Redbud Hills resident dies after being found near maintenance area

A resident who lived in an assisted-living community died Wednesday morning after she wandered outside at some point during the previous night.

Doris Kent, 90, who suffered from dementia, was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital after Redbud Hills Independent Senior Living Community  personnel found her outside near a maintenance area at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The personnel phoned the Bloomington Police Department to report a possible death, Lt. Bill Parker said Wednesday. Parker said when officers arrived, Kent had a pulse. She died in the hospital around 9 a.m., Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer said.

Redbud Hills staff said Kent was last seen in her room at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday,  Parker said.

Officials said Kent had previously wandered into a room other than her own and seemed disoriented when staff tried to talk with her.

Although temperatures Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning dipped below freezing, Meyer said Kent died of natural causes and showed no signs of hypothermia.

— Kirsten Clark