CA/Canada - Elisa Lam - 21 years old - Los Angeles/Vancouver - 31-Jan-2013 - #5

[bessie]

February 20, 2013 8:48 AM

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - A woman's body found wedged in a water tank on the roof of a downtown Los Angeles hotel was identified as that of a missing Canadian tourist, police said Tuesday.

Lam traveled to California alone on Jan. 27 from Vancouver, British Columbia. She was last seen by hotel employees on Jan. 31.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...rist-found-in-la-hotel-water-tank-police-say/

Friday, February 22, 2013

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It could take several more weeks before we learn how a Canadian tourist, found dead in a hotel water tank, died.
A toxicology report and other tests on Elisa Lam's brain and other organs have been ordered.


http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9002570


By Alan Duke, CNN
updated 7:07 AM EST, Fri February 22, 2013


The decomposing body of Elisa Lam floated inside a water tank on the roof of the Cecil Hotel while guests brushed their teeth, bathed and drank with water from it for as long as 19 days.

A maintenance worker, checking on complaints about the hotel's water, found the 21-year-old Canadian tourist inside one of four water cisterns Tuesday morning, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Rudy Lopez said.

An autopsy was completed, but the cause of death is deferred pending further examination, assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said Thursday. That may take six to eight weeks.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/21/us/california-hotel-water-corpse/index.html


[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200039"]CA/Canada - Elisa Lam (21) - Los Angeles - 31-Jan-2013 -TIMELINE & MEDIA ONLY - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]



[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198048"]Thread #1[/ame]
[ame="http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199663"]Thread #2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8948751"]Thread #3[/ame]

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200307"]Thread #4[/ame]

 

[bessie]

Please continue the discussion here in Thread #5

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[Xavier]

IMO I would imagine this would also include tips about her death as well

Everyone on this thread has good ideas to share, maybe to help solve this weird case

Anyone with information regarding Lam’s disappearance is asked to call Detectives Tennelle or Stearns at RHD’s Homicide Special Section at (213) 486-6890. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”


http://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/52943

 

[Turk February]

You know, I really thought he did shoot her, but I don't anymore, because you helped explain that pipe thing that explains the noise Mr. Diaz heard.

If Elisa was shot, the possibility of bullet fragments that wounded her would of been still left in her body, nevertheless a bullet hole anyway from her decomposed body.

Here is one of Bernard Diaz's account of what happened on the day Elisa went missing:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...Where-Missing-Woman-Elisa-Lame-191886411.html

Longtime hotel resident Bernard Diaz reported flooding on the fourth floor at about the time Lam disappeared, saying he heard a thump so loud one night he "fell out of bed."

 

[FutzBucket]

If Elisa was shot, the possibility of bullet fragments that wounded her would of been still left in her body, nevertheless a bullet hole anyway from her decomposed body.

Here is one of Bernard Diaz's account of what happened on the day Elisa went missing:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...Where-Missing-Woman-Elisa-Lame-191886411.html

Longtime hotel resident Bernard Diaz reported flooding on the fourth floor at about the time Lam disappeared, saying he heard a thump so loud one night he "fell out of bed."

I played with the idea the police lied about her not having any outside trauma, but I really think they have nothing.

I don't know, man. When I explain it to people face-to-face, they can see what I'm seeing, but for some reason when I type it, nobody can see it.

 

[Xavier]

Futz -- I'm curious don't the hotel key cards to get into your room have a digital recording of the times someone entered and left the room?

If so, maybe LAPD could check the 14 th floor rooms on Jan 31
this would help see which resident left their room during EL's elevator video?

Just guessing here..

 

[FutzBucket]

Futz -- I'm curious don't the hotel key cards to get into your room have a digital recording of the times someone entered and left the room?

If so, maybe LAPD could check the 14 th floor rooms on Jan 31
this would help see which resident left their room during EL's elevator video?

Just guessing here..

Hostels typically use an old, traditional key system, especially if they offer residency.

See, this is how I think she alerted the occupant. She stuck her key in the door, and jiggled it, and he thought she was picking the lock.

edit: I would focus on occupants living on the 14th floor, on that side of the hotel. The suspect probably lives alone and suffers from schizophrenia. I'd bet he wears a wristwatch.

 

[littlegreycells31]

If Elisa was shot, the possibility of bullet fragments that wounded her would of been still left in her body, nevertheless a bullet hole anyway from her decomposed body.

Here is one of Bernard Diaz's account of what happened on the day Elisa went missing:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...Where-Missing-Woman-Elisa-Lame-191886411.html

Longtime hotel resident Bernard Diaz reported flooding on the fourth floor at about the time Lam disappeared, saying he heard a thump so loud one night he "fell out of bed."

I was reading the comments on the bottom of the page at the link you posted and 1 guy stated that he had been up on the roof before to see the sunset and that he had even seen someone living in the maintenance closet. So, I suppose if a person were to go up to the roof, it was no telling who they would meet up with.

 

[Xavier]

Hostels typically use an old, traditional key system, especially if they offer residency.

See, this is how I think she alerted the occupant. She stuck her key in the door, and jiggled it, and he thought she was picking the lock.

Good point Futz -- but I was referring to the perp having a key card

from the videos and photos of the hallways it look slike they have room key card for entry/exit

Do you know if these key cards provide digital recordings of the door opening/closing?

 

[morphee]

All speculation, but in regards to someone seeing EL.as a threat, she may well have stumbled onto the wrong floor and came upon illegal activity. Particularly, under the influence of drug paranoia, the perp would be capable of anything and may not even remember. She wouldn't think of herself as a threat (would not report said behavior, on an adventure in LA), which could account for no truly overt signs of fear in the elevator.

 

[OCSlacker]

Futz -- I'm curious don't the hotel key cards to get into your room have a digital recording of the times someone entered and left the room?

If so, maybe LAPD could check the 14 th floor rooms on Jan 31
this would help see which resident left their room during EL's elevator video?

Just guessing here..

If that was possible it would be irrelevant in this instance. The Cecil uses standard keys and the Stay at Main (floors 1-7) use keycard entry. Video of both hotels have shown this on YouTube. I believe these were posted in a previous thread. I may have actually posted them but I know they were posted by numerous ppl as well.

 

[littlegreycells31]

All speculation, but in regards to someone seeing EL.as a threat, she may well have stumbled onto the wrong floor and came upon illegal activity. Particularly, under the influence of drug paranoia, the perp would be capable of anything and may not even remember. She wouldn't think of herself as a threat (would not report said behavior, on an adventure in LA), which could account for no truly overt signs of fear in the elevator.

I agree that this could be quite possible. Possibly walking around and coming upon drug activity or something else illegal in the hallway or even on the roof itself...:moo:

 

[Xavier]

I was reading the comments on the bottom of the page at the link you posted and 1 guy stated that he had been up on the roof before to see the sunset and that he had even seen someone living in the maintenance closet. So, I suppose if a person were to go up to the roof, it was no telling who they would meet up with.

Now that's scary, someone living in the roof area closet...Sheesh!

It could be on eof the mentally ill residents who got spooked?

Who knows, it's weird...thanks for the post greycells

 

[FutzBucket]

All speculation, but in regards to someone seeing EL.as a threat, she may well have stumbled onto the wrong floor and came upon illegal activity. Particularly, under the influence of drug paranoia, the perp would be capable of anything and may not even remember. She wouldn't think of herself as a threat (would not report said behavior, on an adventure in LA), which could account for no truly overt signs of fear in the elevator.

very good thinking! I considered this angle; that EL walked into a drug deal, but it didn't add up to me.

It's how EL first enters the elevator. To me, she doesn't have a care in the world. If she accidentally walked into a drug deal, or even walk into someone's room, I think she would have been a bit more...hurried about her candor in the elevator.

And, as you realized, EL would know the danger she was in, and she would have hit the alarm button.

 

[paulhellion]

Hostels typically use an old, traditional key system, especially if they offer residency.

See, this is how I think she alerted the occupant. She stuck her key in the door, and jiggled it, and he thought she was picking the lock.

There's one major leap of logic in this idea. Elisa was booked into a Stay on Main room... and Stay doesn't use an "old, traditional key system" — it uses keycards.

Source: http://pic.pimg.tw/bigsishead/1361523857-843823976_n.jpg

 

[Xavier]

The Hotel Cecil in downtown Los Angeles. Health officials have lifted the "do-not-drink" order at the Hotel Cecil in Downtown Los Angeles.

here's a link:

http://www.i4u.com/category/elisa-lam

 

[FutzBucket]

There's one major leap of logic in this idea. Elisa was booked into a Stay on Main room... and Stay doesn't use an "old, traditional key system" — it uses keycards.

Source: http://pic.pimg.tw/bigsishead/1361523857-843823976_n.jpg

Well, then Xavier is right. If the Cecil uses all electronic locks, they should be able to pull the history from all the doors.

To be honest, I'm not sure what their system will say, probably that an incorrect card was used, but I don't know if it'll state which card.

 

[Sillybilly]

noodled1 was working on a timeline for us. Can anyone recall and help fill in the dates that Elisa was in Toronto.

The hostel folks in Toronto said she stayed about a week in early December. There was also mention somewhere of her having been to Ottawa (might have just been a day trip or so from Toronto). One of the tumblr posts indicates she would be arriving in Vancouver Jan 18. We still don't seem to have anything to fill in where she was before coming into Vancouver.

 

[Xavier]

All speculation, but in regards to someone seeing EL.as a threat, she may well have stumbled onto the wrong floor and came upon illegal activity. Particularly, under the influence of drug paranoia, the perp would be capable of anything and may not even remember. She wouldn't think of herself as a threat (would not report said behavior, on an adventure in LA), which could account for no truly overt signs of fear in the elevator.

Great point Morphee -- Elisa could've in the wrong place, wrong time

And maybe there was something illegal going on or something the perps did'nt want Elisa to know about

We know that the rooftop has had people up there, graffiti was written there, beer bottles, etc were found there and also someone posted a resident noticed someone living in the roof area closet?

 

[OCSlacker]

Well, then Xavier is right. If the Cecil uses all electronic locks, they should be able to pull the history from all the doors.

To be honest, I'm not sure what their system will say, probably that an incorrect card was used, but I don't know if it'll state which card.

IMO, It isn't a stay floor she is on in the video. That has been the general consensus in the forum. Based on video and photos of both establishments we can safely say that is correct. The Cecil uses a standard key for their rooms and the Stay uses a keycard for theirs.. If she was a Stay guest I do not see any way she could make that mistake.. ever !!