The Elevator Video: What's your take?

The full video of Elisa in the elevator can be seen on this page -

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/...ear-old_released_by_lapd_dtla_hotel_cecil.php

Alex Martinez of the LAPD says, “We see her going in and out of the elevator several times. That is strange.” He added, “I am not aware of any medical condition she might have … or mental.”

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/02/13/lapd-hoping-new-video-will-lead-to-missing-canadian-woman/

Cecil Hotel photos: http://www.agoda.com/north_america/united_states/los_angeles_ca/cecil_hotel/reviews-page-4.html

Elevator(s):


[note - fwiw: looks like it's double elevators, location of button in between, and mirror on wall across from...]

ETA: HEY, go to top link and look at the pic before this one i posted, look for THAT MIRROR - - - doesn't it look like there is a CORNER right by the elevators, seems someone could have been hiding around THAT corner !!!! shux, looking at both pics it seems there is a FLIPPING CORNER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ELEVATORS!!!!

amberdawn723 said:

Great Sleuthing! Those are some really good photos....and VERY creepy looking hotel hallways IMO. Seeing those photos makes more sense why she stepped so far out to look each way down the halls. lease: Praying she is safe and found very soon!

Click to expand...

YOU KNOW what's also creepy!?!? look IN THE MIRROR, look how far down the hall you can see - right to what looks like an EXIT sign no ???)





Wonder if from where the perp would have stood if he could see right into the elevator using the mirror and THATs why she stepped back around the corner of the elevator in hiding...???

tarabull said:

Cecil Hotel photos: http://www.agoda.com/north_america/united_states/los_angeles_ca/cecil_hotel/reviews-page-4.html

Elevator(s):

[note - fwiw: looks like it's double elevators, location of button in between, and mirror on wall across from...]

ETA: HEY, go to top link and look at the pic before this one i posted, look for THAT MIRROR - - - doesn't it look like there is a CORNER right by the elevators, seems someone could have been hiding around THAT corner !!!! shux, looking at both pics it seems there is a FLIPPING CORNER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ELEVATORS!!!!

Click to expand...

Bumping this up.
Some things that stick out to me initially:

So, the bus stop is there...She also used public transportation...possibly shady short and long term residents...

Some of the bathrooms are shared.

She was in contact with her family daily, then the communication stopped.

Her family has not confirmed or denied any medical or mental conditions.

It is interesting how different people can view the same video and have a completely different interpretation (she is being stalked, she is not being stalked, she's happy, she's frightened....)...the fb comments and theories re: the elevator video are interesting, many strongly leaning toward another person(s) involved...

I'm not sure when this video was taken, but she doesn't look dressed for an excursion (phone, purse, backpack, etc.)...

Going back to page 1.

There is mention in one of the reviews that the only way to the elevators is up a flight of stairs...I'm assuming this may be the stairs?

There are 53 travellers photos of Stay at this link:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Rev..._Hotel_and_Hostel-Los_Angeles_California.html

There's a pic from Dec 2010 of the view across from the elevators...
And a photo of the halls posted May 2009...

It seems they are two differenet places, but are the halls connected...???...I'm unsure.

Reading some reviews gives the impression that somehow there might be access to both hotels from each...???...

For example a review posted on August 12, 2012 - scroll down here to read it: http://www.agoda.com/north_america/...5oWskE1JCZGE8SH7qUPl3Z5wzmCw7tzgol//QBHty+Q==

:dunno:

Elisa does have a history of depression but apparently nothing like this has ever happened. She's never been in trouble, say LAPD detectives, and isn't known to be a drug user.

http://www.myfoxla.com/story/21221923/canadian-girl-with-big-smile-has-disappeared#ixzz2L2VbS8Is

IMO This video is a gift...in so many cases we get absolutely zilch...Its all here folks. Last seen location!

This is a a joint investigation between two countries which seems to be handled really well so far imo publicity wise...

I am sure that every room has been searched, luminol and everything (eek). I'm willing to bet all guests are being / have been checked out from head to toe...Hotels are the worst possible place for a last seen location, though, forensics wise.

I played this video tonight for a group of my friends during dinner. The interpretations and theories varied greatly.

Her family, everyone is obviously very concerned! Footage has been quickly released, though, thank goodness. Hopefully it will help!

Has this young lady been met with foul play? Even if Elisa has not been met with foul play, I believe she could be in serious trouble. We need to find her!

Latest article, no new info:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/security-camera-video-shows-missing-vancouver-students-odd-behaviour-at-la-hotel/article8712962/

Any RSO's as tenants?

FWIW, this video is C R A Z Y...

but at the 13 second mark it shows a camera visible under the front awning of the hotel:

http://youtu.be/_zkukLsXdE0

Around 1:26 they show the elevators entrance in the lobby...the floor they get off on (2:25 mark) it seems the hall isn't exactly the same as the pics up thread

:waitasec:

Screen shots attached...

http://youtu.be/3TjVBpyTeZM

Bringing the video up front again for convenience.

2:56 beginning here the numbers that are continually running at the bottom of the screen stop and start three times in rapid succession. Has the video been tampered with?

Rooms for Stay occupy floors four through six of the historic hotel.

http://blogdowntown.com/2008/07/3465-boutique-stay-hotel-softlaunches-in-the-cecil

Okay, i broke the bank and watched the videos on youtube. The first one was a 2:39 min one that cut off early, so i watched the 4:00 min one that shows the door closing and opening, closing and opening at the end. Use full screen mode :

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TjVBpyTeZM"]Elisa Lam Video - YouTube[/ame]

Personally, I don't see anything THAT unusual with Elisa's behaviour or mannerisms. Maybe she had to go to the bathroom and was squiggling around a bit, maybe when the elevator wasn't going anywhere, she took the opportunity to step into the hall and do a bit of chi gong or something to relieve tension ... dunno.

When I pause the video and click through frame by frame however, I do see something weird AFTER we see her leaving the elevator for the last time and the door is actually closing/closed. There is some type of unusual shadow that appears to be moving inside the elevator (starting around the 2:58 mark and afterward), when there should be zero movement recorded by the camera. Then when the door opens again, the pattern on the hall flooring seems to be semi-obscured as if something has passed across it. Maybe it's a fluke of some type, but it has me curious. Could be what led that poster on the FB site to believe the video has been edited to remove something.

Having said that, Elisa's behaviour and direction of her head, etc ... nothing seems to coincide with anyone else being in the elevator with her. So yes, I'm wondering IF the video has been spliced and did in fact record someone on the elevator after we see Elisa for the last time. Could also be why the date/time stamp is blurred so the public can't see the time differential. Mind you, if LE didn't want us to see it, why even include that portion of the video?

The elevator MOST LIKELY didn't move becauses Elisa in the flurry of pushing buttons pressed the dayum HOLD DOOR button which does in fact HOLD THE DOOR for a set amount of time...with a single press of the button - you don't have to hold the button down to keep the door open.

It's back in the thread...A PIC of the control panel in the actual elevator and compared to where we see her pushing buttons she runs right down the row where HOLD DOOR is the bottom button in the row...

Hold button: This button delays the door closing timer, useful for loading freight and hospital beds.

Click to expand...

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator"]Elevator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

:welcome4: Courage100 - great 1st post!

-------------------------------------------------

The Cecil Hotel elevator control panel: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ceci...0XWlhUYap81ZxsIiz5llZw#8WRRjdNxuSdkRLmwF7csdQ

Two different buttons - two different functions...

I'm not here to convince anyone...just putting it out there/here.

Chinese investigator trying the HOLD DOOR button.

As we can see from the video...
The HOLD DOOR button really does holds the door wide ajar, but it can EASILY be cancelled by pressing the CLOSE DOOR button.

[ame="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTE5MjQwNDcy.html"]蓝可儿电梯HOLD键测试—在线播放—优酷网，视频高清在线观看[/ame]

I was one of the people thinking EL looked significantly different in the elevator video than in the other pictures. But after more inspection, I can see the cheeks, eyes, and other features match as well as you could expect given the variables of someone's appearance in various circumstances. I never seriously considered that it wasn't her, but I was just sort of thinking outloud about something that was bugging me. What was throwing me off, I think, was the fact that she isn't smiling in the video, and she had a big grin in all of the pictures. That can make a major difference, especially with someone who has a large smile.

findinganatta said:

I was one of the people thinking EL looked significantly different in the elevator video than in the other pictures. But after more inspection, I can see the cheeks, eyes, and other features match as well as you could expect given the variables of someone's appearance in various circumstances. I never seriously considered that it wasn't her, but I was just sort of thinking outloud about something that was bugging me. What was throwing me off, I think, was the fact that she isn't smiling in the video, and she had a big grin in all of the pictures. That can make a major difference, especially with someone who has a large smile.

Click to expand...

She did smile at 1:58-59 into the video. Some have said they could not see the smile no matter how hard they tried. It is due to the poor quality of the video. I suggest watching it with a reduced screen size and up close.

MesaVerde said:

Her sister's twitter says that she was last seen the morning of Feb 1. But I don't know if by morning she means after sunrise or if she means anytime after midnight on the 31st. I never read an official time for her last sighting. I think they haven't disclosed that.

Click to expand...

I linked to this and some other MSM articles earlier in this thread (or thread #4? They're starting to blend together!) re the timeline:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/20/us/california-hotel-water-corpse

[last seen in person Jan 31, acc to LAPD]

The elevator video is from Feb 1 (presumably very early morning):

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Police-Activity-Focuses-Hotel-Where-Missing-Woman-Elisa-Lame-191886411.html

Borris said:

What room is behind those doors under the equipment room? It was locked when the Chinese group went up to the roof to investigate.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/861436_10151263021342452_949708978_o.jpg

Click to expand...

noodled1 said:

from looking at pics about elevator mechanical rooms it's probably access to the elevators. that shack is two stories tall, the top houses the motors for the elevators the lower room is where you would have access to servicing the elevators themselves.

Click to expand...

Put the body on the elevator and ride it to the roof?


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TovlSBM-W2E"]How to make an elevator key - YouTube[/ame]


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suVX0JlTwBw"]Hacking the elevator shaft - YouTube[/ame]

Top of the elevator