In 2013, a seemingly ordinary 21-year-old student, Elisa Lam, was found dead in a rooftop water tank at the infamous Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles
Her death was disturbing enough—but it was the eerie elevator footage taken before her disappearance that turned this case into one of the most chilling modern mysteries. Was her death a tragic accident, foul play, or something far more sinister?
The Bizarre Elevator Footage
On January 31, 2013, Elisa Lam—who was visiting Los Angeles alone—vanished without a trace.
Days later, authorities released CCTV footage from the Cecil Hotel’s elevator, showing Elisa acting strangely:
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She enters the elevator and presses multiple buttons, but the doors don’t close.
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She peeks out into the hallway, as if she’s being followed.
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She steps in and out of the elevator, waving her arms in strange, unnatural movements.
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Finally, she walks away down the hallway—and is never seen alive again.
The elevator doors stay open unnaturally long, adding to the eerie feeling of the footage. Some claim her movements appear frantic, confused, or even controlled by an unseen force.
The Disturbing Discovery
On February 19, 2013, hotel guests complained about the water pressure, claiming the water tasted “off”.
When maintenance workers checked the rooftop water tanks, they discovered Elisa’s decomposing body floating inside.
But how did she get there?
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The water tanks were locked and difficult to access—requiring a ladder and considerable strength to open.
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The hotel’s rooftop doors were alarmed, meaning she couldn’t have accessed them without alerting security.
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Her clothes were found separately in the tank, suggesting possible foul play.
Her autopsy report was inconclusive, ruling her death as accidental drowning, but providing no explanation for how or why she entered the tank.
Theories: What Really Happened to Elisa Lam?
1. Mental Health Crisis & Accidental Death?
Elisa had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was on medication at the time. Some theorists suggest she was suffering from a psychotic episode, leading her to:
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Hallucinate or feel pursued, explaining her erratic elevator behavior.
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Climb into the water tank herself, possibly believing she was hiding from something.
However, this theory does not explain how she got past the locked doors or how she managed to close the heavy tank lid behind her.
2. Foul Play?
Could Elisa have been murdered?
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The Cecil Hotel had a dark history of violence, drug use, and suicides.
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Some believe a hotel employee or guest may have been involved in her death.
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The lack of security footage from the hallways has led to speculation that evidence was tampered with or removed.
3. A Paranormal Encounter?
Given the Cecil Hotel’s infamous history (it housed serial killers like Richard Ramirez and was linked to multiple suicides), some theorists believe Elisa may have encountered something supernatural.
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Her elevator behavior looks like she’s talking to an unseen entity.
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The hotel’s violent past could have contributed to paranormal activity.
4. A Government Conspiracy?
One of the strangest theories suggests Elisa’s death was part of a larger cover-up or experiment.
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She was found days before a major tuberculosis outbreak near Skid Row.
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Strangely, a tuberculosis test used at the time was called “LAM-ELISA.”
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Some believe she was a test subject for an experiment gone wrong.
A Mystery That Still Haunts Us
Years later, the death of Elisa Lam remains unsolved. The bizarre footage, lack of concrete answers, and eerie circumstances have turned this case into one of the most famous modern mysteries. Was her death truly an accident, or is there something much darker at play?
What do you think? Did Elisa Lam die under mysterious circumstances, or is the truth much simpler than we think? Let us know in the comments!
