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New photos show Orange County deputy public defender Elliot Blair — who mysteriously died Monday while on a one-year wedding anniversary to Mexico — dancing just hours before police say he fell off a balcony outside his hotel room, though his family believes differently.
Mexican website Patrol 646 said Blair, 33, was intoxicated and fell to his death from a fourth-floor balcony at Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach, though his family denied that report and said the tragic incident took place in an “open-air walkway located outside the front door of” the couple’s room.
In photos taken just hours before Blair died, he can be seen dancing before a band and smiling with his wife. Other photos show the recently married couple eating out and taking in scenic beach views on what was supposed to be a relaxing and romantic getaway that turned deadly for reasons the Blair family is still trying to determine.
Attorney Case Barnett, who is representing the Blair family, told Fox News that they received a phone call from the local coroner’s office after the 33-year-old’s death saying his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
FAMILY OF CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY WHO DIED AT MEXICAN RESORT ON ANNIVERSARY TRIP CALLS OUT SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR
Orange County deputy public defender Elliot Blair dances just hours before his death at a resort in Mexico.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
Orange County deputy public defender Elliot Blair and his wife dance on vacation in Rosarito Beach, Mexico.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
The coroner also said Blair’s case would be forwarded to the local DA’s office to conduct a “possible homicide investigation.”
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENDER MYSTERIOUSLY DIES IN MEXICO ON 1-YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: REPORTS
A Mexican investigator at the scene, however, had previously told Blair’s wife that he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Other photos show the recently married couple eating out and taking in scenic beach views on what was supposed to be a relaxing and romantic getaway that turned deadly for reasons the Blair family is still trying to determine.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
The family also received a press release from a Mexican prosecutor describing Blair’s death as an unfortunate accident, saying the 33-year-old fell off the hotel’s balcony after ingesting a significant amount of alcohol.
MEXICO CITY SAYS EXTORTION GANG RESPONSIBLE FOR SHOOTING ATTACK ON REPORTER
Blair’s family, however, does not believe he was intoxicated and fell. They believe he was the victim of a brutal crime, according to Barnett.
Orange County deputy public defender Elliot Blair’s family does not believe he was intoxicated and fell to his death.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
His wife and family are devastated by the conflicting information from Mexican authorities, Barnett said, as well as a lack of information from officials.
On the night of Blair’s death, his wife was asleep and apparently woke up to hear two employees talking through the open door of their hotel room. They repeatedly asked if Blair was her “boyfriend,” at which point she woke up, went outside, looked over the open-air walkway that police described as a balcony outside their room, and saw her husband on the ground, Barnett explained.
On the night of Elliot Blair’s death, his wife was asleep and apparently woke up to hear two employees talking through the open door of their hotel room.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
She then ran downstairs and began screaming at hotel employees to get an ambulance, but the employees said the ambulance had already arrived to the scene and left, according to Barnett.
Elliot Blair’s family attorney described the situation as confusing for Blair’s wife because it did not seem as though anyone attempted to render aid to her husband.
(Attorney Case Barnett)
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The family’s attorney described the situation as confusing for Blair’s wife because it did not seem as though anyone attempted to render aid to her husband.
The Blair family is conducting its own private investigation into the 33-year-old attorney’s death.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett and Matt Finn contributed to this report.
