Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Police Say Disappearance of Young Canadian Woman in L.A. 'may suggest foul play' [UPDATED]

MP- Elisa Lam.jpg
Elisa Lam (Photo courtesy LAPD)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

The Los Angeles Police Department are circulating a photo of a young Canadian woman who has gone missing while visiting L.A. 21-year-old Elisa Lam, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, was last seen at a hotel in Downtown L.A.

"Her disappearance is suspicious and may suggest foul play," notes the LAPD in an emailed news release.

The LAPD plan to hold a news conference this afternoon to discuss the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Lam. They are hoping the public will be able to provide leads to help locate the young woman.

UPDATE: The LAPD have released more information regarding Lam's disappearance. The young woman arrived in L.A. on January 26, and was last seen January 31 at the Cecil Hotel on Main Street in DTLA.

It's not clear why Lam was traveling in California, however her final destination was in Santa Cruz. Police say Lam tends to use public transit, such as local buses and Amtrak train service.

Lam is described as an Asian woman of Chinese descent. She has black hair, brown eyes and stands 5 feet 4 inches tall. She weighs about 115 pounds. She is fluent in English and also speaks Cantonese.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today