Family suspects foul play in death of Orange County public defender who fell from Baja Hotel balcony

ROSARITO, Baja California (Border Report) – Elliot Blair, an Orange County public defender, died early Saturday after falling from a hotel balcony near Rosarito, Baja California, a beach town about 30 miles south of the border.

Rosarito police say Blair had been drinking and lost his balance before falling from a third-story balcony.

They say that upon arrival, after receiving a 911 call from the hotel, they found Blair face down and unanswered.

According to Blair’s family, he and his wife were celebrating their first wedding anniversary in Mexico.

The family’s attorney, David Scarsone, told the Orange County Register that he was skeptical of the investigation by Mexican authorities.

Scarsone says he will conduct his own investigation as the family believe foul play was involved.

Annie Rodriguez, a friend of Blair’s, set up a GoFundMe page to help transport his body from Mexico to the United States and to help Blair’s widow, Kim Williams.

“Elliot was a compassionate lawyer who dedicated his life to serving needy clients,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Elliot was known as a patient and caring defender. He was the best of us and was loved by countless members of our office and the Orange County legal community. We are heartbroken.

The Baja California attorney general’s office says their evidence so far indicates that Blair accidentally fell off his hotel balcony, calling it an “unfortunate accident.”