Family disputes Mexican authorities’ account of O.C. lawyer’s death

The death of an Orange County public defender at a Baja California resort final week, labeled an “unfortunate accident” by Mexican authorities, has raised a number of unanswered questions with little to no investigation by native police, the person’s household stated in an announcement.

Elliot Blair, 33, died Saturday in Rosarito whereas staying on the Las Rocas Resort and Spa together with his spouse, Kimberly Williams, to have fun their first wedding ceremony anniversary, in keeping with an announcement from his household.

The narrative offered by Mexican authorities leaves too many unanswered questions, Blair’s and Williams’ households stated in a joint assertion, including that they’d rent a personal investigation agency and an impartial forensic pathologist to conduct a medical examination and toxicology evaluation.

“The family, which has extensive legal training in criminal law, wholeheartedly believes based on their initial investigation that Elliot was the victim of a brutal crime,” the assertion stated.

Mexican authorities advised the Orange County Register that Blair fell from “a third-story floor” and that his death was unintended. The Spanish-language publication Noticias BC reported {that a} man of Blair’s description fell from a fourth-floor resort room.

But Blair’s household argues the incident occurred in an open-air walkway exterior his room’s entrance door. He was discovered sporting his underwear, his sleeping T-shirt and socks, in keeping with a household assertion. Blair and Williams vacationed on the Rosarito resort a number of instances during the last 5 years and stayed within the third-floor room, the household stated.

Mexican authorities additionally advised the Register that they’re in touch with the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI, that are sharing info with Blair’s household.

But his household stated nobody from the Rosarito Beach Police Department or some other Mexican officers have straight contacted the household, in keeping with the assertion.

Attempts to achieve the Baja California lawyer basic’s workplace on Tuesday weren’t profitable.

Blair had been with the general public defender’s workplace since 2017, the yr he handed the bar examination, and dealt with felony instances out of the Santa Ana workplace.

“Elliot was a brilliant attorney with a bright future,” the household stated. “Elliot’s smile was radiant and warmed the hearts of every person he came in contact with. Elliot had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Elliot was a loving husband, son and brother. Elliot’s tragic, untimely, and suspicious death has left his family and community with a huge hole in their hearts that will never be repaired.”

Blair’s and Williams’ households have solely been in contact with a liaison by the coroner’s workplace who contacted them Sunday afternoon. The liaison stated that primarily based on the medical expert’s workplace, Blair died from extreme head trauma, however a toxicology report has not but been accomplished. The case was forwarded to the district lawyer’s workplace for a attainable murder investigation, in keeping with the assertion.

Blair’s household stated that Mexican authorities have urged that Blair’s physique be cremated. A funeral house liaison additionally made the identical suggestion, however Blair’s household insists that his physique be preserved so it might probably conduct an intensive, impartial investigation.

While Blair’s household has not spoken to Mexican authorities, it learn in a information report that quoted officers who claimed that Blair’s death was an “unfortunate accident,” however the officers nonetheless haven’t spoken to the household.

Williams has been advised a number of variations of what occurred to Blair. Their households argue that his physique was not discovered beneath the couple’s room’s balcony or some other balcony on the resort, and that Blair was accustomed to the format on the resort and was fluent in Spanish.

Blair’s household didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Times employees author Alexandra E. Petri contributed to this report.