Family of Chicago Woman Who Died in Hotel Freezer Agrees to $10 Million Settlement
The family of Kenneka Jenkins, a young woman who tragically froze to death after becoming locked in a hotel freezer, has reached a $10 million legal settlement. According to court records made public on Tuesday, Jenkins’ mother, Tereasa Martin, will receive approximately $3.7 million, while other family members will receive $1.2 million and $1.5 million respectively. The remaining $3.5 million will cover attorney fees, with an additional $6,000 allocated for Jenkins’ funeral expenses.
Jenkins was discovered deceased in the walk-in freezer of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, a suburb of Chicago, in September 2017, one day after attending a party at the hotel. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later determined her cause of death as hypothermia, ruling it as accidental.
The office also noted that alcohol intoxication and the use of a drug for treating epilepsy and migraines were significant contributing factors to Jenkins’ tragic demise. Surveillance videos released by the police revealed Jenkins wandering alone through a kitchen area near the freezer at approximately 3:30 a.m. on the day she went missing.
In December 2018, Martin filed a lawsuit alleging negligence on the part of the hotel, a security company, and a restaurant at the hotel that had rented the freezer. She claimed that they had failed to secure the freezer or conduct a proper search following Jenkins’ disappearance. Initially seeking over $50 million in damages, the lawsuit claimed that had the hotel monitored the security cameras adequately, Jenkins would still be alive.
The lawsuit detailed that Martin was alerted to her daughter’s absence by friends who had attended the party. Around 4 a.m., Martin contacted the hotel, requesting a review of the surveillance footage. However, Jenkins’ body was not discovered until more than 21 hours after her presumed entry into the freezer. It was not until the police arrived at the hotel that the surveillance footage was finally reviewed.
As part of the settlement, the family will receive compensation for their immense loss while holding the responsible parties accountable for their alleged negligence. The agreement brings a legal conclusion to a case that sparked widespread attention and raised important questions about safety and security measures within the hospitality industry.
The tragic death of Kenneka Jenkins serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing proper protocols and monitoring systems to protect guests’ well-being. The significant settlement reflects the recognition of the immense grief and loss experienced by the family, while hoping to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
It is essential to note that this settlement offers some closure for the grieving family, ensuring that they are financially compensated for their devastating loss. However, no amount of money can truly compensate for the heartache and emptiness left behind by the untimely death of a loved one.
