When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The facts:
Elisa Lam was visiting the US for a “West Coast Tour” as indicated by her Tumblr blog.
Elisa Lam checked into the Stay on Main (ie Cecil Hotel) on January 28[SUP]th[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was due to depart on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was last seen either by:
The manager of The Last Bookstore on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Staff at the Stay on Main on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Video surveillance assumed to be from the night of January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]/morning of February 1[SUP]st[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was traveling alone
Elisa lame was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder by Sara E Scarfe with the Student Psyche division of the University of British Columbia
Elisa Lam was prescribed Venlafaxine (Effexor), Wellbutrin, Lamotrigine, and Quetiapine, all known anti-depressants
Elisa Lam’s purse was found to contain Dexedrine Spansule (dextroamphetamine) – it is unknown if this was a prescribed medication as it was found loose in her purse
Elisa Lam was seen on surveillance video entering an elevator, and acting erratically
Elisa Lam was moved to a private room on the fourth floor of the Stay on Main after her roommates requested she be moved due to “certain odd behavior”
Elisa Lam was found on February 19[SUP]th[/SUP], dead, floating in one of four water tanks above the Cecil Hotel
Elisa Lam’s autopsy did NOT indicate trauma anywhere on her body. There was a scar on her right knee, however, scars are resultant of injuries that have already healed, meaning she did not incur an injury leading up to or while entering the tank
Elisa Lam’s autopsy found traces of her medications in her fluid samples, however, only the Wellbutrin was found to be taken recently – it is common medical practice to prescribe additional anti-depressants with Wellbutrin as Wellbutrin alone can lead to suicidal ideation and mania
Elisa Lam’s autopsy indicated a positive indicator for ethanol (alcohol) in her bile, but not from blood taken from the heart
Elisa Lam was found in the water tank with her head angled downward, feet up – this is consistent with drowning according to the FBI
Elisa Lam was found in the water tank naked, with her clothes, watch, and keycard all present in the tank
THEORIES run rampant in this case…
1. Elisa was being followed by an unknown assailant in the “elevator video”, this assailant is the likely culprit of her disappearance/death
2. Elisa was looking to “meet up” with individuals from Tumblr, resulting in her disappearance/death
3. Elisa was killed by someone who lived in the upper “residential” floors of the Cecil (long-term residents)
All of these theories posit that the killer(s) must have placed Elisa in the water tank atop the building.
FIRSTLY, let’s eliminate the impossible:
1. It would be nearly impossible to kill Elisa on the 14[SUP]th[/SUP]/15[SUP]th[/SUP] floor, and transport the body to the roof of the Cecil without someone noticing
2. It would be nearly impossible for the “killer” to transport the dead body from the 14[SUP]th[/SUP]/15[SUP]th[/SUP] floor up into the roof access door, up onto the maintenance shed ladder, drop it onto the top of the water tank, and drop it into the tank via the small hatch without substantial injury to the body
3. It would be nearly impossible for the “killer” to get Elisa up to the roof, kill her without leaving any trauma, and up into the water tank without substantial damage to the body
4. It would be impossible for the killer to lure Elisa into the tank, and subsequently drown her without he/she themselves getting into the tank – the FBI also indicates that it is particularly difficult to drown someone, as the fight-or-flight response is too powerful
5. All of these methods would a) leave substantial amounts of the killers DNA and b) most likely be noticed by hotel staff or patrons
What’s left? A disturbed individual found their way onto the roof of the Cecil, decided it prudent to enter the water tank, and drowned.
Based on her behavior in the “Elevator Video” Elisa was either
A) Experiencing a manic episode
B) On drugs (Ecstasy, specifically, although stimulants such as Dextroamphetamine can cause similar effects)
If Elisa was indeed experiencing a manic episode… perhaps edged on by the help of the stimulant Dextroamphetamine (improbable, not impossible)
1. She “explored” the hotel at her favorite time of day (night)
2. She found her way onto the roof (many of her Tumblr photos include the roofs of buildings)
3. She found her way to the top of the water tank – in her mania, she deemed it a good idea to enter the tank for a little midnight swim
4. In the tank, she realizes that she cannot get out (there are no ladders inside the tank)
5. Panicked, she begins treading water – removing the clothes that were weighing her down, and losing her watch in the process
6. Finally, she succumbs to her fatigue and drowns
7. Constant use of the water supply means that the water level dropped and increased during her time in there
8. The dropping water levels, the motion of water in/out of the tank, results in her clothes coming into contact with the bottom of the tank, where sediment such as sand and paint flakes have come to rest – this would explain the sand/flecks on her clothes as evidenced by the coroner
If Elisa was indeed on drugs such as Ecstasy… (improbable, not impossible)
1. She explored the hotel while high, which would explain her erratic movements in the hotel elevator, particularly if she was experiencing hallucinations
2. In her drug-induced state, she was determined to visit the roof of the hotel (again, she shows an interest in architecture as evidenced by the photos of building rooftops)
3. It is common for individuals on ecstasy to feel “warm”, explaining why she jumped into the water tank
4. After entering the tank, she realized she could not get out, panicked, she begins treading water and removing the clothes that are weighing her down
5. Finally, she succumbs to her fatigue and drowns
6. Constant use of the water supply means that the water level decreased and increased during her time in there
7. The dropping water levels, the motion of water in/out of the tank, results in her clothes coming into contact with the bottom of the tank, where sediment such as sand and paint flakes have come to rest – this would explain the sand/flecks on her clothes as evidenced by the coroner
Ecstasy can cause: a perceived increase in energy levels, a euphoric state of being, distorted perception of time, and increased energy/focus
Ecstasy would certainly explain why this poor young lady decided to take a midnight swim.
In addition, side effects include: muscle cramping, fever, and hallucinations (to name a few) with additional effects including panic attacks, loss of consciousness, and extreme increase in body temperature if the user is experiencing an overdose
The coroner listed her death as accidental rapid drowning – had she indeed been experiencing the side effects of ecstasy, it would have been difficult to stay afloat with muscle cramping – additionally, if she were experiencing the side-effects of ecstasy overdose the prospect of cooling down in a water tank would be quite enticing.
Just imagine, this poor girl, away from home and trying to experience life on her own, trying ecstasy for the first time… she takes a dose that is much too high for her meager 115lbs, and begins tripping balls – coupled with her already delicate mental condition, she begins feeling the need to expend some energy – playfully hopping on the elevator, exploring the hotel, and finding her way to the rooftop. She begins to feel the effects of overdose, she’s hot and manic, and in her mind, decides that cooling off in the water tank is a great idea! She clambers to the top of the maintenance shed via the ladder, and lowers herself onto the NE water tank. The lid is no match for her – it’s simple galvanized metal that lifts away easily. No person in this agitated state is going to think, “Hey, I should carefully remove my clothes and place them neatly on top of this tank”, so she lowers herself in – fully dressed – and for a moment is enjoying herself. But there’s no ladder to get out. She hasn’t thought this through completely. She calls for help, but she’s on the roof of a 14-story building in the middle of the night. Nobody hears her. She treads water, slowly growing more and more exhausted. She removes her clothes, hoping to reduce some of the weight on her, and in the process her watch falls off. Finally, she loses consciousness, and drowns. Her clothes, floating in the tank, ascend and descend with the water level, dragging along the bottom and collecting some find sandy sediment and flaked paint. During peak water usage, the water outlets create suction that traps her clothes, reducing water flow. For almost three weeks, decomposition slowly takes hold of her body, discoloring the water and giving it that “sickly sweet” taste of death.
Elisa is reported missing to the Vancouver police by her family. The Vancouver police contact the LAPD. LAPD does a cursory investigation – perhaps foul play is involved? They do a quick sweep of the building, and find no trace of her. Surveillance video indicates that she was on the lift, acting erratically, but alone. LAPD discovers that she suffers from bi-polar disorder. Further investigation is stymied by their overload of other cases. Eventually, she’s just a missing person that, hopefully, turns up.
Enough guests complain about the water pressure that maintenance finally begins looking into the issue. Obviously, the first thing you check is the source – the water tanks atop the building. Maintenance worker peers into the already-open hatch of the NE water tank, and low and behold, we find Elisa Lam.
No sign of trauma, indicating that she was alive when she carefully entered the tank, and her medications indicate that she may be depressed. Police begin to paint a picture of a troubled young lady who simply wanted to end her life. Suicide does not take precedent over homicide, so her autopsy, blood/fluid tests, and investigation altogether slows down to give priority to the rapes and murders that occur in LA every day.
The medical examiner wants to run blood and fluid tests to eliminate external causality. He marks her cause of death as “unknown” for the time being. After learning more about her, it’s evident that she entered the water tank on her own volition. Whether this was because she was in a manic state, on drugs, or suicidal doesn’t make too much of a difference – the death is marked “accidental”.
Why the secrecy from the police? Why the confusion? Out of respect for her family. Would you want your loved ones’ death plastered all over for the world to see? We already know that her case gained significant media attention following the release of the elevator video… perhaps the police just didn’t want every detail out there for the world, and her family, to see?
The facts:
Elisa Lam was visiting the US for a “West Coast Tour” as indicated by her Tumblr blog.
Elisa Lam checked into the Stay on Main (ie Cecil Hotel) on January 28[SUP]th[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was due to depart on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was last seen either by:
The manager of The Last Bookstore on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Staff at the Stay on Main on January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]
Video surveillance assumed to be from the night of January 31[SUP]st[/SUP]/morning of February 1[SUP]st[/SUP]
Elisa Lam was traveling alone
Elisa lame was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder by Sara E Scarfe with the Student Psyche division of the University of British Columbia
Elisa Lam was prescribed Venlafaxine (Effexor), Wellbutrin, Lamotrigine, and Quetiapine, all known anti-depressants
Elisa Lam’s purse was found to contain Dexedrine Spansule (dextroamphetamine) – it is unknown if this was a prescribed medication as it was found loose in her purse
Elisa Lam was seen on surveillance video entering an elevator, and acting erratically
Elisa Lam was moved to a private room on the fourth floor of the Stay on Main after her roommates requested she be moved due to “certain odd behavior”
Elisa Lam was found on February 19[SUP]th[/SUP], dead, floating in one of four water tanks above the Cecil Hotel
Elisa Lam’s autopsy did NOT indicate trauma anywhere on her body. There was a scar on her right knee, however, scars are resultant of injuries that have already healed, meaning she did not incur an injury leading up to or while entering the tank
Elisa Lam’s autopsy found traces of her medications in her fluid samples, however, only the Wellbutrin was found to be taken recently – it is common medical practice to prescribe additional anti-depressants with Wellbutrin as Wellbutrin alone can lead to suicidal ideation and mania
Elisa Lam’s autopsy indicated a positive indicator for ethanol (alcohol) in her bile, but not from blood taken from the heart
Elisa Lam was found in the water tank with her head angled downward, feet up – this is consistent with drowning according to the FBI
Elisa Lam was found in the water tank naked, with her clothes, watch, and keycard all present in the tank
THEORIES run rampant in this case…
1. Elisa was being followed by an unknown assailant in the “elevator video”, this assailant is the likely culprit of her disappearance/death
2. Elisa was looking to “meet up” with individuals from Tumblr, resulting in her disappearance/death
3. Elisa was killed by someone who lived in the upper “residential” floors of the Cecil (long-term residents)
All of these theories posit that the killer(s) must have placed Elisa in the water tank atop the building.
FIRSTLY, let’s eliminate the impossible:
1. It would be nearly impossible to kill Elisa on the 14[SUP]th[/SUP]/15[SUP]th[/SUP] floor, and transport the body to the roof of the Cecil without someone noticing
2. It would be nearly impossible for the “killer” to transport the dead body from the 14[SUP]th[/SUP]/15[SUP]th[/SUP] floor up into the roof access door, up onto the maintenance shed ladder, drop it onto the top of the water tank, and drop it into the tank via the small hatch without substantial injury to the body
3. It would be nearly impossible for the “killer” to get Elisa up to the roof, kill her without leaving any trauma, and up into the water tank without substantial damage to the body
4. It would be impossible for the killer to lure Elisa into the tank, and subsequently drown her without he/she themselves getting into the tank – the FBI also indicates that it is particularly difficult to drown someone, as the fight-or-flight response is too powerful
5. All of these methods would a) leave substantial amounts of the killers DNA and b) most likely be noticed by hotel staff or patrons
What’s left? A disturbed individual found their way onto the roof of the Cecil, decided it prudent to enter the water tank, and drowned.
Based on her behavior in the “Elevator Video” Elisa was either
A) Experiencing a manic episode
B) On drugs (Ecstasy, specifically, although stimulants such as Dextroamphetamine can cause similar effects)
If Elisa was indeed experiencing a manic episode… perhaps edged on by the help of the stimulant Dextroamphetamine (improbable, not impossible)
1. She “explored” the hotel at her favorite time of day (night)
2. She found her way onto the roof (many of her Tumblr photos include the roofs of buildings)
3. She found her way to the top of the water tank – in her mania, she deemed it a good idea to enter the tank for a little midnight swim
4. In the tank, she realizes that she cannot get out (there are no ladders inside the tank)
5. Panicked, she begins treading water – removing the clothes that were weighing her down, and losing her watch in the process
6. Finally, she succumbs to her fatigue and drowns
7. Constant use of the water supply means that the water level dropped and increased during her time in there
8. The dropping water levels, the motion of water in/out of the tank, results in her clothes coming into contact with the bottom of the tank, where sediment such as sand and paint flakes have come to rest – this would explain the sand/flecks on her clothes as evidenced by the coroner
If Elisa was indeed on drugs such as Ecstasy… (improbable, not impossible)
1. She explored the hotel while high, which would explain her erratic movements in the hotel elevator, particularly if she was experiencing hallucinations
2. In her drug-induced state, she was determined to visit the roof of the hotel (again, she shows an interest in architecture as evidenced by the photos of building rooftops)
3. It is common for individuals on ecstasy to feel “warm”, explaining why she jumped into the water tank
4. After entering the tank, she realized she could not get out, panicked, she begins treading water and removing the clothes that are weighing her down
5. Finally, she succumbs to her fatigue and drowns
6. Constant use of the water supply means that the water level decreased and increased during her time in there
7. The dropping water levels, the motion of water in/out of the tank, results in her clothes coming into contact with the bottom of the tank, where sediment such as sand and paint flakes have come to rest – this would explain the sand/flecks on her clothes as evidenced by the coroner
Ecstasy can cause: a perceived increase in energy levels, a euphoric state of being, distorted perception of time, and increased energy/focus
Ecstasy would certainly explain why this poor young lady decided to take a midnight swim.
In addition, side effects include: muscle cramping, fever, and hallucinations (to name a few) with additional effects including panic attacks, loss of consciousness, and extreme increase in body temperature if the user is experiencing an overdose
The coroner listed her death as accidental rapid drowning – had she indeed been experiencing the side effects of ecstasy, it would have been difficult to stay afloat with muscle cramping – additionally, if she were experiencing the side-effects of ecstasy overdose the prospect of cooling down in a water tank would be quite enticing.
Just imagine, this poor girl, away from home and trying to experience life on her own, trying ecstasy for the first time… she takes a dose that is much too high for her meager 115lbs, and begins tripping balls – coupled with her already delicate mental condition, she begins feeling the need to expend some energy – playfully hopping on the elevator, exploring the hotel, and finding her way to the rooftop. She begins to feel the effects of overdose, she’s hot and manic, and in her mind, decides that cooling off in the water tank is a great idea! She clambers to the top of the maintenance shed via the ladder, and lowers herself onto the NE water tank. The lid is no match for her – it’s simple galvanized metal that lifts away easily. No person in this agitated state is going to think, “Hey, I should carefully remove my clothes and place them neatly on top of this tank”, so she lowers herself in – fully dressed – and for a moment is enjoying herself. But there’s no ladder to get out. She hasn’t thought this through completely. She calls for help, but she’s on the roof of a 14-story building in the middle of the night. Nobody hears her. She treads water, slowly growing more and more exhausted. She removes her clothes, hoping to reduce some of the weight on her, and in the process her watch falls off. Finally, she loses consciousness, and drowns. Her clothes, floating in the tank, ascend and descend with the water level, dragging along the bottom and collecting some find sandy sediment and flaked paint. During peak water usage, the water outlets create suction that traps her clothes, reducing water flow. For almost three weeks, decomposition slowly takes hold of her body, discoloring the water and giving it that “sickly sweet” taste of death.
Elisa is reported missing to the Vancouver police by her family. The Vancouver police contact the LAPD. LAPD does a cursory investigation – perhaps foul play is involved? They do a quick sweep of the building, and find no trace of her. Surveillance video indicates that she was on the lift, acting erratically, but alone. LAPD discovers that she suffers from bi-polar disorder. Further investigation is stymied by their overload of other cases. Eventually, she’s just a missing person that, hopefully, turns up.
Enough guests complain about the water pressure that maintenance finally begins looking into the issue. Obviously, the first thing you check is the source – the water tanks atop the building. Maintenance worker peers into the already-open hatch of the NE water tank, and low and behold, we find Elisa Lam.
No sign of trauma, indicating that she was alive when she carefully entered the tank, and her medications indicate that she may be depressed. Police begin to paint a picture of a troubled young lady who simply wanted to end her life. Suicide does not take precedent over homicide, so her autopsy, blood/fluid tests, and investigation altogether slows down to give priority to the rapes and murders that occur in LA every day.
The medical examiner wants to run blood and fluid tests to eliminate external causality. He marks her cause of death as “unknown” for the time being. After learning more about her, it’s evident that she entered the water tank on her own volition. Whether this was because she was in a manic state, on drugs, or suicidal doesn’t make too much of a difference – the death is marked “accidental”.
Why the secrecy from the police? Why the confusion? Out of respect for her family. Would you want your loved ones’ death plastered all over for the world to see? We already know that her case gained significant media attention following the release of the elevator video… perhaps the police just didn’t want every detail out there for the world, and her family, to see?
