analyzing Krom's phone calls as well as those with whom he last had contact.

Krom's body was found about 6 a.m. Saturday at the bottom of a cliff in the 6600 block of Del Playa Drive, just off the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was a student.

Sugars said the cliff, which backs up to a student community of apartments and fraternity houses, ranges from 30 to 60 feet high. The cliff has been the site of at least four other falls this year, he said, although none of the others proved fatal.

A senior, Krom was days from graduating from the university with a degree in business economics and sports management, according to the Associated Press.

His mother, Beth Krom, the daughter of Weinstein, is a member of the Irvine, Calif. City Council and is a 2010 congressional candidate. She issued a statement through her campaign Sunday.

"We appreciate the kind thoughts, prayers and messages we have received from our friends, the community and our colleagues as well as messages from those who have touched Noah's life over the years," the statement said. "We are grateful for your support during this difficult time."

Weinstein became the face of WKBW's Eyewitness News over a 34-year career that ended with his retirement from the business in 1998. He lives in California.


http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/697130.html?imw=Y