Mexican authorities say California public defender found dead under balcony died in ‘accident’

The death of an Orange County deputy public defender at a Mexican beach resort last weekend was an ‘unfortunate accident,’ authorities in Baja California said on Monday.

Elliot Blair, 33, from Orange, was discovered early Saturday below a third-floor balcony at Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach.

Blair and his wife, Kimberly Williams, who is also a deputy public defender, were at the resort for their one-year wedding anniversary.

After the autopsy, officials at Baja California’s Attorney General’s Office said Blair’s death appeared to be the ‘result of an unfortunate accident from a fall by the now deceased from a third-story floor’.

Elliot Blair (pictured), 33, from Orange, was discovered early Saturday below a third-floor balcony at Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach

Blair and his wife, Kimberly Williams, who is also a deputy public defender, were at the resort for their one-year wedding anniversary

Pictured: Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach

David Scarsone, an attorney for Blair’s family, said they continue to have doubts that he just fell off the balcony and will conduct their own investigation.

‘There are many unanswered questions,’ Scarsone said. ‘[The family] is pushing back on that conclusion [by Mexican authorities].’

Family and colleagues said on a GoFundMe page for Blair that he was ‘tragically killed’ and died due to a ‘brutal crime’.

In a brief statement, Mexican authorities said they are investigating his death and are in contact with American authorities through the US Justice Department and the FBI, which in turn is informing Blair’s family.

Orange County Public Defender Martin Schwarz told The O.C. Register: ‘We have been in communication with the family and are doing what we can to support them in this difficult time, including working with local and federal officials to help provide them with answers.’ 

Pictured: Elliot Blair and his wife, Kimberly Williams. Family and colleagues said on a GoFundMe page that Blair was ‘tragically killed’ and died due to a ‘brutal crime’

Pictured: Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach. After an autopsy, officials at Baja California’s Attorney General’s Office said Blair’s death appeared to be the ‘result of an unfortunate accident from a fall by the now deceased from a third-story floor’

Pictured: Blair’s wedding. In a brief statement, Mexican authorities said they are investigating his death and are in contact with American authorities through the US Justice Department and the FBI, which in turn is informing Blair’s family

At around 1.15am on January 14 authorities were notified that Blair fell from the balcony of Hotel Las Rocas in the town of Rosarito, just south of Tijuana and off the Tijuana-Ensenada highway.

Local news site Patrulla 646 Código Rojo reported that hotel staff notified authorities of the accident. After police arrived, paramedics showed up and declared him dead, it said.

The preliminary report indicates that Blair showed signs of having been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fall, the news site added. Staff from the state attorney general’s office dealt with the removal of the body and were conducting an investigation.

A Facebook page dedicated to sharing news from the Rosarito area, Rosarito en la Noticia, shared an account of what happened and noted that information was being withheld by local authorities and cited reporting in The O.C. Register.

At around 1.15am on January 14 authorities were notified that Blair fell from the balcony of Hotel Las Rocas (pictured)  in the town of Rosarito, just south of Tijuana and off the Tijuana-Ensenada highway 

‘Elliot was known for a smile on his face and a clever mind. There are not enough words to express the level of love he had for Kim. Kim was his life,’ said the GoFundMe page set up in Blair’s memory

The GoFundMe page said of Blair and his wife: ‘They just started building a life together in their first year of marriage. Elliot was killed on their one-year wedding anniversary. Kim’s heart is shattered’

The GoFundMe page that was set up in Blair’s memory has generated more than $101,000 in donations.

Funds raised will go towards helping Williams transport Blair’s body from Mexico to the USA and deal with all the red tape, the organizer said. 

Blair was ‘a compassionate lawyer who dedicated his life to serving indigent clients,’ a post on the GofundMe page said. 

‘Elliot was known as a patient and caring advocate. 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 post said that Blair would now be with his father, Tom, who died two years ago.

‘Elliot and Tom were thick as thieves,’ it said. ‘They spent countless hours together in the garage working on cars, dirt bikes, and dune buggies.’

The post added: ‘Elliot was known for a smile on his face and a clever mind. There are not enough words to express the level of love he had for Kim. Kim was his life.

‘They just started building a life together in their first year of marriage. Elliot was killed on their one-year wedding anniversary. Kim’s heart is shattered.’