Lynne Spalding, a British woman who went missing from San Francisco General Hospital over two weeks ago was found dead on Tuesday.

"We have no idea how this happened," said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Todd May, according to an NBC News report. "We are shaken to our core. What happened at the hospital is horrible. Our staff is devastated."

Shortly after being checked on by a nurse, the 57-year-old, who had checked herself into the hospital for a bladder infection, left her room on September 21.

"She was in fair condition when she left her hospital room shortly after being checked on by a nurse at 10:15 a.m. Fifteen minutes later, the nurse checked on her again, and upon finding her room empty, initiated a search of the hospital," read a joint statement issued by the hospital and the San Francisco Sheriff's Department.

Disoriented by her medication, Spalding apparently made her way to a little-used stairwell, whose doors are locked from the outside.

Despite a search of the hospital grounds and a frantic search operation organized by friends and family, the body of the mother of two was only found after 17 days by a staff member conducting a routine quarterly check.

"So we have a lot of questions as her family and friends," said David Perry, a Spalding family spokesman. "Did anyone see her leave the room? Did she leave alone? Is there videotape of Lynne leaving the hospital or wandering the halls?"

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