BUFFALO, N.Y. — An 87-year-old man who fell from the upper floors of Emerald South Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to his death tied several sheets together and strung them from an open window before what police said appears to be an accidental plummet.

"The patient had been checked on approximately 30 minutes, I believe, prior to the event itself, so that's part of what our investigators are working on now, is how often they check the patients in their rooms, how often rounds are made, those types of things," said Captain Jeff Rinaldo, Buffalo Police Department.

William Strasner was trying to scale down the side down the building. Police said an employee found his body lying in the parking lot of the home, on Delaware Avenue, when arriving to work.

Police believe he fell about 34 feet, and believe the incident was not a suicide or foul play. Investigators do say the locking device which prevents the window from opening all the way was broken.

Upon reaching out to the New York State Health Department, Spectrum News was told, "they are aware of the tragic incident and are investigating, but cannot comment any further."

At the same nursing home in 2016, a patient who walked into the wrong room was beaten to death by another patient with dementia. Police would not comment on previous incidents.