Overview
- The DeKalb County medical examiner identified the victim as 19-year-old Leah Palmirotto.
- Police and fire crews responded around 1 a.m. on Dec. 19 to Emory’s Briarcliff Building A, where Palmirotto was pronounced dead.
- Officials say they believe she fell through the roof while exploring the structure with others, though key details remain under review.
- Investigators think the group entered by climbing a chain-link fence, and authorities have not said how many people were present or why they went inside.
- Emory University police are involved in the case; the former Georgia Mental Health Institute building is closed to the public, known for film productions including ‘Stranger Things,’ and slated for demolition for a senior living project.