ATLANTA — A 19-year-old woman died after falling from the roof of an abandoned building in Atlanta that has served as a filming location for the Netflix series Stranger Things.
Atlanta police identified the victim as Leah Palmirotto. Authorities reported that the incident occurred at Briarcliff Building A, located at 1256 Briarcliff Road. Palmirotto fell from the roof and was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the fall are under investigation.
Briarcliff Building A was originally constructed in the 1960s as a mental health treatment facility and was acquired by Emory University in the 1990s. Over time, Emory listed the building among more than 40 properties it rents out to filmmakers. The building’s webpage was removed on Friday, shortly after the incident.
The location is well-known for its role as Hawkins National Laboratory in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, which filmed much of its series in the Atlanta area. Its abandoned state and distinctive architecture have made it a sought-after filming location.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and are asking anyone with information regarding the circumstances of the fall to contact Atlanta police. No further details about Palmirotto’s activities leading up to the fall have been released.
The incident highlights safety concerns around abandoned buildings, particularly those that are publicly accessible or used for filming. Briarcliff Building A’s history as both a former mental health facility and a filming location has drawn attention from local authorities and the media following the incident.