Woman Dies Hours After Being Found Unresponsive on Hospital Roof: ‘My Sister’s Life Was in Their Hands,’ Brother Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois.Photo:Google Maps

Google Maps

A family says they are searching for answers after their loved one was found on a hospital roof and died hours later.

According to the outlet, the incident took place at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois.

Adolphus was admitted as a patient earlier this week for a medical issue, perWMAQ. At some point she went missing and was later found unresponsive on the roof at approximately 8:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 23.

She was taken to the emergency department to be treated for cold exposure and pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. that same night, WMAQ reported.

PEOPLE reached out to the Waukegan Police Department and Lake County Coroner’s Office for comment but did not immediately hear back.

An autopsy was performed on Adolphus on Friday.

Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois.Google Maps

Her brother, Paul Adolphus, told WGN that hospital officials had “confirmed to me that my sister’s body was on the roof and that she slept on their roof.”

“It’s not fair that my sister’s life was in their hands,” he said.

Chelsea’s sibling is struggling to understand how his sister died under their care.

“She came here because she trusted Waukegan Vista Hospital, that she was going to be better from rehab from drinking,” he told the news station.

Paul said precautions should have been taken to ensure his sister and other patients were safe.

“Doors should be locked. Doors should be very secured,” he said. “It doesn’t make no sense why my sister would want to escape the facility.”

During his interview, he shared one final message to Chelsea: “I love you sister. I love you with all my heart. There’s no way it will go like this.”

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The Lake County Coroner’s Office and the Waukegan Police Department are not expected to share any updates until next week,Patch.comreported.

“Any further details will be released at the joint conference likely Monday,” Stephen Newton, chief deputy coroner with the Lake County Coroner’s Office, told the outlet on Friday.

source: people.com