Coroner IDs LITH Woman Found Dead In Pond At Hospital

BARRINGTON, IL — A 61-year-old Lake in the Hills woman who left before being discharged from an area emergency room and was found dead in a pond on the hospital property a short time later has been identified as Michelle Riechers.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office was first called to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, at 450 West Route 22 in unincorporated Barrington, at about 7:15 p.m. Monday for a report of a person who left the hospital during treatment. While investigating the incident, deputies learned hospital staff had concerns regarding the woman's mental state.

Police immediately launched a search, and friends and family of the woman joined deputies on the hospital property as they looked for Riechers. K9 officer Duke ended up leading deputies to a retention pond on the south end of the hospital property, and a sheriff's office drone pilot located Riechers in the water, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Paramedics and fire personnel were able to get her out of the water and began life-saving measures, according to authorities. Riechers was pronounced dead a short time later at the scene.

The Lake Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and preliminary results show Riechers' death is consistent with drowning.

Foul play does not appear to be a factor, and the incident remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.