Teen Dies in Tragic Fall from Abandoned Building Featured in Hit TV Show

A tragic accident occurred on the Briarcliff campus of Emory University in Georgia, where a 19-year-old woman fell to her death from the roof of a building featured in Netflix’s Stranger Things.

The incident took place around 1 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, when DeKalb County police and firefighters responded to a call about a fall from the five-story structure. The woman, later identified as Leah Palmirotto, was part of a group that appeared to be exploring the abandoned building at the time. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities believe the group may have accessed the vacant building by climbing over a chain-link fence, but the exact reason they entered the property is still under investigation.

The building, known as Building A, was originally built in the 1960s as the Georgia Mental Health Institute psychiatric hospital. Emory University acquired it in the 1990s, and while plans were announced in 2022 to demolish the site and build a senior living facility, it still stands today.

Fans of Stranger Things may recognize the building as the location used for Hawkins National Laboratory in season 2, episode 8. It has also appeared in The Vampire Diaries, further cementing its role as a popular filming location. Despite being closed to the public, the abandoned structure has attracted urban explorers over the years.

The investigation into Palmirotto’s death is ongoing, with authorities unsure of the group’s intentions when they entered the building. The DeKalb County Police Department, Fire Rescue, and Emory University have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Stranger Things, which films in various locations across Georgia, will release new episodes on Netflix on Christmas Day, with the series finale airing on New Year’s Eve.