Inside The Cecil Hotel: Dark Truths Behind Elisa Lam's Elevator Video

Inside The Cecil Hotel: Dark Truths Behind Elisa Lam's Elevator Video

Author: Mamamia Podcasts September 17, 2025 Duration: 53:39

On a February morning in 2013, guests at the infamous Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles complained of brown, foul-tasting water. What the maintenance team discovered on the rooftop would spark a global internet frenzy - the body of 21-year-old Elisa Lam inside the hotel's water tank.

In the days leading up to her disappearance, Elisa was captured on the hotel’s elevator CCTV behaving erratically. The now-viral footage has since fuelled endless theories, speculation, and conspiracy. But for those who worked inside the walls of the Cecil, Elisa’s case wasn’t unusual. The hotel had a long, dark history of death, violence, murder and tragedy.

This week on True Crime Conversations, host Claire Murphy speaks with the Cecil Hotel's former manager, Amy Price who lived through the sheer horror and chaos. From eerie theories to the realities of running a place with such a dark history, Amy shares what it was like inside the hotel when one of the internet's most enduring mysteries unfolded.

If any of the contents in this episode has caused distress, there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

CREDIT LISTGuest: Amy PriceHost: Claire MurphySenior Producer: Tahli BlackmanAudio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCHWe finally have an Instagram! Follow us @truecrimeconversationsFollow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversationsWant us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes.We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

True Crime Conversations
Podcast Episodes
The Four-Day Exorcism Of Joan Vollmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
In the remote outback of Victoria in 1993, Ralph Vollmer believed his wife, Joan, was possessed. Ralph enlisted members of his local religious community to perform an exorcism, hoping to rid Joan of the ten demons they b…
The Moment That Could’ve Saved Gabby Petito [re-release] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:24
In August 2021, Gabby Petito went missing while on holiday with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. The pair were six weeks into a four month trip across the United States. They'd been living out of Gabby's specially decked out…
Meet The Anonymous Host Of Casefile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:09
To some, he’s the mysterious voice behind their favourite true crime podcast (besides True Crime Conversations, of course). Others know him as ‘Casey.’ But who is Casefile's anonymous host, really? Today, we get a chance…
"What REALLY Happened When I Confronted Belle Gibson" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
In 2015, Australian con woman Belle Gibson was living the dream. Her app The Whole Pantry was hugely popular and she was about to launch a book of the same name. With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Belle had…
Maria Korp Was Left To Die In The Boot Of Her Car [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:00
Maria Korp, a 50-year-old mother of two from Melbourne, went missing in February 2005. She was discovered four days later in the boot of her car barely alive, after being strangled and left for dead. Police first suspect…
25 Years Ago, A Revengeful Man Set Fire To A Queensland Hostel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:46
On June 23rd, 2000, just after midnight, Robert Paul Long set fire to the Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel in Queensland. He had recently been evicted for not paying his rent and in his anger, he sparked a tragedy. The…
We’re Finally Telling The True Story About The Slender Man Stabbing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:34
What started as a typical sleepover in Wisconsin in 2014 turned into one of the most chilling true crime stories in America.Twelve-year-olds Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their friend, Payton "Bella" Leutner, into…
Australia's Worst Mass Family Killer & His Shocking Second Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:24
On September 7, 1971, at a remote farmhouse 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, Clifford Bartholomew killed 10 people. His wife, his seven children, his sister-in-law and her 19-month-old son. He shot them all dead. He was…