Police say a small group entered the fenced five-story structure on Emory’s Briarcliff campus shortly before 1 a.m. Friday.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A 19-year-old woman died early Friday after falling from a vacant, five-story building on Emory University’s Briarcliff campus that has been used as a filming location for television shows, authorities said.
Officials identified the victim as Leah Palmirotto. DeKalb County police and fire crews were called to the property near North Decatur Road shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 19. Investigators said Palmirotto was with a small group that entered the closed site before the fall. The building, known as Briarcliff Building A, is fenced and posted as off-limits while parts of the property undergo demolition. Emory University said the structure has been vacant since 2024 and security at the site is being increased.
Police said Palmirotto was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers believe the group reached the grounds by climbing a chain-link fence around the old hospital complex at 1256 Briarcliff Road. The building previously housed the Georgia Mental Health Institute before Emory acquired the 42-acre campus in the 1990s. In recent years, it gained attention as a backdrop in productions, including a portrayal of the Hawkins National Laboratory in a hit streaming series. “The investigation is active,” DeKalb County police said. “We are working to understand the sequence of events.”
Emory University said the young woman was not affiliated with the school. A university spokesperson said signs warn against trespassing and that security patrols were already in place. After the death, the university said it would add measures around the site while demolition proceeds elsewhere on the property. Records and past listings for film productions describe Building A as a five-story concrete structure with offices, clinical spaces, and tunnels. Authorities have not released how far Palmirotto fell or whether anyone witnessed the moment she went over the edge. The number of companions and their statements to police were not immediately available.
The fall happened at a location that has long drawn attention from fans and urban explorers. The Briarcliff property served as a set for several shows and movies over the past decade. According to earlier planning documents and news reports, a senior living community has been proposed for portions of the site, with demolition staged over time. Community members have complained about repeated trespassing at the fenced complex, which sits along a busy corridor of DeKalb County near the Atlanta city line. Neighbors said they have seen people taking photos at all hours despite warning signs and barricades.
DeKalb County police and Emory police are handling the case. Investigators canvassed the area before dawn Friday and interviewed people who had been with Palmirotto earlier in the night. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her identity and will determine the cause and manner of death. As of Sunday, no charges had been announced. Officials did not release toxicology information or say whether alcohol was a factor. Authorities said more details would be released when available.
Family members said Palmirotto was adventurous and loved by her two brothers. Her father, Todd Palmirotto Jr., said officers notified him at his door. “She was perfect,” he said. He added that he hoped her final moments were painless and urged young people to avoid abandoned sites. On Sunday evening, relatives said they were planning a vigil this week and were grateful for messages that had come in from friends who knew her from work and school. A small memorial began to form near the campus entrance.
As of late Sunday, police had not released a full incident report. The next step is the medical examiner’s ruling and any investigative updates from Emory police. University officials said security will remain posted at the fence line while demolition work continues on other parts of the campus. Authorities said an additional update is expected after the holiday week.
Author note: Last updated December 22, 2025.