A community has come together in Georgia, USA, to honour Leah Palmirotto, the 19-year-old who died after a fall at a popular Stranger Things filming site.
Friends and family gathered to celebrate the young woman’s life, remembering her fearlessness and the impact she had on those around her.
How did Leah Palmirotto die?
Leah Palmirotto./Pic: GoFundMe
Authorities say Leah died early Friday morning after an incident at a fenced-off, abandoned building on Emory University’s Briarcliff campus in Decatur.
The five-storey building, once the Georgia Mental Health Institute, appears in multiple TV productions and Stranger Things fans widely recognise it as Hawkins National Laboratory.
Police said the site was off-limits to the public, and security is now monitoring it while investigators continue their work.
How did loved ones remember Leah?
Leah Palmirotto./Pic: GoFundMe
A candlelight vigil was held on December 23rd at Swift-Cantrell Park in Kennesaw, near the skate park Leah often visited.
Dozens of people attended, lighting candles, releasing balloons and sharing memories.
“It’s the day before Christmas Eve, like who shows up for somebody the day before Christmas Eve…this is a great turnout,” her father, Todd Palmirotto Jr. said.
Friends described Leah as adventurous and deeply creative.
“She was so full of life, she’s fearless, she did so much and was so good at photography everything,” said her friend Kaylee Smith.
What kind of person was Leah?
According to her friends, Leah loved photography and had a passion for cars, motorcycles, and skate parks.
Those close to her said she moved easily between different circles, forming meaningful connections wherever she went.
Her father said the number of people at the vigil reflected the way she touched others’ lives.
“It just shows how many people’s hearts she’s touched. Every single person here has a story, every single person here, she’s touched their lives, their hearts,” he said.
What message is her father sharing now?
Leah Palmirotto./Pic: GoFundMe
In the aftermath of his daughter’s death, Todd Palmirotto Jr. is speaking out to warn young people about the dangers of entering abandoned or restricted properties.
He explained that while the family had previously worried about safety this tragedy was still unimaginable.
“We just kind of always had something in the back of our mind that something could happen… I’m just hoping it [the fall] was instant. I just hope she felt no pain.”
How are people supporting the family?
A family friend launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and memorial costs, and donations keep coming in from people moved by Leah’s story.
Leah’s grieving loved ones said they want people to remember her not for the place where she died, but for the joy, courage, and creativity she brought into so many lives.
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