19-Year-Old Falls to Her Death at Abandoned Building Featured in Stranger Things
Share and Follow

A 19-year-old has tragically lost her life after falling from a deserted Atlanta structure known for its appearance as Hawkins Lab in the Netflix series Stranger Things.

According to the DeKalb County Police, officers were dispatched around 12:49 a.m. on December 19 following reports of a fall at a property situated on the 1200 block of Briarcliff Road, as reported by Oxygen.

The victim, identified as Leah Palmirotto, was among a group exploring the empty, five-story building, authorities informed local news outlets like FOX5 Atlanta and WSB-TV.

A GoFundMe page set up for Palmirotto confirmed her passing, describing it as a “tragic accident” that occurred early in the morning of December 19.

A family friend expressed on the GoFundMe campaign, “What started as typical activities for a 19-year-old ended in heartbreaking devastation.”

The friend added that Palmirotto had an affinity for photography and “loved exploring and photographing abandoned buildings.”

Investigators believe Palmirotto and her group entered the fenced-off property by climbing over a chain-link fence, according to FOX5 Atlanta.

Palmirotto’s father said he believes his daughter visited the property prior to the night of her death.

“Going to these places are dangerous,” he told FOX5 Atlanta, adding that he was “blown away” when police informed him of her death.

The Emory Police Department is handling the investigation into Palmirotto’s death, and Oxygen has reached out to the department and the university for comment.

Emory University said that they’re “enhancing security” at the fenced-off site, which was in the process of being demolished to make room for a senior living community.

“There are signs on the property advising people not to enter,”  the school told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “and warning them not to trespass.”

Emory’s Briarcliff Building A––the site of Palmirotto’s fall––was known to fans of Stranger Things as the filming location for Hawkins National Laboratory, a key setting in the sci-fi series. It was once home to the Georgia Mental Health Institute before being purchased by Emory in the 1990s.

The building had previously been listed on the university’s website as a filming location, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first noted.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend Using Tracker and Threatening Texts: Police Report

Brian Neilinger (Broward County Jail). Authorities have charged a Florida man after…

Mom Allegedly Retaliates by Dunking 6-Year-Old in Pool During Family Getaway, Police Report

Background: News footage of the Gaylord Palms resort in Kissimmee, Fla. (WESH).…

Obama-Appointed Judge Denies Trump DOJ’s Harsh Sentencing Request in Biden Threat Case

President Joe Biden gives remarks on student debt relief at Delaware State…

Shocking Family Betrayal: Grandson Admits to Murder, Set to Testify Against His Mother

A 22-year-old man has admitted to fatally shooting his grandfather under his…

Tragic Deceit: How a Mother and Boyfriend Exploited SNAP Benefits After Unnoticed Death of Homeschooled Child

Insets, left to right: Karla Garcia (New Britain Police Department), Jonatan Nanita…

Repeat Offender with Three Warrants Nabbed for Over 200 Grams of Marijuana Possession

By Staff GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, 33-year-old Darinton Raheem Tawan…

Father Allegedly Fires Hollow Point Bullets at Child’s Mother in Vehicle During Dispute Over Coin Collection: Police Report

Inset: Alan Michael Mellow (Barry County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Missouri apartment…

Florida’s Rising Injury Claims: Examining Legal Implications and Human Impact

Photo courtesy of Pexels Florida stands as one of the most bustling…