Last month, 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins was found inside a freezer after she disappeared from a room at the Crowne Plaza in Rosemont. She went to a party at the hotel for her friend’s birthday, but disappeared after she was left roaming the halls in the early hours of the morning.
Initially, the limited information sparked widespread outrage, as many believed there was more to the story than Jenkins’ friends and partygoers were leading on – some even suspected foul play at the hands of Jenkins’ friends. However, after weeks of speculation, the Cook County medical examiner’s office has determined that Jenkins’ death was an accident.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Jenkins died of hypothermia from exposure to cold in the walk-in freezer. The medical examiner’s officer also concluded that alcohol intoxication and drugs used for epilepsy and migraines were “significant contributing factors.” Although it remains unclear when Jenkins died or how much alcohol was consumed, the combination of the drugs and alcohol could have caused “impaired memory and concentration, poor coordination, confusion and impaired judgment.”
The examiner found an abrasion on her right ankle and a purple contusion on her right leg; but no other signs of trauma. Police also confirmed that there was no evidence that Jenkins was forced to drink or do drugs, nor was there evidence of a physical attack, sexual assault or altercation with someone else prior to Jenkins’ death. However, the investigation is ongoing.
In the meantime, Jenkins’ family has filed a legal document, saying the hotel could have prevented Jenkins’ entry into the freezer had they just removed it from the unused kitchen, as they did its cooking stoves and ovens.
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