Coroner's Inquest To Be Held In Rooftop Hospital Death

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A coroner's inquest will be held to help determine the cause of death for a 28-year-old Waukegan woman who was found on the rooftop of a Lake County hospital, where she'd been receiving treatment in January.

Preliminary results from an autopsy show Chelsea Adolphus died due to hypothermia as a result of cold exposure. The coroner's office is waiting on results from final testing.

Meanwhile, a date has been sent for an inquest. The inquest, which will be held on April 10, is a legal public hearing where the coroner and six jurors will "sit in a quasi-judicial fashion," Newton said. Evidence will be presented — including medical, investigative and legal evidence — to determine the manner and circumstances surrounding Adolphus' death.

Adolphus was admitted to Vista Medical Center East at around 4 a.m. on Jan. 22 after seeking "medical treatment and help," Coroner Jennifer Banek said during a news conference in recent weeks.

Around 2 a.m. on Jan. 23, she left her room, wearing only her hospital gown, according to Banek. She was found about seven hours later on the rooftop of the hospital and taken to the emergency room, where her body temperature was determined to be 50 degrees.

Hospital staff tried to resuscitate and rewarm her for 14 hours, but were unable to, Banek said. She was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. on Jan. 23.

The inquest is meant to assist public health agencies, public and private organizations and law enforcement agencies "in an attempt to detect foul play or hazardous conditions," Newton said.

"Family members may attend and learn all the facts surrounding the death of a loved one," Newton said.

• Family Of Woman, 28, Found On Hospital Roof Searches For Answers
• Coroner Rules On Cause Of Death For Woman Found On Hospital Roof

Sources told Fox 32 Chicago Adolphus may have wandered to the roof in a confused state due to a medical condition. Her family is searching for answers following the tragedy, and questioning why no one at the hospital knew where she was and let her go missing.

"I’m just 100 percent I don’t think it’s fair that my sister came to a facility that is supposed to be safe and they end up being the one causing the death of my sister," Paul Adolphus, Chelsea’s brother, told Fox 32 Chicago.

The incident is being investigated by the Waukegan Police Department and the Lake County Coroner's Office, authorities said Friday.

"I'm hurt. I'm sad," Yolanda Adolphus told ABC 7. "I want answers. Answers to know what happened to my daughter."

Vista Medical East's leadership team and American Healthcare Systems has been issued a letter of preservation by Banek's office, which means they will have to make sure all paper, video, digital and electronic evidence is not destroyed, overwritten or deleted, according to Banek.

Banek, a former nurse anesthesiologist who cared for patients at Vista East, said she's voiced concerns since 2023 about the lack of care and safety measures at the hospital. Last year, the Illinois Department of Public Health revoked the hospital's level 2 trauma designation for five weeks for not having appropriate blood supply and clinical staff for patients.

"Most recently, Vista Medical Center furloughed 69 employees, including sitters who are staff members that sit and watch to monitor to ensure patients are safe when they are most vulnerable," Banek said. "In high stakes industries like healthcare, we rely on evidence-processes, transparency, and effective oversight as protective measures to make certain people do not die.

"A death is not the threshold by which we should be measuring the necessity for a call to action," she added.