Although the investigation into Lynne Spalding Ford’s death is ongoing, San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi discussed some preliminary findings, including failures in the search process. (Editor’s note: We previously reported coverage of this story referring to Lynne Spalding, but her legal name is Lynne Spalding Ford.)
Ms. Spalding Ford, 57, was white and a native of England. She was admitted to SFGH for a urinary tract infection and went missing Sept. 21. Ms. Spalding Ford’s body was found Oct. 8 in an exterior stairwell, which was used as a fire exit, enclosed by wire mesh and not routinely used.
The search involved several conflicting reports of Ms. Spalding Ford’s race and appearance, according to the sheriff.
When Ms. Spalding Ford disappeared from her hospital room, it was unknown whether she was wearing a hospital gown or street clothes. Initial reports from a hospital staff member to sheriff deputies with the institutional patrol unit, the division charged with overseeing security at the public SFGH, described Ms. Spalding Ford as black and wearing a hospital gown.
That evening, when a deputy visited Ms. Spalding Ford’s ward for more information, the patient was described as “an older woman with black hair,” according to the report. Another description of Ms. Spalding Ford in the sheriff’s log has her as an Asian female.
Hospital officials asked the sheriff’s department to search the entire campus of the hospital, which includes 24 acres and multiple facilities, on Sept. 30. Sheriff Mirkarimi said that search “did not include all stairwells.” As the search moved into its second day, only about half of the stairwells on SFGH’s campus were searched.
Furthermore, when a member of the hospital’s medical staff alerted deputies to a person laying on a stairwell landing on Oct. 4, a staff member at the sheriff’s communication center said deputies would look into it. So far, the investigation has found “no indication that anyone was dispatched to the stairwell,” according to the report.
Sheriff Mirkarimi said he has assigned a captain to oversee the institutional patrol unit with a mandate to conduct a thorough security assessment of the IPU and how it coordinates communication with the hospital staff. The sheriff also said that while he is required to keep the names and ranks of deputies involved in the case confidential, “there will be staff changes,” according to the report.
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