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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
Southern California

Dead Tourist Discovered in Hotel Water Tank

The hotel where Elisa Lam's body was discovered will be closed until next week.

Los Angeles Police Department officials are currently investigating how the body of a missing Canadian tourist ended up in a water tank on top of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

(LAPD)
(LAPD)

The body has been identified as Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old tourist from Vancouver, British Columbia who had been missing since Jan. 31.

Diana Figuero of LAPD Meida Relations Section reported that the police confirmed the information after finding identical "body marking" on Lam's corpse.

According to the LAPD, she was reported missing after she stopped making daily contact with her parents. Lam stayed at Cecil Hotel at 640 Main St., after her arrival in Los Angeles since Jan. 26.

Her final destination was supposed to have been Santa Cruz.

Her body was found Tuesday around 10:15 a.m. inside the Cecil Hotel's rooftop water tank by a maintenance worker checking the tank's condition after guests were complaining of low water pressure. The water tank held water for human use.

However, public health officials told hotel guests Tuesday that the water in the building was not dangerous for human consumption.

Sgt. Rudy Lopez of the LAPD said the roof had been searched after Lam's disappearance, but it was unclear if the tanks were checked.

Lam's family has already been notified of her death. 

Cecil Hotel is currently closed for investigation but hotel officials said business will resume next Tuesday. 

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