Body of missing mental hospital patient found under snowdrift on Washington DC street

  • Daniel Ellis had been in and out of mental hospitals since 1985
  • His latest stay was voluntary, but leaving would still need to be approved
  • Foul play is not suspected, but the medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death

By Ryan Gorman

Published: 20:07 EST, 14 February 2014 | Updated: 20:07 EST, 14 February 2014

A mentally ill man was found dead covered in snow Thursday after wandering off from a Washington, D.C., mental hospital several days ago.

Daniel Ellis, 56, was first reported missing from St Elizabeth’s Hospital February 9 – he was found five days later covered in the eight inches of snow that blanketed the capitol during this week’s historic snow storm.

Mr Ellis had been in and out of mental hospitals since at least 1985, according to reports. His latest admittance was under a civil (voluntary) commitment.

Escaped: Daniel Ellis left St. Elizabeth, likely through this gate, and was found close to the nearby Anacostia Metra station

Escaped: Daniel Ellis left St. Elizabeth, likely through this gate, and was found close to the nearby Anacostia Metra station

DC metro police spokesperson Gwendolyn Crump told MailOnline Mr Ellis’ body was discovered near the mental health facility after he walked away.

It is not clear how long he was lying in the snow before his lifeless body was found, but foul play is not suspected.

Investigators are looking into how he could have left the hospital undetected.

‘We are reviewing what happened and seeing if staff followed proper procedure or there was a breakdown in our protocol,’ a spokeswoman for the District’s Department of Behavioral Health told the Washington Post.

Mr Ellis was free to come and go as he pleased since his stay was voluntary, but staff would have discouraged him from leaving, the spokesperson added.

MailOnline was not able to reach the deceased man’s family, and Ms Crump declined to provide further information about who found him or a possible cause of death.

Mr Ellis was described to the Post as a ‘very sick man,’ but no information about his mental health was made public.