What Really Happened to Elisa Lam?

The mysterious disappearance and tragic death of Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles have captivated the public's imagination since 2013. The combination of strange circumstances, chilling coincidences, and unsettling video footage from the hotel's elevator has spawned numerous theories ranging from the plausible to the paranormal.

The Cecil Hotel's Infamous History

The Cecil Hotel, rebranded as Stay On Main in 2011, has a dark and storied past. Opened in the 1920s, it was initially a luxurious destination but fell into decline during the Great Depression. Over the decades, it became a hotspot for crime and tragedy, earning a reputation as one of Los Angeles' most haunted buildings. The deaths of Lam and others only add to the hotel's eerie legacy.

The first recorded death at the hotel happened in 1927 when a man named Percy Ormond Cook committed suicide in his room. This was just the first of many suicides that would take place over the hotel's history. Further, serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as The Night Stalker, lived at the hotel before he was captured in 1985. It's believed Ramirez committed some of his crimes while staying at the Cecil. In 1991, another serial killer, Jack Unterweger, was arrested after staying at the hotel. Unterweger, a magazine writer, was convicted of murdering nine prostitutes across Europe and the US.

The Cecil's deadly past and subsequent reputation as a haunted hot spot were amplified in 2020 when Ghost Adventures took their cameras into the hotel for an investigation, leaving the public with an even more sinister impression of the hotel.

The building is designated as a historical landmark but is currently closed to the public.

The Facts of the Case

Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old Canadian student, was reported missing on Jan. 31, 2013, during her stay at the downtown Los Angeles hotel, which had rooms for guests like Elisa as well as long-term housing for unhoused people in the Skid Row area of L.A.

Her body was discovered on Feb. 19, 2013, in a water tank on the hotel's roof after guests complained of low water pressure. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office ruled her death as an accidental drowning.

The Surveillance Footage

The most perplexing element of the case is the surveillance footage from the hotel's elevator, released by the Los Angeles Police Department to gather information from the public. The video shows Lam acting erratically — pressing multiple buttons, peeking outside the elevator, hiding in the elevator's corner, and making strange gestures while speaking. This footage quickly went viral and fueled countless theories about what transpired in her final moments, including whether paranormal activity was to blame.

Theories Explored

Lam's strange behavior in the surveillance video spurred conspiracy theories that someone may have been after her and killed her, but the autopsy report found no evidence of foul play. Others believe that the Cecil is haunted, and that there may be a supernatural explanation to Lam's death. Other conspiracy theorists have linked Lam's death to the spread of a tuberculosis outbreak in Skid Row around the same time. They point out the eerie coincidence that a T.B. test used during the outbreak was called the LAM-ELISA test, an acronym for the test's full name, Lipoarabinomannan Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Though intriguing, there is no evidence to suggest a real connection.

The most widely accepted theory, however, is that Lam was experiencing a severe episode related to her bipolar disorder. Her family confirmed that she had a history of not taking her medication, which could lead to hallucinations and disorientation. Toxicology tests indicated that Lam had not taken her prescribed medications at the time of her death, supporting this theory. Lam was also showing erratic behavior in the days leading up to her disappearance.

The disappearance and death of Elisa Lam remains one of the most haunting mysteries of the 21st century. While the official conclusion points to a tragic accident exacerbated by mental illness, the bizarre circumstances and unsettling details continue to inspire alternative theories. As with many true crime cases, the combination of fact and speculation keeps the story alive, reminding us of the thin line between actual and imagined reality.

References: Woman's body found in Los Angeles hotel's water tank | Woman's body found in LA hotel cistern providing drinking water to guests | Elisa Lam: What really happened in the Cecil Hotel| The Horrifying History Of The Infamous Cecil Hotel | Elisa Lam: The LA 'Mystery' That Wasn't | The infamous Cecil Hotel, where at least 16 people have died, recently reopened — here's its history and what it's like today