Located in Downtown Los Angeles, the infamous Cecil Hotel has a history of gruesome criminal activities. Over the years, many people have died here due to murder and suicide. Furthermore, the 2013 death of 21-year-old college student Elisa Lam sent shockwaves across the nation.
Many even believe that the historic Cecil Hotel is haunted. However, reports suggest that Simon Baron Development, the owner of the property, recently listed it for sale. According to The Real Deal, The Cecil Hotel was initially a luxury hotel, until 2019, when authorities converted it into a homeless housing complex. For this transformation, the L.A. City Council provided them with finances worth $45 million.
Even though the asking price of this property is undisclosed, the listing reads, “Affordable housing is known for its low turnover rate, providing a stable investment environment. The income from this investment is guaranteed by government subsidies. Adding an extra layer of security to the financial performance of the property”
According to CBS News, at least two serial killers called The Cecil Hotel home. One of them was Richard Ramirez, aka. “The Night Stalker.” Ramirez terrorized the state of California in the 1980s until his arrest. Responsible for the deaths of over ten individuals, the court handed him 19 death sentences for his crimes. However, he died at the age of 53 in 2013 while awaiting execution.
In 2021, Netflix released a documentary series titled Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel that delved into the mysterious death of Elisa Lam. According to its official trailer, its synopsis reads, “From housing serial killers to untimely deaths, the Cecil Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles is known to many as LA’s deadliest hotel. The latest chapter in Cecil’s dark history involves the mysterious disappearance of college student Elisa Lam.”
5 shocking death that occurred at The Cecil Hotel
Since its opening, at least 16 people have lost their lives at the Cecil Hotel. Here are some of the most shocking ones, according to The Tab.
Percy Ormond Cook – 1927
On the record, Percy Ormond Cook was the first person to die at the Cecil Hotel. Reports suggest that in January 1927, he took his own life after a dispute with his wife and child. At the time time of passing, he was 52 years old.
Sgt. Louis D. Borden – 1934
Sgt. Louis D. Borden was 53 years old when he took his own life at the Cecil Hotel. People believe that he had severe health issues and wanted his life to end on his terms.
Death of a Newborn – 1944
19-year-old Dorothy Jean Purcell and her 38-year-old boyfriend were staying at the hotel in 1944. Reportedly, Ben was unaware that Dorothy was pregnant. When Ben was asleep, Dorothy went to the communal bathroom and gave birth. She believed that the baby was stillborn, so she threw it out of the window. Due to the reason of insanity, the court found her not guilty of murder.
Pauline Otton – 1962
Pauline Otton and her husband shared a room on the ninth floor of the hotel. However, the couple got into a fight and she jumped out of the window to “teach the guy a lesson”. She landed on a pedestrian, which ended up killing her and the pedestrian, George Gianinni.
Elisa Lam – 2013
When 21-year-old Elisa Lam did not check out of the hotel on time, officials filed a missing complaint after she was nowhere to be found. Two weeks later, a hotel staff discovered her lifeless body floating in one of the building’s tanks. Investigators stated that the reason for death was accidental drowning.
