The last hours of Reid Emery’s life were most likely confusing and scary, but above all, they were cold.

The 61-year-old Eastport man’s body was discovered Wednesday afternoon partially buried in a pile of snow near Down East Community Hospital in Machias.

Emery had been treated recently at the hospital, but officials said he was discharged Tuesday evening at his own request and against the wishes of doctors and nurses.

At about 8:15 p.m., he walked out into a snowstorm without a jacket and wearing only slippers on his feet, according to police.

A few hours later, his family reported him missing, but it wasn’t until the next day that Emery was found dead, covered in fresh snow a few hundred feet from the hospital.

So far, there is nothing suspicious about the man’s death, but the case is far from closed.

“There is not that much I can say, but we are conducting an internal investigation and we’re cooperating with the state in their investigation,” Down East Community Hospital spokeswoman Robin Popp said Thursday. “Here at the hospital, we believe Mr. Emery received good care and [his death] is very unfortunate.”

Emery’s family has declined to comment on his death.

The Maine Warden Service assisted the Machias Police Department in the search for Emery late Tuesday and early Wednesday. Members of the Eastport Police Department, where Emery’s son is an officer, also participated.

Machias police Cpl. Richard Strout did not return a call Thursday for comment, but Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said a state police detective had been assigned to assist local authorities.

“But this is a Machias investigation, so they will do what they will do and forward any findings to the District Attorney’s Office,” he said.

McCausland also confirmed that Emery’s body was taken Wednesday to the state medical examiner’s office in Augusta for an autopsy.

Early police reports suggest that Emery froze to death, but a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office said Thursday that a cause of death had not been determined.

She also said results could take four or five months, which suggests additional study or tests, such as a toxicology report, may be performed.

Emery reportedly was delusional when he left the hospital and had been given medication, according to a Maine Warden Service spokesperson. Popp declined to comment on those reports and said she couldn’t discuss any details about Emery’s care.

In general, she said, patients are allowed to sign themselves out if they are deemed competent.

Doug Jones, president and CEO of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, said Thursday that he couldn’t remember a situation during his tenure where a patient was discharged and then ended up dead.

“But that’s our worst nightmare,” he said. “When a patient leaves, if they’re not a known risk either to themselves or others, we can’t keep them. All we can do is advise them of their situation.”

Ann-Marie Knowles, director of care management for Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, echoed those sentiments.

“It’s really about making sure the patient or family member is making an informed decision [to leave],” she said. “As long as people have sufficient mental capacity, which is determined by the attending physician, they have the right to refuse treatment.”

Knowles said EMMC’s procedures for discharge are the same no matter what department of the hospital a patient is admitted to.

Popp said the internal investigation at Down East Community Hospital regarding the Emery case is new ground, but, “we’re trying to get it done as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman for May’s Funeral Home in Eastport said Emery’s funeral arrangements were being made but had not been made final as of Thursday afternoon.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

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