Loved ones remember teen who died after falling from building featured in ‘Stranger Things’

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Loved one lit candles and told stories Tuesday night of the young woman who fell to her death at an abandoned building in DeKalb County.

“She was truly amazing,” said Ansley Donnelly, a friend of Leah Palmirotto.

The death of 19-year-old Palmirotto is painful for her loved ones.

“She was really bright and joyful and, like, she always put a smile on everybody’s faces,” Donnelly said. “She’d make jokes. She’d always laugh with people. She loved her family.”

Leah’s friends and family packed into her favorite skate park in Kennesaw, tied balloons to the fence in her memory, and through tears and laughter shared what made Leah so special.

“And when I pulled into this parking lot and I saw the amount of people here, I’ll be honest, I’m man enough to say I cried. I cried because I was thanking the Lord that she impacted every single one of y’all in one way or another,” said one of Leah’s loved ones at her vigil.

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“It just shows how many people’s hearts she’s touched,” said Todd Palmirotto, Leah’s father. “Every single person here has a story. Every single person here, she’s touched their lives, their hearts. They love her.”

Leah was known for her love of cars, motorcycles and photography. It was an enthusiasm she shared with dozens of friends.

“They all came out in the cars. They’re all bringing bikes out. A bunch of people, everybody’s doing their pictures of her. People gave me pictures that they made – they made frames and all this stuff for her,” said Leah’s father.

“She was so free-spirited, and having a daughter of my own, I just can’t imagine what Todd’s going through,” said Jerrold, Todd Palmirotto’s best friend.

Leah died after falling from a fenced-off abandoned building at Emory’s Briarcliff campus.

The site is famously known as the filming location for Hawkins National Laboratory in the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” The address is publicized online as an iconic spot for fans to visit.

Todd called his best friend with the devastating news after Leah died.

“I’ve been devastated ever since,” Jerrold said. “I just hope that everybody sees you’re not invincible. I hope all these kids know that, you know, you’re not going to live forever. Be careful.”

Leah’s friends also echoing those sentiments.

“It was hard, because you never know what’s going to happen the next day. Like, you could be hanging out with somebody, and the next day they’re gone,” said Donnelly.

“You just don’t know how much time you’re going to have with people, and just take it all for granted,” added Donnelly. “Like, soak up all the memories, live your life to the fullest.”

As for what Leah’s father said he will miss most: “Just seeing her every day.”

The circumstances of how Leah fell are still unclear. Emory police said the building is in the process of being demolished, and security is guarding the site.