Hotel Manager From Netflix Documentary on The Cecil Hotel Disappearance Speaks on Theories That She Helped in a Cover-up
If it’s one thing internet users love is a good conspiracy theory. Netflix’s latest docuseries The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is full of them. The hotel’s former manager is speaking out, denying she was involved in a cover-up of a hotel guest’s disappearance.
Netflix’s documentary explores conspiracy theories that staff at the Cecil Hotel assisted in a cover-up
The new docuseries takes a look back at the mysterious disappearance of Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old traveler from Canada. Lam journeys to California on a multi-city tour, ending up in LA. Three days into her stay at the hotel, she vanishes.
The docuseries examines the investigation into Lam’s disappearance. Within weeks, her body is found by a maintenance worker floating face up in a water tank on the roof. No one could understand how she got there. Additionally, a disturbing elevator camera showing her behaving erratically moments before her disappearance caused more confusion.
Many online conspiracy theorists believed that Lam was killed by another hotel patron. Others believed that due to the hotel being near LA’s Skid Row, she was possibly drugged or kidnapped. Another theory was that a hotel worker was the culprit and the staff assisted in a cover-up.
An autopsy revealed that Lam’s death was accidental drowning – with her diagnosed bipolar disorder as a contributing factor. Medical examiners discovered that in the days leading up to her disappearance, Lam was under medicating, causing a mental breakdown and possible psychosis. Her family also allegedly told authorities of a history of Lam having psychosis.
Former manager of the Cecil Hotel speaks out against conspiracy theories
Amy Price was the manager of the hotel during the time Lam disappeared. In the final episode of the docuseries, Price reveals for the first time publicly that Lam had been acting strangely in the days leading up to her disappearance.
Lam’s roommates allegedly complained of her erratic behavior. They alleged she’d left notes that read “Go away” on their beds. Lam also allegedly refused to answer the door to her shared room without demanding a password. Things got so bad that the day before her disappearance, she was moved by hotel management to her own room.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Price spoke out further regarding why she decided to participate in the documentary. For her, it was the first project about the unfortunate event that was done with “integrity.”
“People became obsessed quickly after Elisa Lam passed away with what happened with her…even after how it was determined how she died and it was all very public, we know that, but people just couldn’t seem to accept the outcome and the piece [the documentary] puts it all together and it considers all of the circumstances,” she said.
She admits that the hotel had a sketchy past with multiple deaths, drug users, prostitution, and long-term tenants but insists Lam’s disappearance is a separate matter.
Furthermore, she shoots down any speculation that the hotel covered-up Lam’s disappearance, particularly with the elevator video that many onliners felt was edited.
“It’s absolutely unedited and I handed everything over firsthand, I’m the only one that would have had access to the footage,” she insists. “We were very transparent with the police. The footage, I don’t think anybody could deny is strange of course. She’s acting very strange on the video. But as far as any tampering or a missing minute, no.”
The four-part docuseries is available on Netflix.
