"Hoping it was instant": Leah Palmirotto's father speaks out after teenager plummets to death from building used to film Stranger Things

Nineteen-year-old Leah Palmirotto died after falling from a five-story abandoned building on Emory University’s Briarcliff campus in DeKalb County, Georgia, authorities said. The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2025 according to FOX 5 Atlanta, which reported the following day on December 21, 2025.

According to reports, police said Palmirotto had been exploring the fenced-off property with friends when she fell and was pronounced dead at the scene. The building is widely known for its use as Hawkins National Laboratory in Netflix’s viral show Stranger Things, a detail that has drawn broader attention to the tragedy. Investigators believe the group entered the property by climbing a chain-link fence, and the cause of the fall remains under investigation.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Leah Palmirotto’s father, Todd Palmirotto Jr., urged young people to avoid abandoned structures and reflected on his daughter’s final moments, saying he was “hoping it was instant.”

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More details about Leah Palmirotto’s tragic accident

Authorities from DeKalb County police and fire departments responded to reports of a fall at the Briarcliff Building, also referred to as Building A, located at 1200 Briarcliff Road, according to both FOX 5 Atlanta on December 21, 2025 and The Independent December 20, 2025. Leah was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after responders arrived.

Investigators said the building had been secured by fencing, and preliminary findings suggest the group accessed the site by climbing over a chain-link barrier. Officials have not disclosed how many people were with Leah Palmirotto at the time of the fall or what activities were taking place inside the building. The cause of the fall remains under investigation, and authorities have said the case is still active. Responsibility for the investigation has since been transferred to Emory University police.

The building, reportedly constructed in the 1960s, previously housed the Georgia Mental Health Institute before Emory acquired the property in the 1990s. It later became internationally recognizable due to its use as Hawkins Lab in Stranger Things, as well as appearances in other television series and films. Emory announced in 2022 that the structure would be demolished to make way for a senior housing complex.

While demolition reportedly began in June, explorers were still seen inside the building months later, according to The Independent. Emory has stated that no-trespassing signs were posted and that security around the site is now being increased.

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Leah Palmirotto’s father speaks about his daughter

In an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta on December 21, 2025, Leah’s father, Todd Palmirotto Jr., recalled officers arriving at his home to deliver the news of his daughter’s death. “She was perfect,” he said, describing the shock and devastation the family has endured. He noted that Leah’s death has been particularly difficult for her two brothers, Devan and Lucca, as they try to process the sudden loss.

Palmirotto Jr. said he believes his daughter may have visited the abandoned property before, but stressed that entering such sites carries serious risks. “Going to these places are dangerous,” he said, adding that exploring abandoned buildings, especially with people one may not know well, can quickly turn tragic. As detectives continue working to determine exactly what led to Leah’s fatal fall, her father said his thoughts remain focused on her final moments.

“I’m just hoping it was instant. I just hope she felt no pain,” he said. The family is planning a vigil in Leah’s memory on December 23, 2025 , and a fundraiser has been established to assist with burial expenses. Palmirotto Jr. said he hopes speaking out will encourage other young people to avoid abandoned properties and prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

Edited by Devangee