What happened to Elisa Lam? Elisa Lam was a college student who went missing at the Cecil Hotel and was later found dead in the hotel's water supply. There are many theories on how Elisa Lam died, such as was she murdered, did she kill herself or was something supernatural at play? Let's explore the theory that Elisa Lam committed suicide.
Elisa Lam was a 21-year-old college student from British Columbia. She happened to suffer from bipolar which caused her to be depressed. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder days before her death. Bipolar is defined as “a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks” (CITATION). Bipolar can also cause depression and in some cases psychosis. On one of her blogs, she claims to suffer from depression, “Depression sucks. I have no control over my emotions. I will be angry for two minutes and then sad again. I will be happy for half an hour and then emotional again” (Lam 1).
In the security footage of the elevator, she seems to be hiding from someone along with talking to them, but no one appears on screen. It is very possible that she was suffering from psychosis.
Like with most people, you couldn't tell that Elisa Lam was suffering mentally. She was very open on social media. She talked about all of her bad days and good days and the in between. There are even posts of her degrading herself. In one of her posts on Tumblr she says, “My computer screen is brighter than my future” (bruitdefond-blog 1). She’ll also say stuff like “Seriously life do you think I am built of steel? I am human after all. I am just flesh. My skin can hold only so much together” (1). There are even posts that show her berating herself for not being able to put up with her bipolar and depression. She also shows signs of over thinking. Her over thinking seems to start to put a strain on some of her relationships. “The fact is I am a good person. I have always been a good friend. I have always been a good sister and in return I have not been shown respect, I do not deserve this. No one deserves this.” (1).
She was isolated from her friends and family in the days leading up to her death. She was originally rooming with some of her friends, but they pushed her to have a room herself because she was behaving oddly. This likely caused her to feel incredibly lonely. This knowledge is even more concerning when looking at her blog posts online.
In older blog posts Elisa Lam seems almost confident in herself. She went on a tirade on how she's confident in what she is, on how no matter what she wears for herself, doesn't matter whether she dresses masculine or feminine. “I feel more comfortable in jeans, a button down and a pair of converses. I wear perfume, lipstick and have beautiful lingerie. Being a person means you have both masculine and feminine qualities” (L.l. “Ether Fields: Nun 1). This positivity and outlook are more difficult to find in her posts in the days leading up to her death.
Elisa was very judgmental of herself. She seemed to start the day off by degrading herself by calling herself lazy. In her post called "This is a lazy post" she says “I haven't actually done any schoolwork and I berate myself for being such a lazy person” ( L.l. “Ether Fields: This Is a Lazy Post 1). She also proceeds to give off different examples on how she's lazy and what she could have accomplished if she wasn't. In another post she titled with a quote “You’re always haunted by the idea you’re wasting your life” (L.l. “Ether Fields: ‘You’re Always Haunted by the Idea You’re Wasting Your Life 1). As the title says she proceeds to talk about how she seems to waste her time compared to her peers. I haven't actually done any schoolwork and I berate myself for being such a lazy person” ( L.l. “Ether Fields: This Is a Lazy Post 1). She also proceeds to give off different examples on how she's lazy and what she could have accomplished if she wasn't. In another post she titled with a quote “You’re always haunted by the idea you’re wasting your life” (L.l. “Ether Fields: ‘You’re Always Haunted by the Idea You’re Wasting Your Life 1). As the title says she proceeds to talk about how she seems to waste her time compared to her peers.
Elisa seemed to have an increasingly negative mindset in the days leading up to her death. Her struggle with depression and bipolar seemed to be weighing heavily upon her. She seemed to be more isolated from family and friends. Though she once seemed like a positive, happy person, it was increasingly difficult for her to have that mindset.
What happened to Elisa Lam? Elisa Lam was a college student who went missing at the Cecil Hotel and was later found dead in the hotel's water supply. There are many theories on how Elisa Lam died: such as was she murdered, did she kill herself, or is something supernatural at play?
The first theory is that she was murdered. There's not much evidence leading towards murder. The coroner autopsy report shows:
The decedent died as a result of drowning. A complete autopsy examination showed no evidence of trauma and toxicology studies did not show acute drug or alcohol intoxication. Decedent had a history of bipolar disorder for which she was prescribed medication. Toxicology studies were performed for the presence of these drugs. However, quantitation in the blood was not performed due to limited sample availability. There
fore, interpretation is limited. Police investigation did not show evidence of foul play. (Autopsy Files Elisa Lam. 10)
Although the autopsy report says it was an accident the evidence shows that she put more thought into it (10).
The next theory was, did she commit suicide? There is a lot of evidence that supports that she committed suicide. She was diagnosed with bipolar leading up to her death, “Los Angeles County coroner’s officials said her bipolar disorder was a significant conditi
on but did not elaborate” (Autopsy Files Elisa Lam. 10). The last time she was seen was when the elevator camera caught her (Elisa Lam Elevator Video Remastered). She was acting strange. The footage caught her pressing all the elevator floor buttons and then she steps out acting like she’s hiding from someone (1). It then shows her talking to someone that we don't see (1). The evidence shows that she might have entered a state of psychosis, which could have led her to commit suicide.
Elisa Lam was never originally checked into the Cecil Hotel; she was checked into the Stay on Main Hotel. The Stay on Main Hotel was somewhat converted from the Cecil Hotel. The Stay on Main Hotel may have its own lobby, but it still shared elevators and other amenities (“‘Just Something About This Building’: Why Is Cecil Hotel, Where Elisa Lam Was Found Dead, Known as the ‘Death Hotel?”). Many sources reveal that there is something supernatural going on with the Cecil hotel. That this isn’t the first death or possible suicide (“The Cecil Hotel Is Known as LA’s Most Haunted for Many Horrifying Reasons”).
In the last century, the Cecil hotel has had over a dozen deaths and paranormal sightings. According to Bustle, after it opened a few years later a woman was taken to the hospital after wandering around the halls for three days, apparently having attempted to poison herself (“The Dark History Behind the Creepy Hotel at The Heart of Netflix’s ‘Crime Scene”). It doesn't stop there though; an elderly man was found on the verge of death after drinking poisoned liquor that also killed three other men (1). The first of many documented suicides at the hotel happened in 1931 when a 46-year-old guest named W.K. Norton reportedly ingested poison capsules (1). There was also a young pregnant woman who after giving birth threw her baby out the window. This shows that Elisa Lam was not the first and most likely not the last.
Elisa Lam was later found naked and dead in one of the large water tanks that the hotel has. Though the coroner has written as an accident the evidence supports suicide. It was most likely based on research that she did commit suicide.
There are multiple theories behind Elisa Lam’s death. While there is evidence that supports murder or something supernatural happening, the evidence for suicide is overwhelming. Taking into account that she was recently diagnosed with bipolar leading up to her death and she was found naked in a cylinder water supply tank with no signs of fighting, meaning she took off her own clothes, shows that she committed suicide. The case is now closed.
Works cited
bruitdefond-blog. “Bruit de Fond: Archive.” A Style Supplement to Nouvelle-Nouveau, https://bruitdefond-blog.tumblr.com/archive. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.
Lam, Elisa. “Expecto Patronum.” Ether Fields. Blogspot. 1. http://etherfields.blogspot.com/2011/11/depression-sucks.html#more
L.l. “Ether Fields: Nun.” Ether Fields, Friday, http://etherfields.blogspot.com/2011/11/nun.html.
L.l. “Ether Fields: This Is a Lazy Post.” Ether Fields, Thursday, http://etherfields.blogspot.com/2012/03/lazy.html.
L.l. “Ether Fields: ‘You’re Always Haunted by the Idea You’re Wasting Your Life.’” Ether Fields, Friday, http://etherfields.blogspot.com/2012/01/youre-always-haunted-by-idea-youre.html.
Autopsy Files Elisa Lam. 21 Feb. 2013, https://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Other/lam,%20elisa_report.pdf.
Elisa Lam Elevator Video Remastered | 4K HD 2021. www.youtube.com,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUE-zmrHf3o. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
“‘Just Something About This Building’: Why Is Cecil Hotel, Where Elisa Lam Was Found Dead, Known As The ‘Death Hotel?’” Oxygen Official Site, 10 Feb. 2021, https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/why-is-cecil-hotel-where-elisa-lam-died-known-as-the-death-hotel.
“The Cecil Hotel Is Known as LA’s Most Haunted for Many Horrifying Reasons.” Discovery, https://www.discovery.com/exploration/Cecil-Hotel-LA-Haunted-Reasons. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
“The Dark History Behind The Creepy Hotel At The Heart Of Netflix’s ‘Crime Scene.’” Bustle, 10 Feb. 2021, https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/cecil-hotel-history-murders-suicides-ghosts-deaths
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