The Elisa Lam Case
On 31 January 2013, Elisa Lam, a 21 year old Canadian student, was last seen alive in the elevator of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Police released elevator footage showing her pressing multiple buttons, stepping in and out, and appearing to interact with something outside the frame that is not visible on camera. Nineteen days later, guests at the hotel complained about the water pressure. Workers found her body in one of the rooftop water tanks.
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"Cause of death: accidental drowning. The manner of death is accident.
"Los Angeles County coroner report
The Cecil Hotel has a documented history of violent deaths and was a known residence of serial killer Richard Ramirez in the 1980s. Its past amplified public reaction to the case.
The coroner found no evidence of foul play. The elevator footage timestamp was later found to have been altered for broadcast. The raw footage was never publicly released.