What happened to Chelsea Adolphus? Family seek answers after Illinois hospital patient found dead on the roof

Chelsea Adolphus, a 28-year-old patient at Vista Medical Center, was found unconscious on the hospital's roof wearing only a medical gown. She later died from hypothermia due to cold exposure, according to preliminary autopsy findings released Monday.

A resident of Waukegan, Illinois, Chelsea Adolphus, reportedly left her room on the morning of January 23 and was found on the roof several hours later. State coroner Jennifer Banek confirmed hypothermia to be the cause of her death. Her family spoke to a press junket earlier yesterday where her brother, Paul, said:

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

What happened to Chelsea Adolphus?

After being admitted to the Vista Medical Center in the wee hours of Wednesday for an unspecified medical issue, Chelsea Adolphus was found missing from her room at around 2 am on Thursday. She was eventually found on the roof. It should be noted that Waukegan’s overnight low temperature was well below freezing during the ordeal.

Upon her discovery, the medical facility staff promptly attempted to resuscitate Chelsea until she was pronounced dead, as corroborated by the state coroner Jennifer Banek, who notified the 'unusual circumstances' of death to the police soon after and directed the Medical Center to ensure the safekeeping of the records. Kevin M. Spiegel, president and chief executive of Vista Health System, went on record stating:

“We have reported the incident to the state and regulatory agencies and are cooperating fully with them, as well as local law enforcement"

The way ahead

While Vista Medical Center has released a statement of condolences, Chelsea Adolphus' family has hired an attorney and are considering a civil lawsuit, citing concerns over potential negligence and unanswered questions about how Adolphus was able to leave a secure medical facility and end up on the roof in frigid conditions. As they seek justice, the case is expected to spark discussions about hospital security, patient care, and accountability.