LOS ANGELES — Guests at the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles had been complaining about decreased water pressure. Now police know why.
Although there is no official ID yet, what is presumed to be the body of 21-year-old Elisa Lam was found inside one of the hotel's four water tanks on Tuesday morning.
"There are three of these tanks, inside a portal, with sealed water cisterns on the roof," said Capt. Jamie Moore of LA City Fire. "The body is in one of these tanks."
Investigators said that tank is never locked, but the roof is.
Lam, a student at the University of British Columbia, traveled alone to LA on January 26.
She was last seen in a surveillance video from the hotel's elevator, dated February 1. In the video, Lam is seen acting strangely, pushing all the buttons and possibly hiding in a corner.
Police said on Tuesday night that it is too early to know if Lam was the victim of foul play.
Investigators are trying to determine how her body ended up in the tank, and who might be responsible.
Meanwhile, the hotel's water has been shut off and guests are being told to not use the water for any reason.
The hotel's water supply has been tested. So far, no hazardous materials have been found.
KIRO
