Patient Spent Nearly 7 Hours on Medical Clinic Roof Before She Was Found and Resuscitation Attempts Began: Coroner

• Chelsea Adolphus, a patient at Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois, left her room in the morning of Jan. 23 and was found several hours later on the roof of the hospital only wearing a hospital gown, according to Lake County coroner Jennifer Banek
• Banek said that based on preliminary findings, Adolphus died of hypothermia due to cold exposure
• “Our sincere condolences go out to the family during this difficult time,” the hospital said in a statement

Chelsea Adolphus, a patient at an Illinois medical center, was pronounced dead 14 hours after she was found unresponsive on the hospital’s roof. Now officials are shedding more light on what happened.

Adolphus, 28, was admitted as a patient to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at about 4 a.m., local time, seeking “medical treatment and help,” Lake County coroner Jennifer Banek said at a press conference on Monday, Jan. 27.

The coroner, who couldn’t disclose the reason why Adolphus had been admitted due to the ongoing investigation, said that around 2 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, Adolphus left her room — and she wasn’t discovered for nearly seven hours, when she was found on the hospital’s rooftop at 8:45 a.m. wearing only her hospital gown

For the next 14 hours, staff attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m.

According to preliminary autopsy findings, she died of hypothermia. A final determination will be made pending toxicology results.

When Adolphus was first taken to the hospital’s emergency department, it was determined that her body temperature was 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Banek.

Banek went on to share that due to the “unusual circumstances” surrounding the patient’s death, they were the ones to notify the Waukegan Police Department.

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At another point during the press conference, Banek shared that they believe the door Adolphus exited “did not have alarms” on it, nor was it possible to “return back inside” after it closed.

In her remarks, Banek, who formerly worked at Vista as an anesthesiologist, said that since Dec. 2023, she had previously voiced her concerns about the lack of care and safety measures at Vista.

“The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed those concerns by revoking Vista’s level 2 trauma designation for five weeks for not having appropriate blood supply and clinical staff available for patients,” she said.

“Most recently,” she added, “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 also referenced that she spoke at a February 2024 press conference in which she stated that “lives were at stake.”

“I had warned during a February 2024 press conference that lives were at stake,” she added. “American Healthcare Systems [the owner of Vista] must be held accountable to provide safe, quality healthcare to Waukegan and its surrounding communities.”

In a statement shared with ABC affiliate WLS, the hospital said in part: “Our sincere condolences go out to the family during this difficult time. During an ongoing investigation and in accordance with HIPAA regulations, the hospital will not disclose any patient’s specific health information.”

Additionally, a hospital spokesperson said that an internal investigation has been launched.

Speaking briefly at the press conference, Paul Adolphus, Chelsea’s brother, said that the family is going through a “horrible time.”

“We want to know exactly what happened from when my sister stepped foot in that facility,” he added. “The family needs answers and we need answers immediately.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Waukegan Police Department, Vista Health System — which will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 29 — and Vista Medical Center East for additional comment but did not immediately receive a response.