Ten people were found dead outdoors in New York City as Winter Storm Fern swept through the region; officials say the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating each death. Among the victims was 90-year-old Doreen Ellis of Crown Heights, who had dementia and was found outside in minimal clothing. Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered expanded street outreach, round-the-clock checks and opened 10 additional warming shelters to protect vulnerable residents during a bitter cold snap.
Ten Found Dead Outdoors in NYC During Winter Storm Fern — 90-Year-Old Woman With Dementia Among Victims
People cross Sixth Avenue in the snow in New York on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty
Ten people were found dead outdoors across New York City as Winter Storm Fern moved through the area, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Jan. 27. Authorities say the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating each case and has not yet determined causes of death.
City records show six people were discovered overnight on Jan. 23 and one more overnight on Jan. 24. Another victim was found on the morning of Monday, Jan. 26.
Affected Resident Identified
People cross the street as traffic moves along during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026 in New York City.Andres Kudacki/Getty
Family members and local reporting have identified one of the victims as 90-year-old Doreen Ellis of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who had dementia. According to neighbors and Gothamist, Ellis left her apartment in the night and was later found in the backyard of a building on New York Avenue near Sterling Place. A neighbor, Junior Sharpe, said she was wearing a blue nightgown, a headscarf and a single sock when discovered; a white shawl lay nearby. "She had done that [wandered out] before, but this was in the summertime. Being that it's cold, you don’t think that somebody will go outside," Sharpe said.
City Response
Mayor Mamdani said the city is intensifying outreach to vulnerable New Yorkers during one of the coldest stretches in years. Measures include round-the-clock checks, expanded street canvassing, relaxed shelter intake procedures to reduce barriers, and the opening of 10 additional warming shelters—two in each borough—to provide immediate refuge for people unhoused or in need of shelter.
People cross the street covered in snow January 25, 2026 in New York City.Andres Kudacki/Getty
“We don’t yet know whether every case will be ruled hypothermia, but we need every New Yorker to be on alert, looking out for their neighbors,” Mamdani said, stressing the importance of community vigilance during the severe cold.
Ongoing Investigations
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting investigations to determine causes of death. Local broadcasters covering the developments included WCBS, WPIX, WNYW and Gothamist; the story was widely reported after an initial People magazine report. City officials continue outreach efforts and urge anyone who encounters an at-risk person outdoors to contact emergency services immediately.
Help us improve.
