Lake in the Hills woman, 61, found dead after leaving hospital too early

A 61-year-old Lake in the Hills woman who walked away from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital before being discharged Monday evening was found dead in the hospital's large retention pond, the Lake County sheriff's office said Tuesday.

Michelle Reichers died as a result of drowning, according to the results of an autopsy performed by the Lake County coroner's office Monday morning.

Lake County sheriff's Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Reichers was brought to Good Shepherd on Monday by a family member. Covelli said Reichers left the hospital by herself at around 6:55 p.m. while she was still being treated in the emergency department.

Sheriff's deputies arrived at the hospital at around 7:15 p.m. and joined Reichers' friends and family members to search for her near the hospital, Covelli said. Covelli said there were concerns about her mental state when she left the hospital.

Police dog Duke tracked Reichers' scent to the large retention pond just south of the hospital. Deputies used a drone to search the surface of the water and found her body around 11:15 p.m., Covelli said.

Covelli said fire rescue personnel who recovered Reichers' body began lifesaving measures but she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

He said investigators do not suspect foul play in Reichers' death.