PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. – Authorities in Pickens County are investigating the death of a woman who was discovered inside a hospital bathroom on Tuesday afternoon. The Pickens County Coroner’s Office confirmed that 72-year-old Judy Haynes of Pickens was found unresponsive at Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital.
According to officials, the coroner’s office received a call around 2:30 p.m. after hospital staff located Haynes inside one of the bathrooms. Despite immediate efforts to assess her condition, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Importantly, hospital representatives clarified that Haynes was not admitted as a patient at the time of her death, though it remains unclear why she was at the facility.
The unexpected discovery prompted an investigation by local authorities and the coroner’s office. Early findings suggest that no foul play was involved in Haynes’s death. While this conclusion rules out criminal activity, investigators emphasized that the case remains active until more definitive information is available. The coroner’s office announced that an autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday to help determine the exact cause and manner of death.
The presence of a non-patient individual found deceased within hospital grounds has raised questions that officials are still working to address. Investigators will likely consider Haynes’s medical history, circumstances leading up to her visit, and potential health issues that could have contributed to her passing. The hospital, meanwhile, has been cooperating fully with authorities as they review the incident.
Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital has not issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming that the woman was found on the premises. Staff members who discovered her immediately contacted the proper authorities to ensure the situation was handled appropriately. The hospital continues to operate normally, with no disruption to patient care or services reported.
While the investigation is ongoing, officials have urged the public to be patient as they await the results of the autopsy. Such examinations typically provide vital information, including whether natural causes, underlying medical conditions, or other factors were involved. In many cases, an autopsy can offer closure to grieving families by clarifying unanswered questions surrounding a sudden and unexpected death.
News of Haynes’s passing has brought sadness to the Pickens community, where she was known as a longtime resident. At 72, her death is considered unexpected, though officials have not yet confirmed whether she had existing health issues. Friends, neighbors, and community members will likely wait alongside her family for the results of the investigation to gain clarity about what happened.
The coroner’s office has stressed that, while there are no signs of suspicious circumstances, they will continue to review all relevant information until the case is closed. Authorities are expected to release additional details once the autopsy and further examinations are complete.
For now, Judy Haynes’s death remains a matter under investigation, with officials balancing transparency and sensitivity as they work to uncover the truth behind the incident.
