Kenneka Jenkins photographed smiling.Photo:Kenneka Martin/Facebook
Kenneka Martin/Facebook
A woman has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against a hotel where her teenage daughter was found dead in a freezer in 2017, multiple outlets report. Two other parties were also involved in the settlement.
The lawsuit pertains to the 2017 death of Kenneka Jenkins, whose body was found in a walk-in-freezer atthe Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Il., perFox 32 Chicago,CBS Chicagoandthe Associated Press.
While her friends and family initiallyraised concernsabout potential foul play, the Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled the death an accident and said she died from hypothermia, according tothe Associated Press.
The examiners also said alcohol intoxication along with medication used for treating epilepsy and migraines were heavy catalysts in her death, according to the Associated Press.
The 19-year-old Chicago teen was attending a party at the hotel in September 2017 when she went missing; her body was found almost 24 hours later, the Associated Press says. The lawsuit alleged that the hotel was negligent in not keeping the freezer secure and for not searching for her after her family reported her disappearance, according to the news outlets.
Jenkins’ mother Tereasa Martin filed a lawsuit against the hotel, its security firm and the restaurant that was responsible for leasing the freezer Jenkins was found in, according to the Associated Press and FOX 32 Chicago.
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The lawsuit was initially filed for $50 million in damages; further details about the agreement have not been disclosed.
The parties agreed on the settlement in August, but the details are not available on the court docket because Martin has requested the records be sealed owing to privacy and safety concerns, according to CBS Chicago.
A judge denied the request and ordered Martin’s lawyer to submit the request again, and a hearing has been scheduled for next week, the Associated Press reports, citing theChicago Tribune.
According to CBS Chicago, the defendants in the case are also in agreement that the records remain sealed.
source: people.com
