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.