In 1927, the Cecil Hotel—now operating under the name Stay on Main—opened its doors with a grand total of roughly 700 Art Deco‑styled rooms, promising luxury and entertainment for traveling businessmen. Situated at 640 S. Main Street in downtown Los Angeles, the hotel quickly found itself caught in the grip of the Great Depression. Its proximity to the sprawling Skid Row meant that within a six‑kilometer radius more than ten thousand homeless individuals made the surrounding streets their home, setting the stage for a dark legacy that would later fuel the 10 creepiest events ever recorded within its walls.

Why These 10 Creepiest Events Matter

10 The Death Of Elisa Lam

In 2013, 21‑year‑old college student Elisa Lam was discovered lifeless and unclothed inside a rooftop water tank at the Cecil Hotel. Guests had complained about unusually low water pressure, prompting maintenance workers to investigate, which led to the grisly find. Although the coroner ruled the cause of death as accidental drowning, the bizarre circumstances surrounding her final hours have sparked endless speculation about a more sinister force at play.

Lam had traveled alone from Vancouver to Los Angeles and vanished shortly after checking in. Police released unsettling CCTV footage of her wandering the hotel’s elevator, where she appears frantic—pressing multiple floor buttons, peering out the doors, and even crouching in a corner while seemingly conversing with someone unseen. When the elevator doors failed to close, she stepped out and vanished from view. Theories range from a possible pursuer to a manic bipolar episode, leaving the case shrouded in mystery.

9 Elizabeth “The Black Dahlia” Short

In 1947, a mother and child stumbled upon the naked corpse of 22‑year‑old aspiring actress Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighborhood. The body was so grotesquely mutilated that investigators initially thought it might be a mannequin. Short’s torso had been bisected at the waist, and her face was sliced from mouth to ears, creating a gruesome ‘Glasgow smile.’ The scene was meticulously cleaned, drained of blood, and the victim was posed with her hands over her head and legs splayed apart, leaving no blood at the location. The perpetrator was never apprehended.

It is believed that Short was seen at the Cecil Hotel not long before her murder. She was chasing a big break in Hollywood and was known for frequenting bars where she tried to connect with producers. Unfortunately, she became infamous for a far darker reason, her tragic end forever linking her name to the hotel’s macabre reputation.

8 Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez

Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez earned his chilling moniker by prowling the streets of Los Angeles and San Francisco between 1984 and 1985, hunting unsuspecting victims. A self‑declared Satanist, he employed an arsenal that included handguns, knives, a machete, a tire iron, and a hammer, committing murders that a judge later described as exhibiting cruelty, callousness, and a level of viciousness beyond ordinary human comprehension.

During his brutal spree, Ramirez is reported to have lodged at the Cecil Hotel, where rooms cost a mere $14 per night. The hotel’s surroundings—a well‑known hangout for drug users—offered him easy anonymity as he stalked the night‑time streets. Ramirez was eventually captured, sentenced to death, and died on death row at San Quentin Prison in 2013 at the age of 53.

7 Jack Unterweger

Austrian serial killer and journalist Jack Unterweger checked into the Cecil Hotel in the early 1990s. Between 1990 and 1992, Unterweger strangled eleven prostitutes across Vienna, Prague, and Los Angeles, often using their own lingerie as a ligature. His criminal career began in 1974, but he was released after being touted as a successfully ‘resocialized’ inmate.

While staying at the Cecil, Unterweger worked for an Austrian magazine, penning crime stories about Los Angeles. He leveraged his reporter credentials to secure rides with the LAPD, granting him access to neighborhoods that later became scenes of his own killings. The distinctive knot he used to strangle his victims linked him to three Los Angeles murders, ultimately leading to his arrest in Miami. In 1994, Austrian courts sentenced him to life without parole; he hanged himself in prison on the night of his sentencing, using the same knot that had claimed his victims.

6 Pigeon Goldie

The unsolved murder of “Pigeon Goldie” Osgood continues to haunt the Cecil Hotel. A retired telephone operator, Goldie was a familiar figure around the hotel, known for feeding the pigeons that gathered at nearby Pershing Square. In 1964, she was found dead in her room, having been assaulted, stabbed, and strangled. Police discovered her Los Angeles Dodgers cap and a paper bag filled with birdseed scattered in the ransacked space.

A 29‑year‑old suspect, Jacques B. Ehlinger, was spotted strolling through Pershing Square wearing blood‑stained clothing and was initially charged with the murder. However, subsequent investigations cleared his name, leaving the case unresolved. Goldie’s death remained the last widely reported homicide at the hotel until the shocking discovery of Elisa Lam’s body in 2013.

5 George Gianinni

One of the most bizarre fatalities at the Cecil Hotel involved 65‑year‑old George Gianinni. In 1962, 27‑year‑old Pauline Otton quarreled with her estranged husband in a ninth‑floor room. After the argument, Otton wrote a suicide note and leapt from the window, crashing onto the pavement below. Unluckily, Gianinni was walking directly beneath the falling woman and was struck, resulting in both their instantaneous deaths.

When police first arrived, they assumed a double‑suicide scenario. However, Gianinni’s hands were still in his pockets—a detail inconsistent with a nine‑story fall. After thorough investigation, authorities concluded that Otton’s suicide inadvertently caused Gianinni’s accidental death.

4 Baby Out The Window

In 1944, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at the Cecil Hotel when 19‑year‑old Dorothy Jean Purcell, a guest, gave birth to a newborn son in the middle of the night. Unaware of her pregnancy, she awoke with severe abdominal pain while sharing a bed with her 38‑year‑old partner, shoe salesman Ben Levine. Fearing she would wake him, she slipped into the bathroom, delivered the baby herself, and, believing the infant was dead, hurled the tiny body from a window onto a neighboring roof.

The lifeless baby was recovered on the adjacent roof, prompting Purcell’s arrest. Psychological evaluations later determined she was “mentally confused,” leading to a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The harrowing incident remains one of the most unsettling episodes in the hotel’s history.

3 Suicides In The 1930s

The early 1930s saw a disturbing series of suicides at the Cecil Hotel, beginning with 46‑year‑old W.K. Norton in 1931, who was found dead after ingesting poison capsules in his room. The following year, 25‑year‑old Benjamin Dodich was discovered by a maid, having taken his own life with a self‑inflicted gunshot wound to the head. In 1934, former Army Medical Corps sergeant Louis D. Borden was found with his throat slashed, having left several suicide notes in his room.

The tragic pattern continued: in 1937, Grace E. Magro’s body was discovered wrapped in telephone wires after she leapt from the ninth floor; a year later, 35‑year‑old US Marine Roy Thompson was found on a nearby skylight after a similar jump. In 1939, Navy officer Erwin C. Neblett died from poison ingestion. These deaths occurred amid the Great Depression, a period when the United States experienced the highest recorded suicide rates—exceeding 150 per one million annually in 1937 and 1938.

2 Profile Arrests

In 1976, 26‑year‑old Jeffrey Thomas Paley purchased a rifle, ascended to the Cecil Hotel’s rooftop, and discharged fifteen rounds toward the street below. Although no one was injured, police quickly apprehended Paley. He claimed he never intended to harm anyone, merely wanted to demonstrate how easily a person with mental health issues could acquire a firearm.

The Cecil has witnessed other high‑stakes confrontations. In 1988, 28‑year‑old salesman Robert Sullivan was arrested at the hotel after the body of 32‑year‑old nurse Teri Francis Craig was discovered at the home she had shared with Sullivan for seven years. Sullivan’s arrest added another name to the growing list of violent incidents tied to the hotel.

1 Paranormal Activity

One of the more recent eerie episodes at the Cecil Hotel occurred in 2014 when a young Californian captured a ghostly figure on camera. The photo shows a translucent silhouette perched on the ledge outside a fourth‑floor window, sparking immediate media attention and linking the apparition to the hotel’s grim past.

The young photographer recounted to reporters, “When I looked at that window, it just looked kind of creepy to me, and then I showed my friend, and he kind of freaked out. It still creeps me out.” He claimed the image caused him numerous restless nights, adding a modern layer to the hotel’s haunted reputation.

The Cecil Hotel has long been considered one of Los Angeles’ most haunted locations, drawing ghost hunters and morbid tourists alike. Many believe the numerous suicides that plagued the building have trapped restless spirits, preventing them from moving on and ensuring the hotel’s reputation for paranormal activity endures.

The Cecil Hotel, erected by William Banks Hanner, first opened its doors on December 20, 1924. Adjusted for inflation, its construction cost roughly $14 million—a true palace in its prime. Decades later, the building’s glittering reputation has been eclipsed by a litany of grisly incidents that still echo through its corridors. The Netflix documentary “The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” shines a spotlight on this shadowy past. Below are the top 10 horrible facts that make the Cecil Hotel infamous.

10 The First Suicide

Long‑time tenants began calling the Cecil “the suicide” as early as 1962, and the moniker wasn’t without merit. The very first death recorded in the hotel was that of William McKay in 1926, ruled a natural passing. The following year, however, marked a darker milestone: 52‑year‑old Percy Ormand Cook ended his own life by shooting himself in the head, setting a grim precedent for the years to come.

Since that inaugural tragedy, a disturbing variety of self‑inflicted deaths have occurred within the walls—overdoses, throat‑cutting, poison ingestion, leaping from rooftops or windows, and even gunshots. Cases like Grace Magro’s remain puzzling; she either fell or jumped from a nine‑story window, and her boyfriend claimed he was asleep at the time. As she plummeted, telephone wires snagged her, snapping from their poles and adding a surreal twist to the incident.

Another chilling episode involved Pauline Otton, who vaulted out of a ninth‑floor window, inadvertently killing an elderly pensioner strolling below. In total, twelve of the sixteen documented deaths linked to the Cecil are believed to be suicides, underscoring the hotel’s grim reputation.

Why These Are the Top 10 Horrible Stories

9 Skid Row Led to the Downfall of the Cecil Hotel

During the 1940s, the Cecil basked in opulence—its marble lobby and sleek décor attracted affluent travelers. Yet city officials in Los Angeles chose a different path, steering the burgeoning homeless population toward the area now known as Skid Row. This district became a dumping ground for individuals released from jails and mental institutions, and the nearby Cecil gradually transformed from a luxury landmark into a dilapidated relic.

The hotel morphed into an extension of the surrounding skid‑row ecosystem, offering long‑term rooms at rates far cheaper than typical hotel prices. This shift drew a new clientele—addicts, sex workers, and the chronically homeless—altering the establishment’s ambiance and safety profile dramatically.

Renovating the entire structure proved financially prohibitive, and stakeholders deemed a full‑scale overhaul unviable. Consequently, in 2011 the property underwent a partial makeover and was rebranded as “Stay on Main,” a thin veneer over a building steeped in decay.

8 There Was a Ghost Sighting at the Hotel

Given the cascade of murders and suicides, many suspect a lingering, malevolent energy within the Cecil. In 2014—less than a year after Elisa Lam’s mysterious death—an 11‑year‑old claimed to have captured a spectral figure on camera, appearing to hang outside a fourth‑floor window. While skeptics debate the image’s authenticity, the sighting fuels rumors that restless spirits still roam the corridors.

In January 2021, the paranormal series “Ghost Adventure: Cecil Hotel” aired a two‑hour special that marked the first documented investigation inside the building. Host Zak Bagans, accompanied by his crew and two psychic mediums, explored the infamous site and retraced Lam’s final steps, offering viewers a chilling glimpse into the hotel’s alleged hauntings.

7 A Woman Was Found Dead in the Water Tower

Canadian student Elisa Lam checked into the “Stay on Main” wing on January 26, 2013. Initially placed in a shared room, she was moved to a private space after fellow guests reported odd behavior. Lam vanished without a trace by January 30, prompting a frantic search.

Weeks later, guests began complaining about discolored, foul‑tasting water. A maintenance worker eventually discovered a woman’s body bobbing in the rooftop water tank. Surveillance footage captured Lam behaving erratically in an elevator, leading many to speculate she was fleeing an unseen threat. While the official ruling labeled her death an accident, the eerie circumstances continue to spark debate, especially after the Netflix documentary delved deeply into the case.

6 The Hotel Inspired American Horror Story Season

Ryan Murphy’s fifth season of “American Horror Story,” titled “Hotel,” draws heavily from the Cecil’s macabre legacy. The series centers on a shadowy Los Angeles hotel called the Cortez, weaving together tales of murder, paranormal activity, and unsettling guests. Notably, the show incorporated the real‑life serial killer Richard Ramírez—who once lodged at the Cecil—into the episode “Devil’s Night.”

Murphy has openly admitted his fascination with the Cecil, especially the baffling footage of Elisa Lam trapped in an elevator. He described the hotel’s dark history as a wellspring of inspiration, cementing its place in pop‑culture horror.

5 The Black Dahlia May Have Stayed There

In 1947, at the height of its glamour, rumors swirled that Elizabeth Short—the infamous “Black Dahlia”—spent evenings drinking at the Cecil’s bar. Short, an aspiring actress, was later found brutally murdered in the nearby Leimert Park area, her body grotesquely bisected at the waist. The sensational nature of the crime captured national attention, yet the perpetrator was never apprehended.

Although no concrete evidence confirms Short’s presence at the hotel, the speculation adds another layer of intrigue. Her tragic story has inspired countless books, films, and endless speculation, cementing her place among America’s most notorious unsolved murders.

4 The Hotel Will Not Be Reopening

Despite the growing trend of “true‑crime tourism,” the Cecil remains shuttered since 2017. A Forbes article reported that, contrary to rumors of imminent renovations, the hotel is not slated to reopen. Earlier plans envisioned a late‑2019 reopening, featuring a full‑service bar, 299 in‑room mini‑bars, a ground‑floor restaurant, and a rooftop venue with over 600 seats.

Developers even secured a $30 million loan in 2020 to fund a massive redevelopment, but the COVID‑19 pandemic stalled progress. As of now, the future of the building hangs in uncertainty, leaving its haunted legacy untouched.

3 Serial Killers Stayed at the Hotel

The Cecil’s dark reputation is underscored by the fact that two confirmed serial killers called it home. In the mid‑1980s, Richard Ramírez—dubbed the “Night Stalker”—occupied a top‑floor room, slipping through the hotel’s chaotic environment unnoticed. After committing murders, he would discard blood‑stained clothing in the dumpster and even stroll naked through the hallways, never arousing suspicion.

In 1991, Austrian killer Johan “Jack” Unterweger, masquerading as a journalist, also lodged at the Cecil. Under the guise of researching crime and prostitution, he murdered three sex workers and allegedly strangled at least ten women overall. The hotel’s proximity to a thriving red‑light district made it a convenient hunting ground for his atrocities.

2 Pigeon Goldie Was Murdered in Her Room

On June 4, 1964, the tragic murder of 65‑year‑old Goldie Osgood—affectionately known as “Pigeon Goldie”—shocked the community. A telephone operator for the hotel, Osgood was discovered in her room, having been raped, stabbed, and beaten. A hotel employee found her lifeless body amid a ransacked space, confirming a brutal assault.

Goldie earned her nickname by feeding birds in nearby Pershing Square, often wearing a Dodgers cap stuffed with birdseed. The cap, still brimming with seed, was found beside her. Friends recalled seeing her just minutes before the dreadful discovery, underscoring the suddenness of the crime.

Police arrested Jacques B. Ehlinger after spotting him wandering Pershing Square in blood‑stained clothing, yet he was never formally charged for Osgood’s murder. The case remains unsolved, leaving a lingering mystery over the hotel’s dark past.

1 Down Will Come Baby…

In 1944, 19‑year‑old Dorothy Jean Purcell, staying at the Cecil with her 38‑year‑old boyfriend, awoke with severe stomach cramps. Unaware of her pregnancy, she gave birth on the bathroom floor, believing the infant was stillborn. Fearing the shock of waking her boyfriend, she threw the newborn out of a window.

Police later retrieved the infant’s lifeless body from a neighboring roof. An autopsy revealed air in the baby’s lungs, indicating the child was still breathing when it was hurled, meaning the infant died after the fall. Purcell faced murder charges, but the court found her not guilty by reason of insanity.

Three independent forensic psychiatrists testified that Purcell was mentally disoriented at the time, and she never offered any explanation beyond believing the baby was already dead. The harrowing episode remains one of the most disturbing chapters in the hotel’s sordid history.