Breaking: A body found in a tank in Los Angeles is presumed to be that of a missing Canadian tourist. Police investigating a dead body discovered in a water tank at the Cecil Hotel Tuesday believe the corpse may be a 21-year-old who went missing under "suspicious circumstances" in January. However, at this time a positive identification has not been established.
According to sources from Reuters in a Feb. 19 report, LAPD was on the rooftop of the hotel Tuesday after receiving a report of a deceased body found inside a water tank.
Upon arrival, police and firemen discovered an unresponsive person floating face up in one of four water reservoirs that service the entire building.
Reportedly, when a maintenance member opened one of the tanks to investigate complaints of low pressure in the building, they discovered the dead body in the tank.
Media sources on the scene believe the deceased person is Elisa Lam, a tourist and student visiting from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Lam, who was last seen on Jan. 31, is believed to be the woman in a surveillance video at the hotel acting erratically in a motionless elevator.
The person believed to be the missing woman, is seen in the footage entering an elevator at the Cecil Hotel and pressing several buttons. However, after repeated attempts, the doors do not close.
On several occasions, the woman appears to be hiding and is seen slowly peering around the corner. Then, she is seen standing outside the elevator and appears to be talking to someone or making strange hand gestures.
While authorities are not clear about why the woman was in Los Angeles, they believe she was bound for Santa Cruz.
Additionally, as one reporter pointed out, it's unknown why a Lam was at the hotel, which is located in Skid Row, an area known for its homeless and transient population.
While the body found in the tank has not been formally identified as Lam, the woman's parents are cooperating with police.
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