The daughter of Hollywood legend Tommy Lee Jones was found dead inside a luxury San Francisco hotel just hours into the new year - and it was a guest who first mistook her for being drunk.
Victoria Kafka Jones, 34, was discovered unresponsive on the 14th floor of the Fairmont San Francisco by a hotel guest in the early morning hours of January 1, per TMZ.
The unidentified guest reportedly assumed Victoria had too much to drink and notified staff, according to the Daily Mail.
But when hotel workers arrived, they quickly realized something was very wrong. Victoria wasn't moving, and efforts to revive her began immediately.
Hotel staff tried to save her, but it was too late
Emergency services were called to the scene at exactly 2:52AM, the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed.
Staff had already started CPR, and paramedics took over in a desperate attempt to save her life. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded to the 900 block of Mason Street at around 3:14 a.m. following a report of a deceased person.
Medics were already on site when police arrived, and the Medical Examiner soon joined them to begin an investigation.
“There were no signs of foul play, such as trauma to the body, and police did not find any drug paraphernalia on the scene,” a source told Daily Mail. “There were also no signs that Victoria may have taken her own life.”
It’s unclear whether Victoria was a registered guest at the Fairmont or how she ended up on the 14th floor, the source added.
Her acting roots began early alongside her famous father
Victoria was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. The couple were married from 1981 to 1996 and also shared a son, Austin.
Born on September 3, 1991, Victoria grew up in the world of entertainment. She made her screen debut in 2002 with a small role in Men in Black II, the sci-fi comedy hit starring her father and Will Smith.
In 2005, she landed a guest role on One Tree Hill and also appeared in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a gritty Western directed by Jones.
Though she eventually stepped back from acting, she continued to make red carpet appearances with her father over the years.
In 2017, she was seen proudly by his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of Just Getting Started, which starred Jones, Morgan Freeman, and Rene Russo.
That same year, she accompanied him to the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he served as president of the international competition jury.
Jones had openly praised his daughter’s talent and work ethic.
“She’s a good actress, has her SAG card, speaks impeccable Spanish,” he said in an interview promoting The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. “When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish.”
He also shared a light-hearted memory from her time on set: “She had to get up at 5:00AM for her part. One morning, she wouldn’t get out of bed. I said: ‘Honey, this is work.’ But she wouldn’t budge.”
“So I fired her,” Jones recalled. “Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time.”
Family and fans share heartbreak over her sudden death
Victoria is survived by her father, Tommy Lee Jones, her mother, Kimberlea Cloughley, and her older brother Austin.
Following the heartbreaking news, messages of support poured in on social media. One person wrote: “This is horrible. Prayers to the Jones' family.” Another added, “Devastating news when a parent loses their child. My heart goes out to Tommy Lee Jones. Prayers for him and his family for strength and comfort.”
Authorities are now urging anyone with information about the case to contact the SFPD by calling 415-575-4444 or texting TIP411 with a message starting with “SFPD.”