Coroner Rules On Cause Of Death For Woman Found On Hospital Roof

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office has ruled on the cause of death for a 28-year-old Waukegan woman who was found on the roof of a hospital and died 14 hours later.

Preliminary results from an autopsy performed Friday show the cause of death for the woman, who has been identified as Chelsea Adolphus, was due to hypothermia as a result of cold exposure, according to a news release from the coroner's office.

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During a press conference on Monday, Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek shared more details surrounding the time frame leading up to Adolphus' death. Banek said Adolphus was admitted to Vista Medical Center East at around 4 a.m. Wednesday after seeking "medical treatment and help."

Around 2 a.m. on Thursday, she left her room at the hospital, wearing only her hospital gown, according to Banek. She was found about seven hours later on the rooftop of the hospital.

She was taken to the emergency room at the hospital where her body temperature was 50 degrees. Hospital staff tried to resuscitate and rewarm her for 14 hours, but were unable to, and she was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Banek said.

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 hospitals level 2 trauma designation for five weeks for not having appropriate blood supply and clinical staff for patients.

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"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.